It is a truth universally acknowledged that any man in possession of an alarm clock has a snooze button for a best friend in the morning. We hit it again and again, saying “5 more minutes!” until almost an hour has passed and we’re 30 minutes late for the third consecutive day that week. When our day starts off bad, a stressful afternoon follows, and then a tiring night after that. This usually means that we would be relying yet again on our trusty best bud, the snooze button the next day. It’s a vicious cycle that we trap ourselves into, but it is fortunately not an inescapable one.
Here are 5 ways to kick-start your mornings and give that old snooze button some much-needed rest.
1. Smile.
When it’s time to get up, instead of thinking ‘5 more minutes’, greet the day with a smile. Starting your mornings with a positive outlook will do wonders for your entire day. If it doesn’t work and you just feel silly, then you can laugh at yourself and it will essentially have the same result.
2. Drink a glass of water.
After a night’s rest, your body is essentially dehydrated. Drink a tall glass of water to rehydrate it and give your metabolism a little boost.
3. Yoga.
Do some light stretching and a 10-minute sun salutation cycle on your patio or backyard before you start your daily routine. The exercise will release your body’s endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals. It will also release adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine, which work together to make you feel your best. The vitamin D from the sun and the fresh air will also send signals to your brain that the day has officially started and that it’s time to get going.
4. Have a hearty breakfast.
Make your breakfast fiber-filled as well as delicious by adding some protein in it. The energy from protein and whole grains takes longer to break down, giving you more energy throughout the day than that sugary doughnut ever could.
5. Crank up the tunes!
Create a playlist with your favorite fun, upbeat songs and boogie your way to a great day. You can sing along in the shower, shake your hips while making breakfast, or whistle on your way to the car.
Keep in mind that your outlook in the morning determines the general mood of your entire day; an energized and positive start will yield positive results.
