What you achieve that day, as well as your overall attitude and mental well-being, is heavily influenced by how you start your day. Developing good morning habits might help you be more productive and content throughout the day. You'll be more efficient and save mental energy if you stick to a set regimen. Isn't that a nice thing?
It's not only about being able to pat yourself on the back for being adulting and sticking to your regimen. But establishing a morning routine may also help you prioritise your mental and physical wellness throughout the day. Every decision you make consumes your brain's willpower reserves as soon as you wake up. The brain is a remarkable organ, but it, too, has its limits, and there is a growing body of evidence indicating human willpower is a finite resource. When those reserves run out, it's a lot tougher to say no to instant gratification, which is why you could find yourself skipping a cycling class you normally enjoy after a long day at work for a quiet night in at home.
These willpower-sapping decisions are, of course, unavoidable; our lives are littered with them. A healthy morning routine can help with this. When we automate our mornings, we build habits that become second nature, which may lead to the elimination of time-consuming tasks such as deciding what to eat or debating whether or not to hit the snooze button again. Furthermore, many of the activities you might incorporate into your morning routine may be considered self-care in and of themselves.
Let's take a look at some of the things you might wish to incorporate into your morning routine. The suggestions on this list are designed to be beginning points, not a step-by-step guide, because everyone's perfect morning routine will be different. Experiment to see what works best for you, and remember that consistency is crucial.
1. Make Your Bed
Making your bed may seem like a task, but it can also be a deceptively simple and insignificant method to make yourself feel better. There are numerous causes for this: It helps to declutter your environment (and thoughts), promotes good sleep hygiene (who doesn't want to crawl into a freshly made bed at the end of the day?), and may even perform a few good psychological functions behind the scenes. If you make your bed first thing in the morning, you would have accomplished the very first task of your day, which would encourage you to get on with your day with a positive outlook.
2. Have A ‘Get Ready’ Schedule
Most of us have a list of things we do every morning to get ready for the day (getting dressed, brushing our teeth, etc), but you may not have them in order. Maybe you go right from the shower to doing your hair on some days, while on others you lay in your towel skimming through the morning headlines. By establishing a step-by-step procedure, you can avoid repeatedly asking yourself, "Okay, what's next?" Those inconsequential choices pile up. It's best if you can have as much as possible on autopilot.
3. No Phones First
We allow a torrent of stimuli into our brain space every time we check our phones, especially after a long period of time away, such as when we're sleeping. Your phone, despite its small size, contains a lot of potential stressors, such as news notifications, bank account balances, and texts that require your immediate attention. And many of us are pretty much linked in for the rest of the day after we check our phones. Why not put it off a little longer? Plus, grabbing for your phone first thing in the morning is a certain way to throw your entire morning routine off. Who hasn't fallen into a social media rabbit hole before even getting out of bed?
4. Stretch Your Body
In the morning, everybody can benefit from a good stretch. It doesn't have to be a full-fledged yoga regimen or even serve as a substitute for your normal workout. It could simply be a method to get your circulation flowing and enjoy the relaxing sensation of a good stretch. Stretching properly to avoid injury is essential, especially first thing in the morning when you may be stiff and not properly warmed up.
5. Write, Write, Write
You might dismiss morning writing as a discipline reserved solely for authors, but it can be a valuable tool for anybody seeking to live more creatively or engage in greater self-reflection. Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, is the official creator of the concept of morning pages. She recommends that individuals start their days with three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing—“whatever comes to mind”—and argues that doing so will improve their lives in a variety of ways, including increasing their emotional awareness.