Really don’t want to get out of bed most mornings? Try kickstarting your day by finding an energizing routine that rachets up your brain and body for a productive day whether you’re going to be on the clock, at the gym, with the family or your own thoughts.
Thing is, there’s isn’t a one-size regimen to get everyone going at their optimal level of physical and emotional energy. Everyone needs to find out which steps to do in what order to make them rise and truly shine.
There are core elements that should be incorporated in some form — a consistent waking hour, meditation, movement, nourishment, preparation for the day ahead. Here are some actions you may want to incorporate into your daily launch:
Prepare
- Open your curtains and embrace the sunlight.
- Take as cold a shower as you can stand.
- Brush your teeth.
- Complete your morning skincare routine.
- Take care of and enjoy your pets.
Meditate
- Try box breathing exercises (slow, deep breathing).
- Follow a guided meditation.
- Write in your journal or record a short video log.
- Appreciate a person or object in your home.
- Listen to your favorite music.
Nourish
- Drink a full glass of water.
- Drink unsweetened tea or coffee.
- Have a go-to list of easy, healthy breakfast ideas.
- Keep fresh ingredients like berries, citrus, yogurt, nuts and seeds always on hand.
- Look up recipes to try later in the day or the next morning.
Move
- Do five push-ups.
- Try 10 to 15 minutes of yoga — better still if you can come up with your own set of poses.
- Get your strength training out of the way.
- Sneak 20 to 30 minutes of cardio in before breakfast.
- Walk, run or bike to work.
While setting up your morning routine, be sure to not pack things in so tightly that you’re immediately stressed — leave at least five minutes of “buffer” time between activities. And once you find the order that works for you, stick with it.
One of the points of having a schedule is to eliminate as much decision-making as possible so you can ease into the day.