How to leverage the power of the start of the day
How may of us have dragged ourselves out of bed (after pressing the snooze button a few times), reached for the coffee and faced the day with bleary eyes? What if there was a way to power up our mornings, and feel energized and focused throughout the day? Here are some tips for a powerful morning routine:
Get a good night’s rest. A great morning starts from the night before, so it’s vital that you have a healthy sleep routine that maximize your overnight rest.
Make a note of your dreams. Our subconscious chews over the events of the day and often provides insights and inspiration through our dreams. Have a dream journal and make a habit of writing down your dreams as soon as you wake up.
"Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions." -Edgar Cayce
Make your bed. Having a clean organized bedroom and a well-made neat bed puts our mind in the right framework for the rest of the day. This is a big one for me, and one that I'm still working on!
Greet the sun. Opening the windows and getting 5 minutes of morning sunlight on our face and skin helps to switch off melatonin and clear brain fog. I also like to take at least 5 deep breaths at the same time.
Drink a glass of water. Hydrating our brain and body is a great way to start the day.
Journal and plan your day. Instead of reaching for your phone/device/emails and getting straight into reactionary mode, take some time to vividly envision the day you want to have. Picture your ideal day in segments:
How would you like your morning to go, and what would you like to achieve?
What about the middle of the day, including a nutritious lunch?
Finally, envision your ideal day’s end, returning home to a great evening.
Read. Take a few minutes to learn something new. This also includes listening to audiobooks, perhaps on the morning commute!
Move and stretch your body. This could be a few minutes of yoga, or an early morning walk in the garden. If you’re up for it, an early morning HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), under guidance of your fitness coach, has been shown to be beneficial.
Have a nutritious breakfast. Nourish your body with a healthy start to the day. Keep an eye out for my future blog posts on healthy nutrition!
And now....
Now you can proceed with the rest of your morning preparations, like a nice shower, and then check your phone if you must. Remember....You’re in charge of your morning!
Thanks for reading! You can follow me at www.paulathedoctormom.com. Feel free to enter a comment below.
Love, Paula
Dr Paula Robertson is a mom and paediatrician with over twenty years' experience working with young people and their families.
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