A healthy morning routine sets the tone for a productive day and can significantly impact your overall well-being. Let's have a look at some simple habits that will help you starting your day in a great way!
Drink Water
Starting your day with hydration is essential; the body looses water during the night, and because 60% of our body consists of water, you can imagine how important it is to get quickly hydrated. Therefore drinking a glass of water first thing helps kickstart your metabolism and rehydrates your body after a night’s sleep.
Get some Sunlight
As a next step I always look for sunlight. Spending just a few minutes outside - looking into a sunny sky (at least during the summer time) works wonders with your hormones. There are several studies showing how positive your body and mind reacts to sunlight in the morning. You will much quicker feel awake and alive with a healthy dose of something so simple as some rays of sunlight.
Exercise (mildly)
Incorporating physical activity, even if it's just a quick stretch or a brisk walk, can boost your mood and increase your focus. For example, I started doing push-ups a few years ago. As always, I started with small steps... with 20 push-ups to begin with. Over time, I added more and more of them until I reached the magic number of 100 push-ups. Today, I don't have to think about it, I just do it. And it feels great afterwards. But it doesn't have to be something heavy, just do a bit of stretching or some mild exercise will already work.
Mediation and Journaling
Additionally, incorporating mindfulness practices such as meditation or journaling into your daily routine can significantly contribute to promoting mental clarity and emotional well-being. By dedicating time to these activities, you create space for self-reflection and introspection, which can help you better understand your thoughts and emotions.
For meditation, I recommend some great YouTube videos from Jon Kabat-Zinn. He is an absolute expert in the field of meditation. There are also very powerful meditation apps available like Headspace and Calm that will help you get into a routine of daily habit, starting with just a few minutes a day and continuously extending the exercises.
What I personally use for my journaling is a book called "The 6-Minute Diary." It gives you a clear structure on how to reflect on your life in an easy way. However, the outcome is really impactful. It enables you to approach each day with a more positive and balanced mindset, enhancing your overall well-being.
Cold Shower (I am not joking)
You might also consider adding a cold shower to your routine; it can invigorate your senses and improve circulation. I also started this habit a few years ago - and it was hell in the beginning! Although I only started with just about 10 seconds to begin with, I hated it every day. However, today I take a 2-minute cold shower daily and it changes my state immediately! I feel more energized, not only does my body feel great, but also my mind is completely clear after this short time. And not to be neglected is the feeling of having stepped out of my comfort zone and taking this small challenge. For me, it feels like: I did this horrible cold shower exercise, now nothing that will come my way today will be as hard as this... so I am actually looking forward to the challenges that await me.
Prioritizing these habits sets the groundwork for achieving good health and success. While it may seem overwhelming at first, starting with small steps and staying consistent will have a transformative impact on your life. These basic habits empower you to handle any challenges that come your way more effectively.
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