Take control of your mornings and you take control of your day.
When was the last time you had a really good morning? What made it so great? Was it the fact that you had a restful sleep the night before? Did it have anything to do with the calculated possibility of running into your crush while you grab a cup of joe in that quaint cafe near your office? Or was it the new dress and shoes that you decided to debut that day that gave you such a positive outlook?
Regardless of the reason, we can all agree that having a great morning significantly dictates how the rest of your day goes. And having a good morning (and consequently a good day) has never been as important as now with all the craziness brought about by Covid-19.
Whether you’re staying home or heading out to work (massive respect to all frontliners!), we’ve listed down five activities anyone can do to add an extra dose of positivity to their morning.
1. Have a quiet time. This means no phone, laptop or anything that might make you want to dive into your tasks. Take five to 10 minutes to just sit down and stay in the moment, and if you’re about to ask—yes, you may have coffee with your morning thoughts. Doing this pulls you back from the rush of life and allows you to distance yourself from things that are putting stress on you. It also opens you up to be more appreciative of what you have. In addition, quiet times also allow you to observe both your emotions and surroundings, giving you the ability to choose wiser options when you need to make decisions later in the day.
2. Hydrate well. You’ve just woken up from an eight-hour sleep. If there’s one thing your body really needs, it’s water. Taking this step first thing in the morning replenishes your body with much-needed hydration, which keeps it functioning well. It also helps promote proper bowel movement, jumpstarts your metabolism, and gives you a boost of energy. Psychologically, drinking two to three glasses of water in the morning gives you a sense of wellness and balance—helping you calm your mind and feel like you’re doing something good for yourself.
3. Do light exercises. The morning rush often forces many of us to make hurried movements in an attempt to beat the clock. Now that most of us are on home quarantine, we’d like to highlight the benefits of light exercises in the morning including promoting blood circulation, removing the stiffness that you get from sleeping, providing you with more energy, and giving you a mood boost. Just look for quick and easy ones online and do it regularly!
4. Get your dose of morning sun. Scientifically, sun exposure in the morning provides you with a Vitamin D boost, which keeps your immune system in tiptop condition. It also puts you in a good mood and helps improve your sleep—and all you need to do is sit near the window for 30-45 minutes!
5. List your to-dos. Once you feel like you’re ready to start working, the first thing you should do is to list down everything that you need to accomplish. This gives you a good idea of the tasks that you need to prioritize, and the ones that you can put off for tomorrow if you feel like your day is already full. It also allows you to estimate how much time you need to spend on work and how much time you have for your personal pursuits—allowing you to accomplish more.
Times are hard for everyone right now and we hope that these simple and easy tips help make things better for you. Remember that each morning is precious as it gives you another chance to do better and to do good.
