If your day starts by snoozing the alarm for the second time, rushing to get dressed, and drinking coffee in a run, be prepared to have a long hectic, and frenzy day. By waking up at least an hour early and following some mindful and effective morning rituals you will immediately feel revived, more energetic, and ready to face up any challenges that the upcoming day has installed for you. Morning rituals are responsible for shaping up your day, so you should strive to follow only the best ones which ideally soothe your needs. When you incorporate more mindful and productive morning rituals your mood will be uplifted, your body re-fueled, your day will run smoother and you will be much happier in the long run. Take some time for yourself and try implementing some of these healthy morning rituals and see the magnificent change you will experience.
1. Get organized the night before
If you are keen on having a longer lie-in, and just can’t seem to get out of your bed the minute your alarm rings, you don’t need to get stressed about it but rather get organized the night before. Avoid running late to work because you haven’t ironed your clothes or prepared breakfast, do all of those things the previous night and avoid getting too frenzy in the morning. Before you go to sleep, set aside clothes that you are going to wear, pack your bag, clean your shoes, and prepare breakfast or at least decide what you are going to make first thing in the morning. This habitual activity will give you enough time to commence your day at a slower pace, or at least give you a few extra minutes to sleep longer.
2. Drink warm lemon water
Proper hydration is the key to a healthy life. Drinking sufficient water throughout the day keeps you vital, focused, and revived. However, if you introduce a morning ritual that implies drinking a glass of warm water and squeezing fresh lemon in it, your organism will get immediate energy and vitamin boost. Adding lemon to a warm glass of water is actually an Ayurvedic technique that removes toxins from your digestive system that have accumulated overnight, provides a good source of vitamin C and freshens your breath. Not only that, but this routine will help you stay refreshed, cleanse your body and skin, and it may even help you shed some excess pounds.
3. Eat a healthy breakfast
One of the things that you should never ever do is skip breakfast. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day for numerous health reasons. For that matter, do your best to make and eat fresh and organic produce. You can make oatmeal with yogurt and blueberries, or a whole-grain toast mozzarella cheese and fresh tomato. Make sure that your breakfast contains lean proteins, healthy fats, raw vegetables, and whole grains. Later, don’t forget to brush your teeth thoroughly and take excellent care of your teeth with regular dental visits.
4. Do mindful yoga
Stretching in the morning is a quite dynamic way to actively salute the new morning. It is useful and productive to get the body moving early in the morning to alleviate any back and neck pain from sleeping and to add circulation. If you are not much of a sporty type, you can either do some simple stretching exercises to increase oxygen to your brain or do mindful yoga. Yoga with a yoga mat made from cork is a perfect form of activity that will slowly and peacefully prepare your body for daily challenges. There are many yoga poses great for the morning routine such as Downward Dog Pose, the Child’s Pose, and the Triangle Pose.
5. Go brisk walking
One of the healthiest morning rituals is exercising. Going to the gym or doing some muscle-demanding workout may not suit everybody, and the sheer fact of having to get up early to go to the noisy gym is not the ideal way to implement a healthy morning ritual. The best way to get your body moving and do some effective workouts is to go brisk walk. Depending on the weather, you can always go for a quick walk around the neighborhood and get your daily dose of physical activity. Brisk walking has a lot of benefits, some of which are that it helps you relieve problems like constipation, relieves you from stress, and, of course, helps you lose weight.
6. Technological detox
Waking up on time and immediately checking your emails, text messages or other mobile updates can be extremely nerve-wracking. You are automatically cultivating a reactive mindset, instead of a proactive one, which will result in starting your day in a more defensive state rather than in a calmer one. Thus, staying unplugged from all technological devices is a must. You don’t need to switch off the gadgets but at least leave everything in silent mode until you arrive at work or until you are ready to start your job. By remaining detached from technology early in the morning, you will have a more positive focus and you will be able to stay concentrated.
7. Mediate
Meditation is a mindful practice that will help you elevate your spirit, body, and soul. Meditation controls anxiety reduces stress, promotes emotional health amongst numerous other benefits. If you practice mindful meditation early in the morning, you will be able to train your mind and emotions for the upcoming daily obstacles and be spiritually strong and firm. You can start your day with three sets of 30 breaths with a pause in between each set. This will give you the unique opportunity to suppress all the negative things that may arise during the day. Plus the deep breathing exercise will improve your focus and lengthen your attention span.
8. Have enough restful sleep
Don’t be fooled that all morning rituals start when the sun rises, on the contrary, to have a healthy morning you need to have serene nights. When you don’t get enough restful sleep during the night, quite probably you won’t have good mornings. The way you feel when you wake up is dependent in part on your sleeping habits. When you are exhausted, irritated, agitated, or simply not your best, you may not have a sound sleep. Consequently, chances are that in the morning you would feel the same, if not worse. Since sleeping plays an important role in our physical and mental wellbeing, strive to improve your sleeping habits. It would be ideal to have six to eight hours of quality sleep per night. Don’t go to sleep feeling disordered, nervous, or sad. Try dealing with all agitating issues before you lie in bed.
9. Be grateful and optimistic
Showing gratitude and staying optimistic have unlimited health benefits. Every single morning represents a new beginning. If you accept that notion, you will feel more easy-going and motivated in the morning. Therefore, take time to open the curtains, salute the dazzling sun, greet the day and say thanks. Later, try to name at least five things that you are grateful for and do your best to stay open-minded towards others during the day. These morning habits don’t last long, don’t require much (if any) effort, and don’t cost you a thing. The results, on the other hand, are enormous. You will send signals to your brain making it release the feel-good neurotransmitters (dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin), all of which are responsible for uplifting your mood, lowering your heart rate, and relaxing your body
10. Get your groove on
In the end, it is vital to feel gorgeous from the inside out first thing in the morning, therefore you should strive to be the best version of yourself. Putting time and effort into your appearance helps build self-confidence, uplifts your spirit, and puts a smile on your face. And a happy and satisfied person is a healthy person. When you get up, listen to the radio or create a riveting music playlist to enlighten the day and then wash your face, floss, comb your hair, put on your best outfit, and of course, put one of your finest perfumes, and then you are ready to seize the day. When you feel ‘put together’ that is one less thing to worry about throughout the day. By getting your groove on and feeling lively and outgoing, you will surely have a wonderful day ahead of you.
Plan your day, prioritize your duties and chores, and make your morning rituals fill you with positivity, hope, and optimism. Only when you feel fulfilled and have a refreshed start of the day, you will be able to make your day more productive and lucrative.