What’s your morning routine? Always rushing to work with no time for breakfast? Or maybe you follow a trusted routine that primes you for the demands of your day.
If you’re somewhere in-between, or just ready for a change, there are some great options to get more energy and mental clarity in your day.
A day just wouldn’t be the same without the morning rituals that I’ve practiced for many years. It’s important for me to start each day with exercise and meditation.
In addition, I eat a nutritious breakfast every morning too. They all help get me grounded, energized, and focused on the day ahead.
Rock Your Morning Routine
The secret to the right morning routine is to find the one(s) that works for you. Making personal change to do that takes time, diligence and consistency, but is well worth the effort.
So here’s my tried-and-tested checklist of healthy morning habits and how they can get your day off to a successful start:
1. Stretch it out
Shake things up by limbering up with a daily stretching routine. According to the Mayo Clinic, the five main benefits of stretching are:
• increased flexibility and range of motion
• improved circulation
• better posture
• stress relief
• better coordination and balance
Try these five gentle and invigorating yoga stretches to get your brain and body prepped for the day.
2. Take a breath
Proper breathing technique matters when you’re stretching and even when you’re not. Generally speaking, most people take 10-16 breaths per minute. Do you know how well you breathe? Learn these quick tips to help you breathe better.
3. Eat healthy
For me, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, it’s the meal people skip most often. What makes a healthy breakfast?
Choose at least one option from each of these four basic groups: whole grains, low-fat protein, low-fat dairy, and fruit and vegetables.
Here’s my recipe then for a wholesome, energy-fuelling breakfast. It’s quick to make (you can also prepare it the night before) and lasts me until lunch which is really important, too. As an option, add some low-fat yogurt on the side for a daily dose of dairy.
Eve’s Muesli Breakfast Recipe
Oats, millet or rye flakes (add enough water to soften)
Mixed nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, brazil nuts)
Wheat germ or oat bran (I also add ground flaxseed, psyllium, steelcut oats, wheat bran)
Raisins or dates
Apple (peeled and sliced) or banana
Juice from half a lemon
For more examples of healthful eating choices go to Eat Right Ontario and the Mayo Clinic.
7 Morning Rituals for a Successful Day
4. Rehydrate body and brain
You’ve likely noticed that you generally feel thirsty after a night’s sleep. That’s because the body loses water overnight through breathing and helping your organs function.
So it’s essential to drink water to replace lost fluid when you wake up. In fact, water makes up 60 percent of your body weight and every system in your body depends on it.
Did you know that drinking 16 ounces of chilled water when you get up in the morning can be a very good thing? According to German researchers, it can boost your metabolism by 24 percent for 90 minutes, for example.
Repeat as needed and stay hydrated throughout the day to keep up your momentum.
5. Set an intention
The power of intention can’t be underestimated when it comes to achieving your daily goals. Intention goes hand-in-hand with being organized and when you’re organized, your day is more productive. Try to take at least 10 minutes in your morning routine to schedule your activities for the day.
Reinforce your intention by affirming it out loud like a mantra: “I will have a productive, positive day.” Then close your eyes and visualize yourself checking each task or activity off your list as you successfully complete them. For even more powerful results, combine visualization with meditation techniques.
Carpe Diem
The importance of a good morning routine can't be overstated. It helps you approach the day deliberately in an organized way. At the same time, it reduces stress so that you can calmly and confidently seize the day!
You Might Also Like These
• The Most Successful Techniques for Rising Early
• 10 Things Successful People Do Before Breakfast
• Rise And Shine: The Daily Routines of History’s Most Creative Minds
• My Big List of Health and Wellness Resources
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