If you’re someone who wakes up, grabs a coffee, and hopes for the best, that’s about to change. Becoming a morning person requires only a few tweaks to your routine and can make a huge difference in how you feel, your productivity, and your outlook on life.
Here are five must-do morning routines to help you rise and shine, all day long.
Stretch it Out
As soon as you get out of bed, dedicate ten minutes to yourself to stretch and work out the sore muscles from the previous day and night. Stretching is a great way to get your blood flowing, release stress, and create a gentle transition into the day.
Stretching doesn’t have to include anything fancy: go at your own pace. If it feels good to reach overhead then go for your toes, and incorporate some arm circles. If you have experience in yoga and want something a little more elaborate, make it happen.
Wash Your Face
Washing your face isn’t just necessary to keep your skin clean and smooth, it’s a great way to wake up and start the day feeling refreshed. If you have a history with acne, you probably already have a face washing routine to follow (for more, check out How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars by Health Sumo).
To get into the habit, start by taking a warm, wet cloth and washing in a circular motion. As you get into your morning routine, you can add more steps, such as using a cleanser, exfoliating, using toner, and moisturizing.
No Social Media
Is your first action of the day to roll over and check your phone? If so, it’s time to cut it out. We live in a hyper-connected world. Taking some time to yourself to remain unplugged in the morning will help you stay on task and be better for your mental health.
Challenge yourself to stay off social media for an hour after waking up. If it feels appropriate, create a habit tracker and reward yourself at the end of the week if you manage to do it every day. To really improve your sleep and become a morning person, get rid of screen time for the hour before bed as well.
Forget About the Snooze Button
Whoever invented the snooze button was both a genius and an anarchist. How is someone supposed to resist the temptation of five more minutes, even when those five minutes do nothing for your restfulness?
To become a morning person, you need to break up with your snooze button. The easiest way to do this is to put your phone across the room so that you have to physically get out of bed to turn off your alarm. Consider changing your alarm to a song that makes you wake up feeling energized and ready to take on the day.
Get Some Sunlight
If you wake up on a sunny day, consider taking your stretching outside to take advantage of the rejuvenating benefits of vitamin D. If it’s overcast, you can still get some of the benefits from being outside for 10-15 minutes.
The challenge lies with people in areas where the winter promises light until later in the morning. For those people, consider investing in a UV light. Not only can this exposure help you wake up and keep your circadian rhythm on track, but it can also help offset the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a common form of depression that affects people in the winter months.
It will take some time to become a morning person by building a routine, and if you really hate mornings, it will be easy to fall off the wagon and get back together with your snooze button. Stay the course, and you’ll find yourself getting more done in a day than you ever thought possible.
