I am not a morning person, anyone who knows me will attest. But how I start my day regardless of the hour, will and does impact how the rest of my day pans out. I feel less sluggish, I have more focus, I’m so much more productive and my mood is always better. And with so many of us continuing to work from home and talks of a new variant on the horizon, it’s now even more crucial to create healthy feel-good habits.
Here’s how I like to start my day:
🌞 Rise with the morning sun- exposing yourself to sunshine first thing helps your brain recognise it as the start of the day. Light exposure increases the hormone melatonin, which should be naturally higher early in the morning to help literally ‘wake up’! Even on days where the sun is missing, this is a great way to start the day.
🌞 Drink some warm water, before your cup of caffeine- this is a great way to hydrate after being asleep for 7-8hrs and gently wake up your digestive system. People who struggle to drink enough water in the day should start with a glass first thing, to help you drink enough water throughout the day. Water is not one of the best ways to detox your body, keep your skin clear and keep you alert, it also helps to keep your bowel movements regular, which is essential to us all!
🌞 Do some moving- yoga or Pilates are my go to’s first thing. They encourage deep breathing, stretching and weight bearing movement, all of which help to calm the nervous system, strengthen your muscles and relieve any tension. Being sat at a desk for most of the day, I really feel the difference exercise has on my body and mind
🌞 Set your tone for the day with a powerful affirmation about how you want the rest of your day to go and what you want to feel. Make it personal and as positive as possible, writing as if it is happening right now. If you've never tried it before you could start off with something really simple, such as ' I feel strong, healthy and ready for a great day'.
This is a beautiful way of getting into the headspace that you aspire to, whether it concerns your health, mind, work, relationships or all combined. Write the words down on a post it to place somewhere where you will see it, or a notebook you can refer to. Change it up each day, depending on how you feel and what you want from that day.
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