Want a Healthy Morning Routine? – Consider Adding These Great Habits

Get Out of Bed the First Time Your Alarm Goes Off

Few things are more tempting than repeatedly hitting your alarm clock’s snooze button. Those last few moments of sleep are precious, and you may feel as though you would give anything for “just five more minutes” of rest.

For most people, however, this pattern of clinging to five-minute snooze sleep extensions is actually sabotaging their mornings.

Once you hit the snooze button a few times, it becomes harder and harder to stop. While it may seem counterintuitive, you will feel more well-rested if you simply get out of bed the first time you hear your alarm.

Wake Up At the Same Time Every Day

So many of us make the mistake of waking up early during the week and then “catching up on sleep” when the weekend rolls around. Your body gets confused when your schedule is consistent Monday through Friday but nonexistent on Saturday and Sunday.

Rather than treating the weekend like a free-for-all, try to wake up at the same time every day—regardless of when you go to sleep.

Eat a Smart Breakfast

You’ve heard it said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—but a smart breakfast is even more important!

What you eat when you first wake up will help fuel your body for the rest of the day. Choose balanced breakfast foods that will give you consistent, steady energy for hours to come.

A “smart” breakfast looks different for everyone. You may even find that you are not hungry when you first get out of bed and need to wait until later in the morning before eating a large meal.

Feel free to break up your morning into “first” and “second” breakfast, starting with something small like a piece of fruit or a few bites of toast. Find a balance that works or you, and stick with it even when you are on-the-go.

Set Goals for the Day

Morning is the perfect time to prepare for the day ahead—and what better way to do this than through goal setting? Designate a time, such as the first five minutes after you get out of bed or while you are eating breakfast, to plan your day and to think about what you would realistically like to accomplish.

Set a few attainable goals and write them down in a place where you can see them. Common goals may include reducing your screen time or watching less television, not eating out for lunch, or going to bed earlier that night.

Stay Consistent

Mornings are a difficult time for many of us, and it can be challenging to make the most of the beginning of the day. To have a healthy morning routine, however, you must be willing to prioritize your tasks and focus on the things that will bring you the most success.

Try incorporating one or several of these great habits into your morning routine, and stick with them for several weeks. Over time, they will become second nature—and you may even learn to love your mornings in the process!

A healthy morning routine doesn’t just help your body but also your mind.