The way we start our day can have a huge impact on the rest of it. If we wake up on the wrong side of the bed, for example, we can feel grumpy and not ourselves all day. We could feel like nothing is going our way and that we have a string of bad luck. Starting your day positively can be the key to success, and often doing it just means changing your habits, trying new things and making a routine that you can stick to. So what can you consider doing to start your day in the right way? Here are some of the things to think about.
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Get a good night’s sleep
One of the first things to think about would be how much sleep you get and whether there is anything you could be doing to get more of it, or better quality of sleep at night. A good night’s sleep can instantly lift your mood in the morning. You can feel more energised and awake, you can feel well rested and ready for anything. But how do you ensure you get a good night’s sleep? It all starts with your bedtime routine. Cut out the technology and avoid caffeinated drinks after 3pm. Make sure you relax and unwind your mind before trying to attempt to get some shut eye. You should also work out how much sleep you really need. Not all of us need a solid 8 hours, and some of us function better with more or less.
Stretching
Once you wake up a good idea is to stretch your body. You won’t have moved muc in the night so your muscles will be relaxed in a particular way, so it is worth stretching to try and get things moving in your body once more. Stretch your arms above your head, move your body a little. It can get the blood pumping and also start to wake you up naturally without feeling rushed. There are some great suggestions as to what stretches work well first thing online if you do a little research.
Getting up early
There is no denying that the early bird catches the worm, so why not try and start your day a little earlier? There are many things that you can do with your time and getting up early. It could present the perfect time to exercise, you could journal and write a gratitude list. You could even work or get a jump on the day with some household tasks. It is the small things that can make a big difference and impact on your day, and getting up earlier may allow you to start it in the right way.
Doing something you enjoy
Getting up early doesn’t mean you have to make use of the time in terms of work or getting jobs done, you could also do something you enjoy. No matter what, in the morning, be it getting up on your commute to work, you could do something that you enjoy. That might mean things like watching YouTube videos or listening to the Dr. Death podcast, for example. It might mean a wordsearch or a crossword puzzle. Maybe it is exercise or just enjoying a coffee and a few pages of your book. Doing something that you enjoy will help to put you in a good mood and enable you to start your day in a good way.
Eating breakfast
One of the most important meals of the day is breakfast, and some even say it should be one of your largest meals of the day. This is because your body has time to digest and make use of the nutrients and vitamins that you consume. So why not make your mission to start enjoying breakfast in the morning? Maybe get up early so you can make something a little more substantial. Or use the time to enjoy a family morning breakfast instead. All sitting round and enjoying the morning energy and discussing your day before it begins. Whether it is tea and toast or a full English breakfast, having something in the morning can help to start your day in the right way and give you the energy boost that you may need.
Exercising
We have already mentioned getting up early and how this presents a great opportunity to exercise, but generally exercising first thing is one of the best ways to start your day. Exercising produces endorphins, and this can help to make you feel happy. So why not use this as a chance to start your day in the best possible way? You could head out for a walk or a run, you could put on a workout that you can do in your living room. Whatever it is, raise your heart rate and just enjoy yourself for a little while. You will be surprised how good you feel for the rest of the day.
Journaling or showing gratitude
Journaling your feelings and showing gratitude is one of the best things you can do for your mental health, so why not make it a priority in your life and do it in the morning? It gives you a chance to reflect, it helps you to feel more at ease with things and it could enable you to have a better and more positive outlook on your life. Why not give it a try and see how different you start to feel?
Meditation
Finally, meditation is another great way to start your day. Most people associate it with the need of the day, but it can actually be a great way to start it. You simply clear your mind and focus on your breathing, for a few minutes. There are even guided meditations that you can try that will help you to stay more focused on the things that you need to be doing rather than allowing your thoughts to wonder. You may even feel clearer and more focused for the rest of the day.
Let’s hope these suggestions help you to start your day in a better way.
