If you’re not a morning person, you’re definitely not alone. No one wants to start their day feeling sluggish or overwhelmed by the things they need to get done.
It’s time you started putting your mornings to good use.
A good day starts when you put your best foot forward from the moment you open your eyes. Lead with positivity and the rest of your day is sure to follow.
Below, we’ll discuss nine activities you should do right after you wake up. They’re aimed at making your mornings a time you can enjoy before jumping into anything else. They will make you feel more energized and improve your day from the starting line.
It only takes a little push to boost your whole day into high gear.
1. Make Your Bed
Start your day off with one of the simplest things you can do.
Making your bed only takes a few minutes of your time, and it can honestly make a world of difference in getting your day off the ground.
It may not seem like that big of a deal, but to your mind, it’s huge. You’re starting off your day by accomplishing a task. That’s one thing off your to-do list, and you’ve only been awake for five minutes!
Once you get that ball rolling, it’s hard to stop.
You’ll be surprised by how getting one thing done can snowball into other tasks. Before you know it, you’ve had an incredibly productive day.
Even the little things matter.
2. Do Some Stretching
Just getting out of bed can be a struggle when you feel groggy. Your muscles just don’t want to activate, so you end up lying there, staring at the ceiling way longer than you meant to.
Start your day with some morning stretches. It gets your muscles moving as soon as you wake up, ensuring you don’t feel like your body is dragging you down.
It also gives you a quick boost of energy so that you can start your day with some pep in your step.
3. Get Your Workout In
Don’t discount the benefits of morning exercise. If you’re avoiding exercise just because you want an extra five minutes of sleep, you’re doing yourself a major disservice.
Exercising right after you wake up gets your blood pumping through your body and fills you with energy. It’s like a natural shot of caffeine right to the brain.
By working out in the morning, you give yourself the peace of mind that it’s already done. Then, it won’t be looming over you all day.
Now’s the time to get your workout done before it falls off your to-do list entirely.
4. Drink a Glass of Water
Eight or more hours is a significant amount of time to go without drinking any water. Our bodies need to stay hydrated to function properly. It’s crucial to keep your tank full.
So instead of going straight for the coffee machine, grab a glass of water first.
Drinking water in the morning not only rehydrates your body, but it also kick-starts your metabolism, flushes out toxins, and supports a healthy immune system.
On top of all that, water helps clear your mind and makes you feel more alert.
You may be surprised to find that you don’t actually need that first cup of coffee until well into the afternoon.
5. Spend Time Meditating
Take five or ten minutes to start your day in complete and total serenity.
The first hour of your day is the most effective time for meditation. Things are still calm and your mind hasn’t started processing the work you need to get done.
Don’t let it.
Get yourself comfortable, whether that means simply sitting up or brushing your teeth and hair first, then spend a few minutes with just yourself.
Sit in perfect silence and listen to your breathing. Download a guided meditation app to help you along the way. Incorporate meditation with yoga. Do whatever feels right for you on a given day.
Meditating releases endorphins and makes you feel good and energized.
By starting your day in a calm manner, you will feel much more prepared to tackle whatever gets thrown your way.
6. Soak up Some Sun
If you want to start your day right, you’ve got to get a little natural light.
Your body runs on a cycle and the amount of light you get (or lack thereof) plays a big role in keeping that cycle running smoothly. When you introduce sunlight, it signals your body to stop making melatonin.
Melatonin makes you tired and groggy, so you want that process to end as soon as possible.
In the event that you just can’t get enough natural light in your room and you don’t feel like walking outside as soon as you’re up, try investing in an alarm clock with a wake-up light.
It’s hard not to feel a boost of energy when warm sunlight fills your room!
7. Write Something Small
Get yourself a journal and put it to good use.
You’re going to feel so much better in the morning once you get all those persistent thoughts out of your head and onto paper. You don’t have to write a novel — just whatever is on your mind as you wake.
It could be what you dreamt about. There might be an idea you’ve been mulling over. Maybe you remembered something you’ve been meaning to do.
A mind dump is a wonderful way to clear your head so you are better prepared to take on your day.
If you want to start your day on a happy note, write about something or someone you feel thankful for. A day that begins on a grateful note is already much better than one that doesn’t.
8. Make and Eat Breakfast
Breakfast is by far the best way to energize your morning and get you ready for the day.
When you first wake up, your metabolism is better equipped than any other time to turn extra calories into energy. Eating a bigger meal in the morning does way more for you than eating a big dinner.
Make yourself a nutritious meal full of delicious food and see how good you feel about getting your day started.
9. Work on a Personal Project
Jumping out of bed and right into your to-do list is a stressful way to start the day. That’s the last thing you want.
Wake up and do something you’re passionate about, even if it means getting up a little earlier.
Write a little bit, read a little bit, put something together, or pull something apart. It’s better to do the hobbies you really enjoy before starting the things you have to do.
The fact of the matter is that you’re less likely to have the energy to work on your own projects after a full day of responsibilities. This can leave you feeling discouraged and like you never have the time to do what you love.
So make the time first thing in the morning!
In Summary
Your morning is a gold mine of opportunity.
That precious time right after you wake up sets the mood for your entire day, whether you want it to or not. Changing course after that can be difficult, so you may as well start it off right.
These nine activities will help you begin each day right, so you can automatically improve what’s going to come.
About the author
Caitlin Sinclair is the Business Manager for Proximity Northlake. In her free time, you will find her enjoying life on the Lake and spending time with friends.
