Let’s face it, not all of us wake up with our lives altogether. Some of us have a toxic relationship with our alarms and the bags under our eyes show it. Maybe you missed out on your bedtime because of some retail therapy or maybe you got caught up bingeing on your new favorite Netflix series addiction.
Unfortunately, we don’t always put our sleep first. This can lead to a rough start to your day filled with many missed opportunities. It comes to no surprise that the experts were right, being a morning person can increase your chances of success.
Many entrepreneurs take waking up early very seriously. Take note of Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post and notorious early riser. She makes waking up early a priority to make sure she has time for her morning routine. “Ninety-five percent of the time I get eight hours of sleep a night, and as a result, ninety-five percent of the time I don’t need an alarm to wake up. And waking up naturally is, for me, a great way to start the day.”
Ok, maybe waking up naturally isn’t for everyone but it’s a good goal, right?
People who wake up early are generally more proactive. This typically leads to a better job performance, leading to career success and even higher wages. Extra time in the morning allows you to organize your day without rushing around.
With so many things to accomplish, you need all the extra time you can get. But waking up early doesn’t mean you need to miss out on sleep. It is just as important to wake up early as it is to fall asleep at a timely hour.
Now if these healthy morning routines suddenly turn you into a morning person, then we’ve filled two needs with one deed.
Meditate
Seriously – if you aren’t meditating already, you’re missing out. Set the tone of your day with a little deep breathing and meditation in the morning. It’s been proven that it can actually rewire your brain.
A study showed that individuals who meditated in an 8-week program developed more grey matter in their brain where the learning and memory controls are located. As someone who can never remember where I put my keys, this is great news.
For those of us who have stressful careers or suffer from anxiety, meditation is also a great coping mechanism. By staying focused on the present, you are training your brain to focus on the task at hand, instead of worrying about a million things at once.
It’s a no-brainer that making meditation a morning habit will only benefit you in the long run. So quiet your overactive mind with just 10 minutes each day to get you off to a great start.
Avoid Social Media
I couldn’t think of anything less productive than scrolling through social media in the morning. For what? To put yourself in a bad mood? Instead, try reading something beneficial.
Rather than scrolling through Instagram, read some good news. Many websites have good new sections or motivational stories that can help you begin your day with something positive.
Tanks Good News is an online publication that hosts a collection of heart-warming news stories that are shared to inspire. Roused by all the bad news we see each day, Tank decided we needed a healthy and happy place to go for good news. With depressing headlines everywhere, he decided the world can use a little bit of positivity, especially from a news source.
Or, if you’re an animal lover, subscribe to The Dodo. This site is solely dedicated to sharing positive news about animal come up stories. For those of you who aren’t big readers, you’re in luck. Their site has plenty of stories that are told video form.
For those entrepreneurs working towards “the dream” there’s a site for you too. If you are looking for some morning motivation, this page is destined to be your new favorite. CNBC’s site “Make It” is sure to fire up some inspiration with their Success column. Here you can find plenty of stories that will inspire you to keep up the hustle.
Yoga
This healthy habit needs to be a part of your daily routine. Medicine for the mind and body, yoga influences major transformations.
It is euphoria for your body. With so much time sitting at a desk or in your car, your posture can suffer. By incorporating yoga and stretching, your body will open up and your posture will improve.
It can also improve your concentration, allowing you to maintain focus during those meetings that can be difficult to get through.
Create a To-Do List
There’s one big reason you need to start waking up in the early morning, you need to make sure you have enough time to create a to-do list. It is so vital to create goals for each day to keep you on track.
Without a written agenda, you’re kind of just winging it as you go, right?
So instead, create a list of important tasks. Write this list in order of most important to least urgent. That way it will help you prioritize your day in your work and personal life.
Make Your Bed
I know, we’re not your parents, but I promise you they were on to something. This healthy morning routine is not for the lazy. According to author William McRaven, making your bed every morning will help set the tone of your day.
By conquering your first task of the day, it will motivate you by giving you a sense of accomplishment. This will lead you to complete more tasks on your to-do list throughout the rest of the day. Discipline and habit will begin to form once you start making this a part of your routine.
A clean room can also make you feel more organized, leading to less stress and more productivity. And who doesn’t want to be more productive?
Exercise
What better way to get your blood flowing than getting some exercise in the morning. If you’re up early don’t spend your time playing on your phone. Instead, give yourself 30 minutes in the gym to get your blood flowing.
Take a morning walk or sneak in a quick weight session and you will start to feel like you’re one step closer to success.
Drink Water
A glass of water never hurt anybody. Hydrate, your mind, and body will thank you.
Adults need an average of 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night and that’s a lot of time to go without drinking water. If you think about it, your body is dehydrating itself overnight, so it is so important to drink water first thing in the morning.
Get yourself in the habit of drinking a glass of hot water first thing when you wake up. Warm liquids are proven to have great benefits for your digestive system and eliminate waste. They are also soothing and comforting to the body and can calm your central nervous system, putting your mind and body at ease.
Last but not least, it can prevent signs of aging. Staying hydrated is vital when you’re trying to fight off the aging process. By ridding your body of bacteria and germs that can accelerate aging, you are already a step ahead of the anti-aging game.
Show Gratitude
Do good and feel good. Take Hoda Kotb from the Today Show for example. For her healthy morning routines she suggests writing down 3 things each morning that you are grateful for. These things are supposed to be little acts of kindness you noticed from the day before.
Kotb also suggests to write down one big thing you are grateful for and here’s why it works: you are beginning to change the way you think.
It might be difficult to see how this method is effective but experts swear by it. Just 5 minutes a day is enough to change negative thoughts into positive ones.
Instead of waking up counting your misfortunes, you begin to establish an attitude of gratitude. By forcing yourself to count your blessings you are changing the habits of your thought processes.
Just like when you develop a new habit your mind gets used to the new train of thought. In turn, you’ll wake up grateful and excited to start your day with this healthy morning routine.
Kaitlyn is the Owner and Founder of THE SOWELL. She is a digital marketing expert and SEO content writer with…
