Have you ever thought about creating a morning routine. A morning routine can benefit you by giving your day a little structure, allowing you to proactively set the tone of your day.
If you find the idea of setting, or maintaining a routine daunting and exhausting, here’s the trick, your routine can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be! There isn’t a formula for the “best routine”. The best routine is personal. Just adopt practices, rituals or habits that are manageable and enjoyable for you.
Remember the key here isn’t in the specifics, its about creating a reliable daily practice. If all 9 resonate with you and you can comfortably incorporate them long term, then by all means do. There are no prizes for biting off more than you can chew. If you can only take on one, that is enough. Then slowly build up over time, until you’re comfortable with the routine that helps you start your day off in a positive way. Here are 7 tips to help you start your day in a positive way.
Wake up at a time that works for you
If you find that waking up and taking in the sunrise gets you in the right frame of mind for the day, then by all means do so. Equally so, waking up at dawn isn’t the be all and end all. If a later wake up time suits you better, then sleep to the time that works for you.
However it is important to remember that quality sleep is paramount to starting your day off right. Whilst you may naturally be more of a night owl, studies have shown that the hours of sleep we get before midnight are the best quality.
If you find yourself hitting the hay close to midnight regularly then maybe create switch off times around your electronic / digital device use. It may also help to start slowly – go to bed 15 or 30 minutes earlier until you wind back the clock to the time you can consistently achieve. If may also help to create a bedtime routine to help you unwind. The ideal bedtime for you may be 8pm, 9pm, 10pm – there’s no ‘ultimate best time’ as sleep needs vary between people.
As the proverb goes “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”.
Establish a tech-free zone
Do you wake up and jump straight onto social media, or check your phone for texts and emails? Whilst it’s great that we live in an age where we have technology at our finger tips at all times, there is no denying that being constantly connected to our devices does have mental, physical and emotional implications.
Jumping straight on our tech devices first thing in the morning keeps us in a constant state of doing. When was the last time you got up, had a cuppa, read physical book or paper, meditated, or exercised without seeking out technology beforehand? Try to restore the balance by carving out some tech free time first thing in the morning.
Setting aside this time should leave you feeling refreshed and allow you to just be. Be slow, be thoughtful, be grateful, be relaxed, be purposeful, be composed. Instead of letting whatever information that comes through on your devices set your mood for the day, leaving you to spend the whole day in a reactive state.
Whether a few minutes, or the whole morning, start setting that time aside today.
Get some natural light
Did you know that exposure to natural light first thing in the morning can profoundly impact your overall mood and health. A quick Google will bring up a number of interesting articles on the topic. Exposure to full spectrum sunlight in the morning causes our bodies to release serotonin one of the happy hormones our body produces that affect our overall health and wellbeing. Our bodies eventually metabolises serotonin to melatonin, so it comes full circle to help you with your night time sleep also.
Rehydrate
When the amount of water in the human body ranges from 45 – 75%, making hydration a priority in the morning will benefit your health. Below are 4 reasons staying hydrated in the morning can ensure your day gets off to a good start.
✔︎ Fuels your brain
✔︎ Boosts energy
✔︎ Flushes toxins
✔︎ Kickstarts your metabolism
Accomplish a simple task
Scientists suggest that much of how productive we will be on any given day hinges on a concept called completion bias. Researchers, Francesa Gino and Bradley Staats, explain
“Your brain releases dopamine when you achieve goals. And since dopamine improves attention, memory, and motivation, even achieving a small goal can result in a positive feedback loop that makes you more motivated to work harder going forward”.
How can we apply this concept to our morning routine? A few easy to finish tasks first thing in the morning will give you a quick completion hit. Refrain from reactive tasks that can cause anxiety like replying to emails, think making your bed, hanging out a load of washing, throwing some bits in the slow cooker for dinner. Nothing particularly challenging or stressful.
Journal a little, or a lot
Put pen to paper first thing in the morning and scribble down the stream of consciousness that comes to mind. Logic isn’t the goal here. Just do, don’t overthink it. The simple act of taking the time to sit and get in touch with your mind is what’s truly important. It can help you fully explore emotions and release tension.
Still struggling with what to write? The below are some cues.
✔︎ Stream of consciousness
✔︎ Dream journal
✔︎ Food journal
✔︎ Feelings journal
✔︎ Sketches journal
✔︎ To do list
Get moving
Exercising in the morning has many obvious and not so obvious health benefits. Remember you’ll be more likely to stick to a routine if you pick an activity you enjoy. As long as you’re exercising, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing. Here are some of the health benefits that may be associated with a morning workout.
✔︎ Boost your metabolism
✔︎ Improve focus and cognition
✔︎ Encourage you to eat healthier
✔︎ Improve your mood for the day
✔︎ Increase energy levels
✔︎ Help you sleep better at night
✔︎ Improve confidence and sense of accomplishment
✔︎ Reduce the risk of diabetes
✔︎ Reduce blood pressure
✔︎ Reduce stress
How does this all relate to real estate?
Whilst a home can bring you a lifestyle you desire, there are simple things we can do in our every day to enrich our lives wherever we are, right now. It all comes back to my hope for you, which is to live a life that brings you peace, joy, contentedness, space, whatever it is that truly matters to you. I hope these tidbits like this post resonate with you in some way.
When you’re ready to discuss your move, get in touch with me, I would be delighted to guide you through the selling process in a supportive and successful way.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog post is for general interest / informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice whatsoever. Always consult a qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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