For most of us, mornings are miserable. Communicating with people is off the agenda until you’ve had your morning coffee. However, there is the rare and endangered species named ‘The Morning Person’ – the kind that is motivated, cheerful, and energetic before 9 am.
How do they do it, I hear you ask? Well, I have listed the Do’s and Don’ts of having an awesome morning below. Let me know in the comments if you have any rituals that make your mornings awesome. Here are mine:
1. DO go to bed earlier the night before
Having an awesome morning begins the night before! Going to sleep earlier means your body will feel well-rested and getting out of bed the next morning will be a breeze. Getting enough sleep is essential for your health and wellbeing; not only does it make your feel generally happier, but it also improves memory, spurs creativity, and can also help you live longer.
2. DON’T snooze
The snooze button looks oh-so-appealing at 6.45 am – but don’t do it! We’ve all done the ’10 more minutes…’ and then woken up an hour later and sprung out of bed as if you were being hit with a cattle prod – and it’s all the snooze buttons fault! Make a point to sit up as soon as your alarm goes off. Doing this over a few days means you’ll become accustomed to it, and the snooze button will be a thing of the past.
3. DO plan a delicious and nutritious breakfast
Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day – and my personal favorite. If you make a point to plan your breakfast then your grumbling stomach will help you get out of bed. There are so many quick and healthy breakfast recipes for the savory or sweet toothed – so why not start experimenting with your breakfast? It’s a sure-fire way to improve your mornings.
4. DON’T check your emails
An important part of being motivated at work is to enjoy the time you’re not working. Maximising your downtime is so important – in order to boost your productivity at work you need to do the same outside of work. So it may be difficult, but when you wake up – don’t check your emails! Keep work for work and use the morning for yourself.
5. DO plan your outfit the night before
Planning is key for an awesome morning – and outfit planning is a big part of this. There’s nothing worse than fumbling in your drawers looking for a pair of clean socks, or waiting for the iron to heat up so you can iron a shirt. Have your outfit for the next day ready the evening before – this way you can get ready with ease!
6. DO drink a glass of water
It’s no secret that staying hydrated is essential for your wellbeing. Try and drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up – not only will it make you feel more alert, but it also purifies the colon, meaning the nutrients in any food you eat are more easily absorbed by the body. Refreshing AND scientific!
7. DO jump on the treadmill for 30 minutes
Getting your blood pumping releases endorphins in the brain – meaning you’ll feel happier as a result. It also jump-starts your metabolism (which is never a bad thing!), and has been scientifically proven to improve mental acuity throughout the day. If you hate the thought of doing a workout, then turn up your favorite track and have a boogie!
8. DO make your bed
This may be a strange tip to share – but making your bed is a “keystone habit” – which means you’re more likely to accomplish other positive things after doing it. So make your bed, and you may just change the world…
9. DON’T use screens
Stay away from anything digital. Don’t watch TV or log onto your laptop, as this creates unnecessary distractions that can slow down your mornings.
10. DO leave your curtains open
Leaving your curtains open at night means that natural sunlight will enter your room – meaning you will often wake up naturally before your alarm. Waking up naturally will leave you feeling more well-rested and happier. Often alarm clocks wake us up during periods of deep-sleep, meaning we’re left feeling groggy and tired. Waking up naturally occurs during light sleep, so we feel more awake and well-rested immediately after waking up.
