Master Your Morning Routine

Master Your Morning Routine

The perfect morning routine looks different for everyone. No matter what time you start your “morning” here are a few tried and true ways to reduce stress and increase productivity from the moment you open your eyes.

1. Drink a full glass of water

Drinking a full glass of water will help to rehydrate your body and allows for better digestion when you do eat. Feeling like something’s missing? Adding lemon to your water will give you a shot of vitamin C, aid in digestive health, and act as a detoxifying agent. Additionally, lemon is also said to have antibacterial and immune-boosting properties.

You can read more about fitness and hydration here.

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2. Practice gratitude

Living your life with gratitude is a complete game-changer. Write a list of 5-7 things that you are grateful for every morning by affirming the good things you’ve received and acknowledging the role that others have played in receiving that goodness. By regularly taking the time to reflect upon the things that you are thankful for, you will experience more positive emotions, feel more alive and express more compassion and kindness out in the world.

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3. Set your intention for your day

Setting daily intentions is the best way to focus our energy on pursuits with lasting value and the key to purposeful living. Your daily intention might change day to day, or it may stay the same.

Today I commit myself to:

• Healthy eating.
• Being the best partner I can be.
• 15 minutes of journaling.
• Connecting with my team at work.

It is important to note that your intention is not a statement of exclusion and will not be the only thing you do that day. And, try not to feel discouraged if you get distracted! What matters is beginning your day being focused an intentional.

4. Read something that positively feeds your mind

In general, reading strengthens your brain, builds your vocabulary, and helps prevent age-related cognitive decline. Other benefits include stress reduction, lower blood pressure, and memory enhancement.

Choosing exactly what you read is very important because your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are all influenced by what you read and what you listen to. Consuming a variety of subject matters that are positive, inspiring, and stimulating can truly change your life.

Side note – I encourage you to read actual, physical pages instead of something off your phone or another device. In fact, I encourage you to not look at your phone at all in the morning!

5. Move your body

Why? Well, in the words of Elle Woods, exercise increases endorphins, and endorphins make you happy! Moving your body in the morning will have a positive effect on your mood for the rest of your day.

Whether this is a workout, a stretch or a dog walk, you'll enjoy an energy boost and increased mental clarity for the rest of your day. And, if you stick with it, I bet those walks turn into runs and those stretches turn into the start of your yoga journey.

Check out my other article on how consistency leads to successful habits.

I hope this article gave you some inspiration to switch up your morning routine and start your day off right!

For more awesome fitness tips and real talk, come hang out with me on Instagram! I'd love to connect with you over there!

xo

Lindsay