5 Steps to Improve your Morning Routine
A structured morning routine is a set of healthy habits created to improve daily lifestyle and help normal, everyday people reach their goals.
Self-care is vitally important, not just to you, but to those around you, and a strong morning routine can help you to be your best self.
Meditation, yoga, healthy breakfast… Let's take a look at 5 practices you can implement into your morning routine.
Step #1 – Early Positive Thinking
The first step of the morning routine is obviously to wake up. Simple enough. But something has become a parasite over the last years, affecting our first thoughts and actions in the morning: our phones. Whether it is right by our bed or hidden in the sheets, there are about 20% of people who check their phones first thing when they wake up.
Counter this action by staying in bed with their eyes closed, and before they do anything else, have some sort of positive thought. Be grateful that you are waking up in a warm bed, under a roof, healthy. Be grateful as soon as you wake up for those simple things that we often take for granted. Starting your day like that is more likely to put a big smile on your face as you get out of bed and go about your day.
Step #2 – Shower Morning Routine
Once you are up and about, the next step of your morning routine is to stop by the bathroom. Take a warm shower to slowly wake your body up but add a little twist before you get out. For many people, it is going to be a real mental challenge but try ending your shower with 1 to 2 minutes of cold water. The first days will be tough, we must warn you! But you should slowly build up to that minute or 2, going up in increments of 15 to 20 seconds.
It has real benefits for the body and the muscles, and it also has positive effects on your mood, mind and level of stress. Give it a try.
Step #3 - Start Moving
It's is time to start moving after your morning shower. Nothing too crazy, no brutal or technical movements, but simple things that your body can do right away, preferably yoga-type moves. Yoga also does not mean complex poses, after all you've just woken up! You can also use your Compex muscle stimulator's massage and capillarisation programs, if you have one.
We are looking for movements that are simple, slow and controlled, and that activate your muscles for a few minutes by stimulating blood flow.
Happy Baby, Cat/Cow, Warrior poses… There is a long list of movements that you can use to create your own morning routine flow. Find flows that online are already put together.
You'll be all set for the morning movements with just 5 to 10 minutes in the morning.
Step #4 – Meditate
Now that your body is ready to go, it is time to get your mind up to speed. Take 5 to 10 minutes to do a short meditation. It will really help get your thoughts in place and your mind ready to attack this new day.
Never done meditation before? There are plenty of apps, playlists and guided meditations that will help you get started. When you get comfortable, stop using the guidance and only focus on your breath while you meditate.
However, do not forget that meditation is like everything else: it takes practice to get good at it. Some people may be comfortable from day one, but for some of us it might take 10, 20 or 50 sessions to finally start being comfortable.
No worries, it is not a competition. It will take as long as it needs.
Step #5 - Your Breakfast Morning Routine
The step you have all been waiting for: the breakfast!
Now that the body and the mind are ready to go, we need to fuel up to have enough energy to go about our day.
Here are two breakfast options, whether you are #TeamSavoury or #TeamSweet!
Option one is a breakfast of champions for the #TeamSavoury. 2 or 3 eggs, 2 or 3 slices of bacon, with an avocado or hummus toast.
Option two is a real treat for the #TeamSweet. Home-made porridge with soy milk, oats and a scoop of whey protein of your choice. Top it off with some fresh fruits, nuts and a spoon of peanut butter.
Drink a big glass of fresh juice (fruit or vegetables) in both cases, and you are set!
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