9 Positive Habits For Your Morning Routine

Let me guess, in the morning you wake up before work and do one of the following: groan at the annoying alarm that’s ringing beside you, grab your phone and scroll through social media or remember the myriad of emails you’ve got to reply to. Or, if it’s a day off 9/10 you’ll wake up after sleeping in and go straight to your phone.

We’re all guilty of spending too much time staring at phone screens or putting work ahead of what should be a relaxing start to every day.

Here at The Sleep Boss, we want to try to encourage you to think more about what you’re doing in the morning and how this might impact your mental wellness and sleep. Therefore, we’ve created a list of 9 Things You Should Do In The Morning to start the day in a positive way.

1. Avoid Phone Use in the Morning

For the sake of mental clarity and stress relief, we strongly discourage you from grabbing your phone the minute your eyelids open and checking multiple different platforms. This notion prompts your brain to identify the impending stresses that may be faced throughout the work day. We understand that some emails require immediate reply, in which case go ahead, but if you can avoid checking into social media for at least 30 minutes to an hour after waking, your mind and eyes will thank you for it. Remember, it’ll all be there no matter what time you check it. Let your body wake up organically and without the pressure to be connected 24/7.

2. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning

A simple step that often falls by the wayside, drinking a glass of water is perfect for kickstarting your metabolism, hydrating your body after a night of sleep and flushing any unwanted toxins out of your system. Every man and his dog know that we need to drink water and often more of it than we realise, so get ahead of the game and incorporate at least one glass into your morning routine.

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3. Set an intention for the day

It seems a bit hippy-dippy to those who don’t know or give much thought to mindfulness, but the power of setting an intention for the day is profound. It means you’re starting the entire day with a positive thought and focus to guide yourself through the day. This is what you’re hoping to achieve that day, so don’t be too ambitious and set a realistic intention. It can be as simple as wanting to respond to five emails or eating three meals throughout the day. Be kind to yourself, but also give your mind a little nudge to create a positive day.

4. Morning Meditation

Shall I say no more? Meditation is something that we’re huge believers in at The Sleep Boss. Meditation has the most calming effect on the mind and body, allowing for a state of clarity and peace. What better way to start any day by meditating for as little as 10 minutes in each morning. It might be difficult at first to clear your mind, but practise makes perfect. If you’re looking for guidance, we’ve created a list of the best meditation apps on the market.

5. Get some Vitamin D every day

AND wear sunscreen. You’d be really surprised at how important it is for us to get some extra sun, especially in the morning. Think about it, you’ve just spent the entire night asleep in darkness and probably up to 6 hours prior to sleep under artificial lights. Getting outside in the sun for just 30 minutes first thing in the morning will improve your mental health and give your body the vitamin D it needs to function. So, practise your morning meditation outside or simply sit and soak up the rays – the opportunities are endless.

6. Exercise for positivity

Not a surprise, but always something a lot of us struggle with doing consistently. Exercise has so many health benefits, including better sleep, and releases all the feel-good endorphins in your body to promote greater mental wellness. Adding exercise into your morning routine for as little as 30 minutes a day can do wonders for your sleep cycle, overall health and mental wellness.

7. Eat a healthy breakfast

No, we don’t mean a muffin and coffee! Start your morning with a healthy breakfast to properly nourish your digestive system and mind. Whether that be a bowl of porridge with maple syrup, or a fruit smoothie. Meals with natural sugars and slow-burning carbs are great to keep you fuller and energised for longer. If you can focus on consuming at least one nutritious meal, first thing in the morning, your day will be much better for it.

8. Listen to an inspiring podcast

Podcasts are one platform that we encourage in the morning, as the content promotes positive thinking and provides resourceful information. Inspirational podcasts are a great way to reinforce positive thinking through affirmations, information or just a plain old pep talk. If you’re looking for podcasts that focus on mental wellness and inspire healthy change, we’ve curated a short list of four wellness podcasts to make your morning wonderful.

9. Wear something that makes you feel good

Literally anything. It could be a hair clip, red socks, your Grandma’s knitted purple sweater or those black jeans you spent too much money on. Wearing comfortable and comforting clothes definitely impacts how you carry yourself and go about your day. So, wear something that makes you feel good, and you’ll have a good day.

Don’t try to do all of these at once. Add one or two to your morning routine and see how it works for you. We hope at least one of these helps you have a nicer day and in turn, sleep a little deeper.

Written by Shaye Milford.

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Our Wellness Hub is a place to find wellness and mental health resources, yoga studios, meditation leaders and practitioners. We will continue to update these resources for you as we find the best to help you find your own unique way to Sleep Deep and Sleep Well.