10 Sure-Fire Tips to Have a Healthy Morning Routine

Morning is a very important part of the day. Some might say it’s more important than the afternoon and the evening. It’s when most of us usually wake up and prepare to go to work or class or plan how we’re going to go about with the rest of our day.

That’s why we get so stressed when our mornings get messed up.

Each of us have had at least one bad morning. The alarm didn’t wake us up, effectively throwing our entire schedule out the window. We forgot we needed to do the laundry yesterday, so we don’t have any clean clothes to wear. We miraculously make it out the door looking halfway decent, only to find out we also forgot to pack ourselves lunch. And the list goes on.

Good thing there’s an effective way to avoid keeping ending up in the same situation. You can create and follow your very own healthy morning routine. As a set of healthy habits that can help start your day right, practicing it practically guarantees you won’t have stressful mornings ever again.

Ready to take control of your mornings? Here are 10 tips that make sure you’ll gain a healthy morning routine.

Prepare the Night Before

Unlike what some might think, great mornings don’t start when you wake up. They start the night before.

Pick out what you’re going to wear and lay them out so you don’t have to spend so much time choosing the next day. Place everything else you need, like your bag and dry cleaning to be dropped off, by the door where you can easily grab them on your way out. Then set the table for breakfast.

Having done all this, your morning will surely go without a hitch.

Always Have a Healthy Breakfast

With so many things you need to do later in the day, you might skip breakfast and grab some coffee at Starbucks just so you have more time to tackle everything on your plate. But it would be so much better if you sat down and had a healthy breakfast instead.

It’s called breakfast because you’re breaking your “fast,” or the length of time you didn’t eat while you were sleeping. If you skip it, your body will be forced to conserve energy. Your metabolism will slow down, leaving you with less energy throughout the day.

You don’t have to whip up a huge meal just to have a healthy breakfast, like the ones you see on TV shows. A bowl of oatmeal sprinkled with some cinnamon, nuts and slices of fruit paired with a cup of tea will do just fine.

Make a List

If you’re worried you might forget any of the things you need to do the next day, just write them down. Listing them lets you just take a look if you need to check, keeping you from forgetting anything important. Make the list the night before and leave it where you won’t miss it in the morning, like on the kitchen table or beside the coffeemaker.

Knowing exactly what you need to do first thing in the morning lets you hit the ground running as soon as you get up.

Wake Up Earlier

You won’t be able to enjoy a peaceful morning if you have to rush. Give yourself time to relax by getting up earlier than usual. You don’t have to wake up before sunrise. Just try setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier. That gives you just enough time to comfortably carry on with your morning routine without having to worry whether you can make it to work or class on time.

Slow Down

Having said it would be better if you started waking up earlier than you usually do, all that time you now have to just chill will be wasted if you still rushed yourself. For example, how fast do you brush your teeth? If you don’t even think about it, pay close attention instead. Carefully brush each tooth. Enjoy the minty freshness in your mouth. Look at yourself intently in the mirror. Doing so lets you be present, making sure you relax.

Give Meditation a Try

It’s not just to eat a healthy breakfast and mindfully brush your teeth that you can allot time for in the morning to have a healthy morning routine. You can also start practicing meditation. An age-old technique that helps calm the mind and improve overall well-being, you can practice it a few minutes after waking up to clear your mind and enjoy a sense of serenity.

Exercise

If you like being active more, you could make exercise part of your morning routine instead. Aside from weight regulation and improved strength and immunity, it boosts your brain’s health by encouraging it to release “feel good” chemicals. The better you feel in the morning, the better your mood will be throughout the day.

Do a Proper Warm-Up

Many injuries sustained during exercise were caused by not warming up properly first, so remember to do so beforehand. Aside from stretching, take a warm shower or bath to really get yourself ready. If you have time, you can also go for a jog or brisk walk. It will boost your endurance, but know that it won’t help build muscle.

Make Your Morning Playlist

You’d be surprised how good listening to music is to well-being. It has a lot of health benefits, including mood elevation, stress reduction and increased workout endurance. Listen to your favorite songs while working out or eating breakfast and scrolling your feeds to brighten up your morning even more.

Make Being Grateful a Habit

They say real happiness lies in finding joy in the little things. They can be anything, like getting texted first thing in the morning by your best friend, sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee, or digging into a stack of warm pancakes dripping with maple syrup. Taking a moment each morning to think about the things you have that you’re grateful for lets you view your life through a positive lens, ensuring you’ll be in a great mood for the rest of the day.

References

• “Tips for a Healthy Morning Routine,” WebMD
• “Start With a Better Morning Routine,” Everyday Health

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Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels