Four healthy morning habits that will help change your day…
Has this ever happened to you?
You’re trudging through the day and your mind and body feel off-centered.
Coffee isn’t jolting you out of your morning daze, as it normally does. Andyou remain unfocused and fatigued. Yet, it’s only 11 a.m. So, what is it?
The possible culprit? A bad morning habit.
Or even worse: Habits. Plural.
So what can we do to prevent these sluggish mornings from happening inthe first place? Simply by consciously practicing better, healthier habits.
Here are the four habits that will help you transform your morning:
Drink Water First Thing When You Wake Up
Alright, so first things first — hydration. This is, in my opinion, the easiest and most effective one of the bunch. You keep a water bottle by your bedside, so you have it ready upon awakening. No extra steps. No muss, no fuss.
Or you can serve yourself a glass of water in the kitchen. It really doesn’t matter how you do it as long as you do it. And here’s why you shouldn’t avoid this:
When you sleep an average of 6 to 8 hours per night, your body has been without water and needs to rehydrate. And sipping on H20 can prevent the effects of dehydration — such as a lack of focus and fatigue.
After all, experts claim that drinking water first thing in the morning can dramatically boost your alertness and jump-start your metabolism.
It is also ideal to drink water before moving on to our next step:
Get Yourself in Motion
Now that you’re up and quenching away the morning blues, it’s time to get your blood pumping! But let’s be honest. I know we’d rather stay tucked in bed. At least I do. But here’s why motion is important: exercise doesn’t tire you, instead, it energizes you. Which goes against popular opinion.
That’s right. Moving gives you energy and improves focus and mental abilities. So much so, that experts claim that half a minute of exercising can provide the same mental boost as a cup of coffee! Need I say more? (And you can still enjoy your morning cup of joe! But more on that later.)
Now, if you already have an established morning workout routine, you can skip this step. But, if you workout at night like myself, you can achieve this with a simple stretching routine, five minutes of yoga, or taking the dog for a walk. To name just a few options.
Ultimately, motion is emotion.
Eat a Nutritious Breakfast
At this point, you’ve slaked your thirst and pumped endorphins into your system with a quick workout. It’s now time to nourish your body with a well-balanced breakfast. Preferably something small and easily digestible.
Much like drinking water, a healthy breakfast also improves your metabolism, gives you energy, and boosts concentration. Starting to see a pattern here? Good.
Here’s a caveat, though: this habit is optional.
Yep. According to Healthline, skipping breakfast isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are other methods that produce great results, such as fasting. So it’s important to understand your personal nutrition goals and tailor this habit to match them. And when you decide to break your fast — this is where you can enjoy our Viiva products!
Practice Gratitude (in less than 5 minutes)
Your body is now running on all cylinders and filled with confidence.You’re energized and aching to cross all the items on your to-do list. And while your body is in tiptop shape, you must also nourish your mind.
This is where gratitude comes in. Now, you may be thinking, “I don’t have time for that. I need to get to work!” Luckily, this habit only takes a few minutes.
Here are two simple ways to practice gratitude each morning:
- Write down a list of five things you’re grateful for. Some people keep gratitude journals (such as the best-selling 5-Minute Journal) or simply jot the list down on a piece of paper. Find the method that works best for you.
- Same as above, but verbalize the list. It’s less time-consuming and you can add more things to your list! You can also do it while commuting.
And how do you know you’re doing this correctly? It’s all about theFEELING. You must feel the joy of gratitude. The emotion of love. You will also begin to notice a sense of peace and happiness and appreciation.
When you start feeling overwhelmed with positive vibes and a glass-half-full attitude — you’ll know you’re doing this right.
From now on, your newfound habits will propel you towards the most amazing day!
Healthy Morning Habits healthy morning habits
About the Author
Hector is Viiva’s copywriter. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California- where he moonlights as a songwriter and novelist.
