6 Steps to Transform Your Morning
Stress free morning routine: Steaming cup of tea, writing in a journal while still in bed, soft morning light streaming through the window
I'm not going to lie… like so many of you, I am not naturally a morning person.
But after making a few simple changes, I have seen firsthand the difference that switching up a morning routine has made for both myself, and for my clients.
So today, I am sharing some of my favourite strategies to help you ditch that groggy, I-just-want-to-stay-in-bed-all-day feeling and totally transform you mornings.
As we are heading into September, we are all changing gears and shifting into back to school and back to work mode. As we do so, the natural tendency is to fall back into our old routines and patterns, but this shift is a perfect time to take a look at those old routines and patterns to see which are serving you and which are due for an upgrade.
Here a some simple changes you can make to help you to avoid the frantic and stressful morning grind, and create a morning routine to reduce stress, lift your mood, create calm and boost productivity:
MEDITATION
Before you roll your eyes and scroll past, meditation has been shown to calm the body and focus the mind by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows your heart rate, slows your breathing, and improves blood flow. Setting aside a few minutes each morning, while everyone is still asleep, to enjoy the peace and quiet can help you to create a calm start to your day. Whether you prefer to focus on your breathing, or to follow a guided meditation, a morning meditation practice can help you to start your day with calm focus and carry that with you as you start your day.
MUSIC
This one is a no-brainer, as it take zero time to implement. Just pop on your favourite playlist as you get ready in the morning, or you can create your own custom morning playlist to listen to. Choose songs that inspire you, motivate you and bring a smile to your face. Music can help to uplift your spirits and set a positive tone for the start of your day.
MOVEMENT
Exercise is another great way to start your day. This can be a trip to the gym, a walk with your dog, a few simple stretches or dancing around to your favourite playlist. No matter which you choose, the increase in your heart rate will get your blood flowing, helping you to ditch the brain fog and feel more awake, alert, and the endorphins released will boost your mood and help you to feel happy, calmer and less stressed.
GET SOME SUN
Morning sunlight exposure can help to reset your circadian rhythm and increases you serotonin levels. This happy hormone boosts your mood and increases your sense of wellbeing. Morning sunlight has also been shown to increase your body's natural melatonin production, which can help you to sleep better at night.
BREAKFAST
Eating a healthy breakfast can be easier than you think and will help you to have better and more sustained energy throughout your day. A bowl of overnight oats, or a quick protein based smoothie, requires little prep time and is the perfect solution when you are on the go.
PLAN YOUR DAY
Creating a plan for your day can help you to prioritise tasks on your to do list and choose where you want to focus your energy and time. Getting clear on what you want, can help you to stick to your plan and avoid your time being highjacked by every email that comes through your inbox, or every notification or update on social media.
Transform your morning routine by Implementing just one or two of these options and see the difference it makes! There is no one perfect morning routine, but you will likely find that there are some elements that work better for you than others. Play around with these and try mixing it up; music, while you are outside walking your dog, or an outdoor, walking, meditation, can help you to reap more of these stress busting benefits, in less time.
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