Mornings set the tone for the rest of the day, and getting them right leads to a more productive, less stressful life.
But mornings can be challenging.
Between your alarm clock going off before you're ready and those morning sneak-outs to the coffee shop, it can be tricky to get your routine started.
Fortunately, there are ways to make mornings run more smoothly.
Here are some tips to help you turbocharge your morning routine.
1: Make Your Bed
When you make the bed every day, even if it takes just two minutes, it sets the tone for the entire day.
It's a small detail that keeps you focused on the task at hand. It sets a precedent for purposeful behavior that is conducive to making progress. Making your bed can also be a relaxing process.
2: Stretch
As you wind down from the excitement of the morning, your muscles need to be stretched. Stretching helps keep your joints healthy, and it can help you fall asleep faster at night.
It also helps maintain your flexibility, and when you're flexible, you can do a lot more than just stretch.
3: Start With Positive Affirmations
For many of us, mornings are the most stressful part of the day because we worry about everything we have to do that day.
The problem with this kind of thinking is that it makes you feel overwhelmed, and if you're chronically overwhelmed, you can become anxious and depressed.
People who are prone to anxiety tend to focus on the negative aspects of life.
They're also more likely to ruminate on negative thoughts.
Rumination is when you keep turning over the same negative thoughts in your head, reinforcing that negativity.
The problem with ruminating about what you don't want is that it doesn't allow you to focus on what you do want.
You can break the cycle of anxiety and rumination with positive affirmations.
Positive affirmations are short declarations of positive facts about yourself, and repeating them can help improve your mood and create a mindset of success.
This, in turn, helps you take action, making it easier for you to achieve your goals.
Positive affirmations can be a little awkward at first, but they get easier with practice.
Make sure the positive affirmations you use are really true of you–not wishful thinking.
Also, positive affirmations should not include “should” or “must” statements. These kinds of statements create feelings of disappointment when the affirmation isn't met.
With a little practice, positive affirmations can help you start your mornings off on the right foot.
4: Set Your Goal
Starting your day with intention is the key to success.
You have to decide what you want, and then decide how you're going to get there.
When you wake up in the morning, make a list of three things you want to accomplish that day.
Keep it simple and clear. Don't let yourself make excuses, stick to your plan.
5: Hydrate
Getting enough water is crucial to a healthy lifestyle.
Dehydration can leave you dizzy, lightheaded, and sleepy, and reduce elasticity in your skin.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not getting enough water can also increase your risk for diseases that include hypertension, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and more.
Drinking water when you wake up and throughout your day will pay both short-term and long-term dividends.
6: Be Grateful
Gratitude is one of your most powerful tools for achieving success.
Gratitude is about appreciating what you already have.
It's a positive emotion that energizes you, and it can help you move forward when you're stuck, which you will likely find yourself doing from time to time in the morning.
7: Hold the Caffeine
Drink coffee only between 10 and 2. Coffee is a good source of antioxidants and other nutrients that help fight disease, but drinking coffee first thing in the morning can increase your cortisol levels, which can impair your immune system.
Caffeine too late in the day can impact your sleep schedule.
To avoid these problems, drink your first cup of coffee between 10am and 2pm.
You can have another later in the day, but not so late that it impacts your ability to fall asleep.
Start The Day Off Right
Your morning routine is the first step toward making your day, and future daysas successful as possible.
Make it a priority to follow these tips every day. While you may not feel results immediately, you will notice a gradual improvement in your energy and focus.
The time you spend today is an investment in yourself that will directly impact the quality of your life and help you achieve your goals.