If you aren’t much of a morning person, the thought of a morning routine may seem scary and intimidating! But don’t worry, with simple changes and a mindful approach, you can ease your way into a healthy morning routine to suit your lifestyle. Here are a few easy-to-follow tips to help you get started.
Take baby steps
There’s no need to overhaul your whole morning and change it cold turkey. Take small steps towards making more mindful changes such as setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier. Gradually introduce more changes or activities in small doses over time.
Regulate your internal clock
It’s important to get enough sleep and recharge your body for the day ahead. Try setting a bedtime that gives you an ample 7-8 hours and a consistent wake-up time. This will help your body get accustomed to waking up early, even on the weekends! Consistent sleep and wake times are key factors in becoming more “morning friendly”.
Drink water in the morning
It’s no secret that drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning has many benefits. It rehydrates you after sleep and stimulates your bodily functions such as your metabolism, and lymphatic systems. Our bodies need water to function optimally, so it’s ideal for adults to consume at least 2-3 liters per day.
Try to exercise and soak up some sun
Andrew Huberman, an expert in the field of the science behind health and wellness recommends morning exercise to start your day on the right foot. If you can exercise outdoors in the sunlight, that’s even better. Sun exposure in the early morning has many benefits for your health and helps you sleep better at night. Additionally, morning exercises such as yoga, walking or jogging sets you up for a more productive day. Not only do you get your workout done early, but you also tap into the feel-good hormones released during exercises which boosts your mood and outlook for the day ahead.
Take time to practice gratitude or meditation
Taking a few minutes of your morning to practice gratitude, meditate, or pray helps you to clear your mind and improve your focus. This also helps you to gather your thoughts and plan your day with intention and focus.
Avoid using technology when you wake up
We all have a habit of opening our phones to check messages, scroll social media, and read the news from the first moment we open our eyes in the morning. This can be too much too soon and you can be easily affected by external stimuli which can stress you out. Allow yourself at least one hour before diving into your devices.
For the non-morning person, setting up your morning with mindfulness and intention is not as difficult as you previously believed. With small steps and consistency, you can develop healthy habits to start your morning with good energy that motivates you to be more productive in your day.