5 WAYS TO START YOUR MORNING AND MAKE IT YOUR BEST DAY EVER

Follow these tips to stay productive throughout the day.

How do you wake up refreshed and ready to go? Follow these tips to stay productive throughout the day.


BY: LAUREN O’CONNOR, MS, RDN, RYT

Let’s be honest – don’t you just wish you could snooze another hour or two? For many, being a morning person is a struggle. If mornings are easy for you, great! But for the rest of us, it just takes a little more work and relying on a cup of joe to get energized and make it through the morning.

Here are 5 strategies to help you get invigorated and wake up on the right side of the bed:

1. Drink Water

Splash it on your face, take a warm (or cold) shower and be sure to drink plenty upon rising! Starting off with 2 glasses in the morning is a habit worth keeping — it sets you up toward drinking plenty throughout the day. While no specific study addresses the benefit of drinking water first thing in the morning, it makes sense to hydrate after sleeping. After all, you were fasting all night!  

What we do know is that water helps flush out toxins, promotes healthy bowels, and is important for hydrating your cells (including those all important brain cells). Here’s a tip: squeeze a bit of lemon – the brightness and tang can add a little sunshine to your morning.

2. Pamper Yourself

Do you need to be dressed to impress, or do you have the flexibility of working from home? No matter where you work, you need to give yourself a little self-care and feel good. For some, this means well-executed makeup. For others, it can mean using your favorite moisturizer, de-puffing those sleepy eyes, and putting on some lip gloss. Whatever your morning ritual, get your day started right with a little TLC.

3. Fuel Up

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies show that we should aim to consume 15-25% of our daily energy intake at breakfast.  But that doesn’t mean you need an elaborate meal. You can certainly “back into your breakfast” if you don’t have much time.

For example, if you work out first thing in the morning, start out with something small like a hard boiled egg.  Then fuel yourself immediately after your workout with some more protein in a balanced mini meal (or snack) that includes fruit, veggies, and whole grains.

4. Exercise

Not all of us have the desire to HIIT, lift weights, or run 4 miles. However, you can still get going in other ways to get your heart pumping without the pressure of “working out”.  Yoga is a great option that can be physically intense, mentally challenging, and can serve as a spiritual breathing ritual. Exercising your mind is also important to your health, so finding ways to elevate your spirit is just as important as lifting those weights.

5. Prep for Success

Even if you’re not naturally a “morning person”, having things in order and ready to go will help you be well on your way to a more productive day. Plan your breakfasts with options like hard boiled eggs and overnight oats. For the kids, encourage them to help you build their lunches on school nights and choose their “good morning eats.” That way, you can simply grab-n-go the next morning and not have to worry about running late. Planning ahead will naturally help your day fall into place.

So now that you know, get out there and make it your best day ever!

Adapted from the original article.
HEADER IMAGE: SAMANTHA GADES

Lauren O’Connor, MS, RDN, RYT is a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian, yoga teacher, and founder of Nutri Savvy Health. As a health writer, menu developer, and nutritional consultant for companies and national publications, Lauren promotes whole-food nutrition towards making choices that best serve their specific health needs. Learn more about Lauren at Nutri Savvy Health.

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