Almost everyone has trouble getting out of bed on a weekday morning. But there are a few simple habits you can establish to keep the grogginess at bay and set your day off on the right foot.
Don’t hit the snooze button.
Oh the dreaded snooze button! Half of Americans hit it regularly. But the key to having a good morning is forcing yourself to get out of bed. A common trick is putting the alarm across the room. If that doesn’t work, there are dozens of other solutions, including alarm clocks that require you to do bicep curls, solve puzzles, or even chase after them—all activities that will wake even the sleepiest person up.
Make the bed.
A common philosophy for beds is that if you’re using them every single night, so what’s the point in fixing them? The answer is simple. A made bed just feels better. Studies have shown that people who make their beds feel more organized and fall asleep faster than those who don’t. Studies also show that when you make the bed, you get a boost from the sense of accomplishment you get from completing a task. Like Domain says, “It may seem too small a task to matter much, but starting your day by making your bed gives you a sense of accomplishment. Taking only a few minutes of your time every morning, doing so can ignite a positive tone for the rest of the day.”
Eat breakfast.
Whether it’s a simple scrambled egg or a fruit smoothie or a gourmet pancake bar, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s also the meal that’s most often skipped. Eating breakfast is crucial to waking up your metabolism and feeling good the rest of the day. If you don’t have time to eat breakfast, your morning routine is probably too hurried. Wake up just ten minutes earlier, and use the time to give your body the nutrition it deserves. If you don’t have the energy to make yourself breakfast, then have ready-to-eat or ready-to-drink products on hand, like energy bars or protein shakes. Even eating a little is better than starving your body from dinner last night until lunchtime today.
Brush and floss.
The benefits to brushing and flossing are numerous. When it comes to oral hygiene, Sabal General Dentistry recommends, “Daily preventive care in between regular dental visits can greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems…. Brush twice a day and floss daily.” So, to prevent nasty dental problems that will get you a scolding look from your dentist, brush and floss right after breakfast. If you do, you’ll be able to go about your daily activities without offending other people with bad breath or getting embarrassed about food stuck in your teeth. Plus you’ll be able to enjoy the fresh, clean feeling in your mouth and improve your oral health.
Meditate.
Meditation is another great way to start the day off right. A few minutes of peaceful calm is proven to make you feel more centered, which makes you better prepared to tackle the days events. The Art of Living describes it this way: “It is said that the best time for meditation is in the morning, just after one wakes up. While meditation can be helpful at any time of the day, it is particularly powerful in the morning, because our nervous system is already primed for the day.” The best meditation is sometimes the simplest with well-known deep breathing activities, but if that type of meditation isn’t working for you, there are dozens of phone apps focused on meditation, and many of them are free!
Exercise.
A lot of people will try morning runs to get their blood pumping and metabolism going in the right direction, but any type of exercise is a great morning habit. From yoga to a simple morning walk, your exercise routine doesn’t have to be intensive. Be sure to alternate the types of workout you choose to do in the morning so you don’t overwork yourself!