Many of us have frantic lives and sometimes we skip a step or two when it comes to personal wellbeing. But if you want to feel positive and productive every day, you may want to know about what kind of morning routine habits can enhance that.
The benefits of a good morning routine
The way you start your day has a lot to do with how it plays out. Your cortisol levels are naturally higher this time because it’s the body’s way of waking you up. A healthy cortisol curve tapers off as the day progresses.
Cortisol has a bad name as “the stress hormone”. However, when it’s kept in balance, it helps control your sleep-wake cycle, regulates your blood pressure and regulates your blood sugar.
Having a consistent sleep routine can help keep this cortisol cycle working as it should.
Then there are your circadian rhythms, the internal processes in your body that align with the light-dark cycles of day and night. This includes appetite, drowsiness, appetite and body temperature. Among other things, a well-maintained circadian rhythm is essential in helping you sleep well. This can then benefit so many other aspects of your well-being.
The elements of a good morning routine
Good habits in the morning can help keep your circadian rhythms and cortisol curve as they should be.
· Eat a savoury breakfast. Common starchy and sugary breakfasts have been proven to spike our blood sugar, especially on a morning when our glucose levels are most sensitive. Swap cereals and porridge out for omelettes, eggs or avocado toast instead! Don’t get on a blood sugar rollercoaster if you want to have long-lasting energy and a better mood during your day.
· Your circadian rhythm takes a cue from sunlight, so try and have some time outside the house before you start your day, if you can. Even just a short power walk around the blocks could help.
· Make your bed when you get up and keep the space clean. Surveys have shown that people may sleep better when they fall asleep in a freshly made bed and an organised bedroom. So leave enough time to tidy up after yourself during your routine.
Making it consistent
We’ve all been there; setting long-term goals that we only stick to for a couple of weeks before slipping back into old habits. Follow a few tips from the below to ensure that this time, your new routine is permanent.
· Get some furniture that helps you organise your belongings. It’s easier to tidy up after yourself if you’ve got the furniture you need, so consider whether getting something like a wardrobe with a built-in dressing table might help.
· Try and keep your bedtimes and wake-up times fairly consistent. The body loves routine, so doing your best to give it this can help keep your sleep habits healthy.
Personalisation and flexibility
Though all these things are important, it’s important to note that what works for one person might not work for someone else. Everyone has different needs when it comes to wake-up times and bedtimes. Discovering what yours are is a process of self-discovery.
Working these morning routine tips into your routine is something you can integrate gradually. In time, the idea is that they should come naturally and start to feel like less effort.
Leave a Reply