3 Morning Do’s and 3 Don’ts for Less Stress & More Ease in Your Day

How you spend the first hour of your day determines how you feel the rest of your day.   What you do first thing in the morning matters whether you’re a mom, business owner, yoga teacher or a nurse.  Set up your day for less stress and more ease by removing and adding just a few simple things into your morning routine and watch your entire life change.

1. Don’t open your phone within the first hour of waking up.

As a social-media obsessed culture, it’s easy for us to fall into the trap of turning to our phones within the first few minutes (sometimes seconds!) of waking up and scrolling through our Instagram and Facebook feeds.  Even I find myself doing this from time to time!  But doing this asks us to compare ourselves to others before we’ve even gotten out of bed.  Skip the comparison and just do you.

2. Don’t press snooze.

Plan the night before to set your alarm at a reasonable time that you know you will wake up at.  Boost your own confidence by getting out of bed when you set your alarm.  Your word to yourself is just as important as your word to everyone around you (and so is getting a solid 7-8 hours of sleep without that workout instead of sleeping for 5-6 hours and getting the workout in in the morning).

3. Don’t skip on a nutritious breakfast.

We all know by now that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  But instead of simply surviving the morning by grabbing a quick granola bar or doughnut at the office, thrive in the morning by fueling your body with the nutrition it needs (and have less cravings throughout the day!).

1. Do drink a mug of hot lemon water

This hydrating drink first thing in the morning can jumpstart your metabolism and boost your immune system.  You might not even need that cup of coffee!

2. Do spend 5-10 minutes in silence (meditation, prayer or affirmations)

Instead of starting your day by giving to everyone else around you and tackling that to-do list, set a few minutes aside of silence with yourself.  Take time to calm your mind and connect inward so you can go about your day with more ease and flow.

3. Do move your body

Signal to your body that it’s time to wake up by simply moving it.  Try a few yoga poses, head outside for a walk around the block or maybe even go up to the gym.  It doesn’t have to be a big “formal” workout- something short and simple can be all your body needs to wake up.