Master the Morning

When the sun rises, are you ready for the day or ready to hit the snooze button a few more times? If “morning person” has never been a way you would describe yourself, consider incorporating one or all of the following into your routine:
 

• Set a bedtime alarm.  Decide what time you really need to go to bed to get enough sleep to actually feel rested in the morning.  Now set your “it’s time to get ready for bed” alarm 30 minutes before that time.  When the alarm goes off, power down all electronics, get ready for bed and be in bed by your newly self- designated bedtime.
• Avoid fashion frustration.  Laying out what you will wear, (be it your gym clothes and or your clothing for the day), the night before, can save time and frustration in the morning. 
• Use an alarm clock. Go old school, stop using your phone right before you go to bed.
• Flip your opening lines.  Those first thoughts you say to yourself when you wake up (“I am so tired” or “I’m so stressed”) can significantly impact your energy levels for the day.  Try changing the script to something more positive.  Until it becomes habit, stick a reminder note on your nightstand.
• Hello sunshine.  When you get up, open the shades immediately.  Natural light flips your brains switch from sleepy to awake. And if the sun isn’t up yet, turn on the lights to get as much bright light in the room as possible.
• Stretch. Reach for the sky, now your toes, side to side and take a few deep breaths.  These simple moves alerts your body that its time to get up and going.
• Delay. Even a quick phone check can drain precious morning time and energy. If you start your day on your device, more than likely, you are starting it out in a reactive way.  Claim your morning as yours, and keep your device off for the first 15-30 minutes you’re awake.
• Chug. Ok, not really…sip a glass of water (add lemon if you like).  Starting your day with some pure hydration sets a healthy foundation for the day.
• Make your bed.  This simple action, can bring a sense of calm, control and might take you out of sleep-mode.
• Enjoy breakfast.  Providing your brain and your body with some fuel in the morning can boost alertness, moderate energy swings and may even control hunger waves later in the day.  Whole grains and berries are both full of fiber, add some protein and possibly even some healthy fat and you are set for success and satisfaction.

 
You may never be a natural “morning person”, but with a few tweaks to your routine, you can master your morning and set yourself up for whatever the day throws your way.