Do you jump out of bed in the morning ready to start your day, or do you hit the snooze button half a dozen times before you manage to pull the covers off? Taking the time to wake up in the morning and welcoming in the new day is just as important as how you unwind at the end of your day. Everyone always talks about their soothing nightly routines. But it’s just as important, if not more, to have morning rituals that will inspire a deeper connection with yourself and set the tone for the day.
2020 has definitely been a challenging year. Many of us are working from home, making it harder for us to separate our home life and our work life. Getting up at the same time every day can be helpful. This sets your internal clock and tells your body it’s time to wake up and face the day.
Starting your morning with rituals can help you become more centered and optimistic. Staying balanced is so important for the mind, body and spirit.
Early in the day, stop worrying about deadlines you need to meet, emails you need to answer or the laundry or the grocery list you need to tackle—you get the point. Make mornings your time to relax and check in with yourself. Focus on being present in the moment. Use this time to catch up with yourself. Self-love shouldn’t just be reserved for Sundays.
Set intentions every day. Starting your day with firm intentions for how it will unfold can be a great way to stay focused and quiet outside distractions. Write in a journal. Take the time to acknowledge what you are grateful for. Meditation can do wonders and it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Many people think they have to sit on the floor, close their eyes and chant a mantra. Meditation can be as simple as focusing on your breath. Breathing in for five counts and exhaling for five counts seven times will help you quiet your mind. You can even do this as you’re making your coffee, tea or breakfast smoothie. Multitasking at its best!
Get up and get moving. Say good morning to your muscles! Your body is an amazing machine that carries you through the day. Fuel it with some yoga, cardio, weight training and even stretching to boost your circulation, get your heart thumping and the blood flowing to your brain. And, when the weather is nice, lace up your sneakers and go outside. Inhale some fresh air as you soak in the vitamin D. When the warm sun touches your skin, breathe in and reground yourself. Remember, the hardest part is getting there. So, if you struggle with getting up and at ’em, maybe leave a workout outfit by the bed, one that makes you feel cute. Schedule your workouts like you would any important meeting.
Go to bed at a reasonable time and nurture restful sleep. Springing out of bed ready to face the day becomes infinitely more difficult if you’re exhausted because of poor or too little sleep. So it might not surprise you that becoming a morning person is linked to what you do the night before. Staying up late may be your type of fun, but it’s counterproductive if getting up early and optimistic is a goal. Aim for seven to nine hours and incorporate an evening wind-down routine if you tend to be a night owl.
Getting out of bed on the right foot can impact your whole day in a healthy and positive way. You may also notice that your mood may become noticeably better. It is possible to transform yourself into an optimistic morning person—just make the commitment to do it.