Every morning that dawns is an opportunity to take in control and make the day yours, well, if you’re a morning person.
Not being a morning person? Well, let’s just say that you probably don’t sit up and stretch after you naturally wake from a full night of refreshing sleep.
You may groan at your alarm and smash the snooze button a few times. When you drag yourself out from under your cozy duvet, you blearily wander from room to room, gulping coffee as you try to wake up, wondering how it can be so late already.
Even if you’re a die-hard night owl, you can come to learn to make your mornings more productive and refreshing.
The following 10 tips can help get you out of bed to face the day with a little more enthusiasm-or at least acceptance.
1. Set your alarm for success
Shaking off that lingering morning grogginess-or sleep inertia-can be as painless as updating your old-fashioned buzzer alarm to a more melodic tone.
According to a 2020 studyTrusted Source, waking up to a musical alarm-pop song, rhythmic instrumental tune, and even nature sounds like birdsong-may awfully serve the purpose of easing you awake rather than jolting you out of dreamland.
Older studyTrusted Source states that your favorite music will reduce sleep inertia following a nap. That is to say, this may produce the greatest effect when using an alarm tone you enjoy.
So go ahead, take a minute or two, and set your alarm ringtone to the most cheerful tune that works for you. Trust me, you will be glad in the morning.
2. Let the light in
Whether you are conscious of it or not, natural light is one of the biggest players in your morning routine.
Sunlight winds your internal clock, so to speak. A bright light in the morning will make your body realize it’s time to be awake, which in turn leaves you more alert before you’re even near the coffeepot.
Of course, daylight doesn’t just help you wake up-natural light in the morning can leave you feeling sleepier earlier in the evening, thus helping you get to bed on time. What better way to start your morning than with the satisfaction of feeling well-rested?
Do that, if you have the time to head on out before getting going with your day. Mornings already full? At the very least, open up the curtains and window when you get up from bed, and take a few minutes to breathe deeply and savor the fresh air.
On gray days, turn your overhead lights on instead. You might even want to invest in a light therapy box.
3. Wash your face
Splash some cool or lukewarm water on your face and refresh tired eyes; it may be a very refreshing wake-up call.
Fully cleaning the face in the mornings might not be strictly necessary, especially for those people who do multi-step nighttime skin care routines, or people of very dry or sensitive skin.
Whichever camp you fall into, give a gentle fingertip wash a try to wake your senses up lightly, and know that you can skip the cleanser if you’re concerned about drying out your skin altogether.
Learn how to wash your face correctly with these 15 tips.
4. Have something healthy for breakfast
There is more to eating a balanced, protein-filled breakfast to start off the day than just simply filling an empty stomach. It not only fills your tummy but also energizes and prepares you for the rest of the day.
Though it is not absolutely necessary, breakfast does a good job of kick-starting the morning-just don’t forget to add whole grains, fruits, and vegetables along with eggs or even a glass of plain yogurt to the mix.
And hydrate. A wholesome breakfast can also be accompanied by coffee or green or black tea, not to mention a glass of flat water. Take a minute or two to savor your morning pick-me-up of choice, sip by slow sip, rather than chug it while you’re racing out the door.
Get inspired with our ranking of 12 great foods to eat in the a.m.
5. Get moving
This can help loosen tightness in your muscles and leave you feeling more limber and alert, rather than tense and sluggish.
Exercising in the morning may not feel quite as instinctive as that early morning stretch, but it has its perks, too. Physical activity can get your blood flowing throughout your brain and body, boosting your energy and helping keep your cardiovascular system healthyTrusted Source.
Morning exercise may also improveTrusted Source critical brain activities such as decision-making, working memory, and attention. Plus, if you enjoy exercising outdoors, an early morning workout can also help you avoid afternoon and early evening heat.
If you are physically able to exercise, here are some tips to get you going:
Take a 15-minute walk or jog around the neighborhood.
Walk or bike to work, or get off the train or bus a stop early.
Take an extra few blocks with your dog on his usual walk.
Do yoga in the morning.
Garden. The mood and wellness perks are plentiful.
Get your kids active-do some early morning stretches or play a game of tag.
6. Do a couple of chores
Of course, chores are not the most exciting things in the world. But getting a few minor things taken care of in the morning gives you a sense of productivity-a feeling that can follow you into the day and jump-start your motivation to handle other important responsibilities later. Plus, you’ll thank yourself later in the day.
7. Meditate or journal-or both
While meditation has benefits at any time, an established morning meditation practice helps people clear their mind and thoughts and make a mindful intention for the day ahead.
A lot of people especially find it useful for reducing stress and calming anxious feelings. Meditation can really work to increase self-compassion and self-kindness, so it can make a big difference if you often find morning worries and frustrations set a negative tone for your day.
Not everyone finds meditation helpful, so do not worry if it is not for you; you do not have to continue with it.
Or perhaps you may want to do the same with a daily journal: 10 or 15 minutes of morning writing can equally provide the space for sorting thoughts, an affirmation, or setting a daily intention.
8. Keep a to-do list
You have lots to do in a day, and somehow, some of them always seem to slip out of your mind.
Writing down what needs to be done-renewing library books that are overdue, reworking the outline, and buying ingredients for dinner-can help you with a record of what you have to attend to at home as well as at work.
It does another good deed, too: it helps you to be responsible and gives you a more concrete picture of which items are better suited to cross over to tomorrow’s to-do list-which puts your workload in the best shape and makes it far less overwhelming.
To-do lists have one other built-in advantage: Writing down the task gives you a paper-or electronic-reminder so you don’t have to keep reminding yourself to take care of it.
9. Do something you enjoy
You don’t have to confine your morning routine to preparation and productivity. You can also include some time for things you really, thoroughly like, so that you have something to look forward to instead of fearing or dreading the morning.
Of course, meditation, yoga, and journaling can become things that you enjoy, but if you don’t really like them at first, that’s okay. It’s still worth spending part of your morning on a hobby-a creative activity you only do because you enjoy it.
10. Connect with loved ones
You mean to keep in touch with friends and family, it’s just that by the end of the day, you’re generally so drained you can’t bear the thought of a conversation-even with your nearest and dearest. All you want to do is unwind, alone, to the tune of silence-or soothing music.
Sound familiar? It’s nothing to feel any guilt over, since alone time for anyone is quite vital. Without it, you’d just become frustrated and burned out.
That being said, the bonding with friends and family does count. If at the end of the day you have no time for your loved ones, why not try calling or video chatting in the mornings, or even visiting them?
Timing visits at different times of the day, or contact in different ways,
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