If you start your day hitting snooze multiple times, dragging your heels, and feeling down on yourself, stick with me. You don't have to be a morning person to follow these 4 simple tips. Make your mornings more positive and set the tone for the day ahead with these simple self-care tips that will change your life.
A GOOD MORNING ROUTINE SETS A POSITIVE TONE FOR THE DAY
How we wake up matters because it sets the tone for the day. Unfortunately, most people roll into the new day mindlessly, bleary-eyed, and rushing out the door. And that half-hearted heavy energy follows them through the day. Our morning routine affects our mental health and our productivity throughout the day, every day. Creating a morning routine that's positive, and sets the tone for the day, sets the tone of your life.
THE PERFECT MORNING ROUTINE IS A MORNING ROUTINE YOU DO
Let's be honest, some advice for morning routines is just too difficult! Like, get a good night's sleep and not hitting the snooze button. We can't always just decide to do something and it's done, especially if we're half asleep. If it were that easy, we'd all have superstar morning routines and be at the top of our game.
Morning routines only work if you're disciplined, and many of us just aren't. So today, I'm sharing with you some easy, doable tips to make your mornings positive and set the tone for the day without adding extra stress.
1) A GREAT MORNING ROUTINE STARTS THE NIGHT BEFORE
Not everyone's a morning person. If you're a night owl, this tip is easy and will definitely make the difference. Say goodbye to rushing around in the morning, and make mornings more positive by preparing the night before.
MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW
Waking up to yesterday's unfinished business puts you on the back hoof right from the start. It's like filling up a fresh new day with yesterday's garbage. Energetically, it sucks away at today's potential. So, in the evenings, do the dishes, clean the kitchen, and tidy up as you go. Wake up to a fresh new day with a clean house. And use today's energy for the creative potential of the future, not the past.
THINK ABOUT TOMORROW TODAY
For a really productive day, don't wait until the morning to write your to-do list. I find that if I wait until the morning, I can't remember what I need to do. Lots of what we do is a continuation of what we have already done. At the end of the day, you know what you didn't achieve today and what you need to achieve tomorrow. It's fresh in your head. So write your to-do list then so that in the morning, you can just get on and do it. This tip will also help with the next one.
PREP FOR TOMORROW TODAY
Start your day on the right foot by prepping what you need the evening before. Collect whatever you need for the day and have it ready to go. Clothes, books, sports gear, whatever you need. In our house, we even have our mugs out on the counter with a tea bag in each. This little habit puts you ahead of the game and gives you a few extra moments in the morning, so hitting snooze doesn't end in rushing out the door stressed.
2) A HEALTHY MORNING ROUTINE STARTS WITH MOVING YOUR BODY
Our bodies are powerful tools that we can tap into to optimize ourselves and create a more positive life. Set yourself up for a positive day by following these two simple tips.
STRETCH INTO LIFE
Stretching gets the blood flowing and wakes up the body, so you feel energized. If you're a night owl and can't stand the thought of setting your alarm clock an hour earlier to fit in exercise, don't worry, I've got you covered. My cats stretch as soon as they wake up right where they are, and so do I.
Stretching in bed is stretching with warm muscles, so we don't have to work as hard to get the benefits. Get your muscles limbered up before you even get out of bed. Add in a few stretches over the coffee machine, and by the time you sit at your desk, you've set your body and brain up for a productive day.
CHANGE YOUR PHYSIOLOGY - CHANGE YOUR MOOD
Research suggests that when you change your physiology, you change your mood. Just standing in a strong warrior stance with your hands on your hips (think superwoman) for two minutes releases a ton of hormones that increase positivity and confidence. Using your body in this way will set the tone for a positive day. You can also use this trick before interviews or challenging situations.
3) THE MEL ROBBINS HIGH-FIVE HABIT
This little trick takes seconds and is sure to set your day up for great things. Our brains associate high-fives with good times and victories. And Mel Robbins has worked out that if we high-five ourselves in the mirror when we wake up, we set our day up for good times and victory.
Sounds a bit silly but confronted with our own image in the mirror, our monkey mind often starts to feed us negative thoughts about ourselves. We start our day feeling insecure, lacking confidence and down on ourselves. Instead this little trick re-wires our brain for positivity, and people are raving about it. Try it for five days and see the difference for yourself.
To make this stronger, say your affirmations in the mirror first then hit that mirror with a high-five.
4) START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON
How you prime your day ahead determines what kind of day you have and, ultimately, what kind of life you have. If you start your day phone scrolling, chances are you're going to feel down about yourself. If you start your day with the morning news, chances are you'll just feel depressed or anxious about the world.
Making your mornings positive sets the tone for the day. Swap out habits that have a negative impact on your mental health with positive morning habits like;
☀ Read or listen to inspiring content that feeds your mind, motivates, and energizes
☀ Be around people that make you feel confident, positive, and energized
☀ Practice gratitude
☀ Say positive affirmations
☀ Connect to yourself through breathwork or meditation
☀ Eat a healthy breakfast
GREAT MORNING ROUTINES CREATE GREAT LIVES
These 4 ways to making our mornings more positive and setting the tone for the day are my favorites. They give the most bang for your buck! They set up our day for positive, productive, and powerful success. I hope they inspire you to set the tone of your life for an awesome life.
Written by Kirsti Formoso - Wellness Writer for Koraru
Kirsti Formoso is a wellness writer and researcher. She is passionate about holistic health and wellbeing. She has over 30 years of experiential knowledge in personal and spiritual development, and a Masters of Science in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology. She is also a peer reviewer for two scientific journals specialising in Transpersonal Pyschology. When she’s not writing she can be found working on her vegetable plot, hiking in the mountains and breathing in all the wonders nature has to offer.
