An awesome morning routine can help reduce stress whilst increasing productivity. To ensure that your body cycle is healthy, it’s important to try and stick to the same routine - going to bed and waking up at similar times every day! In fact, psychology research recommends to avoid going on your phone just before bed and as soon as you wake up. It also recommends that you don't snooze in the morning, and here’s why!
When you wake up in the morning, either naturally or from an alarm, your body raises the levels of a hormone called cortisol. This hormone helps you respond to stress, regulate blood sugar and fight infections.
That extremely appealing snooze button is actually going to affect your morning routine more than you think! If you snooze in the morning, your body lowers its cortisol levels and when you wake up again, you’re likely to feel more groggy and stressed in the morning. By cutting the snooze out of your morning routine, you’ll already be a lot more prepared and set for your beautiful day ahead!
A morning routine that contains a consistent wake up time, a healthy breakfast and some physical activity is a great place to start. It may seem unachievable and drastic at first, but we know that you’ve got this!
Now this one seems like an obvious one - plan your time properly. Do you need 30 minutes to get ready? 60 minutes? Plan how much time you’ll need to do everything you need to do in the morning (prepare your school folders, finish your homework, go for a run - whatever you need to do) and allow yourself extra time on top of this! This means you’ll have a stress-free morning not rushing around - yay!
Another one that may seem obvious is actually getting out of bed as soon as you wake up. It may be tempting to lay in bed on your phone or have a little relax before you start your day but, as Erin Engle (licensed clinical psychologist) says, ‘Getting out of bed is the first step. Then, select one activity that you can bring full attention to, whether that be a prayer, affirmation, a physical stretch or brushing your teeth.’. She goes on to say how with practice, following a chosen routine can help you weather external stress, enhance your capacity to cope with challenges and engage better with the day ahead.
A great trick that we like to do in the morning is to practice some affirmations. Saying positive affirmations (such as ‘I am worthy’, ‘I am strong’, ‘I don’t chase, I attract’) out loud or writing them down can help shift your mindset into a more positive space. It may feel a little weird at first but trust us, it’s so worth it!
It’s also important to make sure you stay hydrated in the morning - this means water, not just coffee and tea! When you go to bed, fill up a small bottle of water and leave it by your bedside table for when you wake up. Have a few glugs of the water when you wake up and try to stay hydrated while you complete your morning routine - you’ll thank us later!
Even if you’re feeling super tired in the morning, exercising in the morning can really boost your energy levels. Even if it’s just a stretch or a bit of yoga, your body will release endorphins - chemicals that boost energy, happiness and productivity levels! Of course, exercising will also help to warm up your muscles and joints for the day!
If possible, it’s ideal to eat your breakfast within the first hour of waking up. Essentially, this ensures that your metabolism is running at its fastest! If you leave it longer than an hour it can slow down your metabolism for the day which may ruin your day ahead. Eating as soon as you wake up also increases your metabolic rate, meaning your body will burn more calories throughout the day compared to eating later in the morning.
To summarise:
- Maintain a consistent time to go to bed and wake up
- Plan your time in the morning
- Try not to snooze
- Get out of bed straight away
- Avoid going on your phone
- Try some affirmations in the morning
- Stay hydrated by drinking water
- Boost endorphins by exercising or stretching
- Eat something within an hour of waking up
- Eat a healthy and balanced breakfast