What is it about mornings that we all struggle with so much? “I’m not a morning person” is a phrase I can’t go a week without hearing. And let’s be honest, it is HARD to get out of bed everyday.
But let me tell you, once I get up, I AM a morning person. Mornings hold so much potential. They set the tone for the rest of the day! But honestly, it’s so easy to let them go, or brush them under the rug. After all, isn’t it always a sigh of relief when lunch rolls around–where you know the day is halfway over?
Regardless of whether you are or you aren’t a morning person–there are some ridiculously easy tricks to incorporate into your morning routine that will completely transform the rest of your day.
Seriously.
So…do you want to know what they are?
Upgrade your morning drink.
Instead of going right for the espresso shot or latte, try swapping your regular milk or creamer for coconut milk. It gives you an extra boost of healthy fats, kick-starts your digestive system, and contains a ton of healthy Vitamins: C, E, B1, B3, B5, B6, as well as iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It gets your brain going and kick starts your metabolism! (SO much more than plain old coffee can say!)
I first saw this idea called, “Happy Drink” on Pinterest. The original mixture calls for cacao powder to give it a chocolatey flavor, but I sprinkled some pumpkin pie spice from Trader Joe’s on top and made it perfect for the season.
I like to put my “Happy Drink” in a Comfort Cup® by Chinet® because it keeps my drinks nice and warm, (but protects it from burning my hands!) and easy to pick up and go. (Ahem, continue to the below points.) I had never heard of Comfort Cup before they reached out to me, but I’ve grown to love these little cups for their ease and convenience. (And for saving me from tons of dirty coffee cups in the sink, because as Neal can attest–I’m the laziest person ever when it comes to cleaning my own kitchen!)
Read a book for 10 minutes.
I first heard this tip on Jess Lively’s podcast, where she mentioned that she reads a book just for a few minutes each morning, but it’s surprisingly effective and goes a long way to set a relaxed tone for the rest of the day. I love reading business-related books in the morning while sipping my morning beverage of choice, because it makes me super motivated the rest of the day. Malcom Gladwell is one of my favorites.
Get outside.
In my last job, I used to get so stressed out from the second I woke up. But then I started going for quick walks each morning. Committing to a “run” stressed me out, but just getting up a half hour early to stroll around the neighborhood was an amazing way to wake up and get my thoughts in order before diving into a stressful day. When you’re stressed from the moment you wake up to the time you go to bed, and never make time for yourself, you get burned out and desperate very quickly.
Admittedly, I don’t go for walks as often anymore, but even stepping out on my little balcony while I sip my coffee (or happy drink) in the morning does wonders, and helps combat stress from the beginning of the day forward.
Try out yoga.
In that same vein, I recently started doing yoga at CorePower and you guys–I can’t tell you what it’s done for me. It’s so much more than just a great workout–it’s an entire hour where you literally cannot think about anything else. (Seriously, because if you do, you’ll fall on your face!) It takes concentration, but the good kind, and makes you feel so good about yourself afterwards. Talk about starting the day off on a great foot! (Teehee).
Clear your mind.
I recently downloaded an app called “Headspace” which I guess is technically a meditation type of app. I’ve always been really put off but the term “meditation” because it makes me think of weird woo woo incense burning hippies. (Not that they’re bad people or anything, it’s just, you know, not my thing.) But Headspace is really just a useful tool to help you be more present, reduce your stress, and just take 10 minutes out of your day to take a breath. It’s pretty cool–and even if you’re apprehensive (like me), definitely worth checking out!
Keep that laptop closed.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Check your email, right?
DON’T. DO IT.
First thing in the morning, keep your laptop closed, and your iPhone at a distance.
The second you check your email, you’re letting someone else hijack your day. Email is the ultimate rabbit hole. Do you first. Spend time each morning doing something for you. Then, sit down, write out your to-do list for the day. Get your priorities in order. Then check your email. Only focus on those emails that are associated with your to-do list in priority order. Then, designate specific “email break” times to check and maintain other emails in your inbox.
Do you have any tricks to jump starting your morning? I’d love to hear them! Also, be sure to check out other morning tips on Style Me Pretty today!
Compensation for this post was provided by Huhtamaki, Inc. via AOL Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Huhtamaki, Inc. or AOL.
Photos by Kelly Larkin
