Did you know that a healthy morning routine can set the tone for the entire day? Instead of dragging yourself out of bed, you should try adopting a positive mindset to begin your day with actions that improve your mood and prepare your body for handling your daily tasks.

So, let’s talk about the healthy habits you can develop to make the most of your day and improve your health. 

1. Get Your Body Moving

Exercising in the morning is awesome. In fact, studies show that it boosts your overall energy, improves focus, and reduces stress. Plus, if you want to include exercise in your daily routine, it’s much easier to commit to a morning workout routine, as it is done before your other tasks.

Depending on how you feel and how much time you have, you can start with some quick exercises, perform a whole fitness routine or go for a run. Also, did you know that morning is the best time to exercise for weight loss?

A great alternative for people who don’t feel like moving too much in the morning is doing some stretching. This will improve your flexibility and loosen your muscles. 

2. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Eating breakfast is essential for your health. It fuels your body and mind and gives you strength for the rest of the day. There are several quick and healthy meals that you can try, such as smoothies, pancakes, or yogurt. 

Here are some tips for making the most out of your breakfast:

• Avoid processed foods, such as bacon or sausages
• Choose whole grains over refined grains
• Eat fruits and vegetables
• Include antioxidants such as blueberries from time to time

3. Meditate

Morning meditation has great benefits—it builds focus, reduces stress and anxiety, and gives you more energy. When practiced regularly, meditation can become a life-changing habit. Research even shows that meditation can reduce anxiety levels 60% of the time.

A common misconception about meditation is that it takes a long time. This is completely wrong. You can start by meditating only 10-15 minutes every morning, and then increase the duration if you feel the need to. Consistency is more important than duration.

One of the greatest things about this practice is that it can be done by anyone. You don’t need any special skills. All you need is motivation and a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.

Ready to do this? Find out more about how to get started with meditation.

4. Write Things Down

Writing things down can help you reduce anxiety, clear your mind, and prioritize your tasks.

A great way to start your day is by journaling. You can try stream of consciousness journaling, which consists in writing down whatever comes to your mind. You might sometimes wake up with a lot of thoughts and worries. Writing them down will help you understand your thoughts and feelings, and see things from a clearer perspective. Stream of consciousness journaling is great because you don’t have to follow a certain structure and you don’t have to censor your thoughts. Sometimes just acknowledging your thoughts and writing them down can work wonders for your mood.

If you are not into journaling, you can write to-do lists and identify the key priorities for the day. This will help you stop wasting time on unimportant tasks and prioritize the things that are really important. Also, sketching a plan will boost your productivity and will motivate you to get things done.

5. Get Some Sunshine

Open the drapes and let the sunshine in. If you have the possibility, spend 15-30 minutes on your balcony or terrace. 

Sunlight not only boosts your mood but also helps regulate your body’s circadian clock, which is responsible for many of your biological processes. Plus, you will feel more energized. 

Furthermore, sunlight exposure will boost your Vitamin D intake, which reduces anxiety and depression among other things.

6. Practice Gratitude

What better way to start the morning than being grateful for the things you already have?

Take a few minutes every day and think about all the things that make your life better. You can do it right after you wake up. Think about your qualities, the people in your life who make you feel valued, happy events, and things you are looking forward to. There’s always something to be grateful about, even if you are going through difficult moments. You can either write these down in your journal or just think about them. 

We often have the tendency to take what we have for granted. Acknowledging the things that improve our living will make us feel better about our lives and will train our minds to see the bright side in every situation.

Let’s Do This!

Say goodbye to hitting the snooze button and create a morning routine that will make you feel enthusiastic about getting out of bed and beginning your day. Start your day on a positive note and notice how it affects the rest of your life.

What other habits help you start the day with a positive mood? Let me know in the comments below.