I’ll be honest—I will be the first to admit that I don’t consider myself a morning person. Oftentimes, my first thought when I open my eyes is that I just want five more minutes of sleep. I am not the type that jumps out of bed energized and ready to start the day.
If you are anything like me, this post is for you. I’ve compiled a few very useful and easy ways to make the most of your morning, to set yourself off on the right foot, so that maybe—just maybe—with practice and a bit of help, we, too, can be morning people. If you are a natural early bird, this post is still incredibly helpful as it gives everyone a way to organize and maximize the start of the day. They say that the morning is when our willpower and motivation are the strongest, so let’s make the most of it!
Think In The Morning.
Sometimes the best mornings start the night before they even happen. I received some really helpful advice that relates to this. If there is something weighing on your mind, schedule time to ponder on it but don’t let it overcome your entire being. The idea here is to reserve a certain bit of time to focus on whatever it is that you need to think on. Otherwise, let it go. Along these lines, many of us use nighttime (and bedtime) as a time to think about issues or burdens and this negatively reflects upon our quality of sleep. Let it go when your head hits the pillow. A fresh mind can better tackle things, whether it’s a problem at work or a personal matter.
Eat Your Way To A Better Slumber.
Try to eat less at night and definitely curb caffeine or snacking as the nighttime hours arrive. Add in foods that help with quality sleep including turkey, bananas, or almonds. Then, be sure to eat a hearty, great breakfast to fuel your productive day!
Make A List.
The night before, assemble a list of to-dos for the next day. This also relates to the idea that our willpower is strongest when we first wake up. If we have a set of goals to achieve right from the start, we know our direction and are inspired to achieve them by the time the day is winding down. What a wonderful way to structure a day and motivate even the sleepiest of sleepyheads to get their day started.
Exercise.
They say you should tackle your biggest task first because it sets the tone for the rest of the day (victory!) but it also makes the rest of your tasks look more achieveable. So, if you need an extra push to get your workout in at an optimal time, here it is. Not only that, but exercise in the morning really gets your metabolism amped up, your blood flowing, and heart pumping—all great ways to optimize your body for a day of adventure and success.
Give yourself an affirmation.
Whether it’s a daily question you pose yourself or a quote you recite to keep in mind throughout the day, affirmations are powerful and wonderful bits of support. Some of us might love a meditation quote whereas others might listen to an empowering song. These are all affirmations that can really ground you.
Have a cup of tea.
This is just a great time to power up (we recommend our Matcha or Yerba Mate Tea Drops--which are naturally caffeinated to give you an extra kick when you need it most) and yet setle down and relax before a busy day. Drinking a cup of tea requires you to take pause. You deserve a moment, whether it’s with a great book, the newspaper, Sudoku, or just your thoughts.
Posted by Erin Schwartz
