Add these small tweaks to your morning routine to put a spring in your step for the rest of the day

Your morning routine can set the tone for the rest of your day – for better or for worse. Positive habits and routines when you first wake up can help you to set yourself up for a happy and productive day.

Fortunately, you don’t need to completely overhaul your life to gain a vast improvement in your wellbeing and happiness. Read on to discover six small additions to your morning routine that could boost your positivity and have you feeling more cheerful all day long.

1. Listen to your favourite songs

Music is a powerful way to evoke different emotions and has been shown to have lots of positive effects on the brain, especially if you choose to sing along and dance too. For example, scientists have discovered that singing can help to soothe anxious feelings, while dancing enables your brain to release feel-good hormones to boost your mood.

So, start the morning with a positive tone by putting on your favourite album, and maybe join in and sing your favourite songs as you get ready for the day ahead.

2. Drink a glass of cold water

After sleeping through the night, your body may be dehydrated, leading you to feel sluggish and lacking in energy. A large glass of water can help you to hydrate quickly and combat these symptoms, giving you a burst of energy and kickstarting your metabolism.

Add a slice of lemon for even more health benefits such as aiding digestion and providing vitamin C to help your body fight off coughs and colds.

3. Add plenty of protein to your breakfast

You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s not a cliché for nothing. Eating a nutritious breakfast can help to give your body and mind all the nutrients it needs to keep you full of energy throughout the day.

Adding some protein to your breakfast can help to take this up a notch too. Protein is vital for helping you feel full and providing lots of slow-release energy that prevents you from experiencing energy crashes.

Some ingredients you could consider including in your breakfast to ensure it is packed full of protein include:

• Eggs
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Spinach
• Natural Greek yogurt

4. Exercise in a way that you enjoy

You are probably already aware of all the health benefits that exercise offers, but did you know that exercising in the morning is generally recommended over exercising in the evening?

When you work out before breakfast, you not only help your metabolism to jump into action, you could also help your brain to feel more prepared for learning and problem-solving when you start work.

But exercise doesn’t have to mean heading to the gym. You could try a brisk walk around your local neighbourhood, a yoga class, or even an at-home workout – anything that you enjoy. Try doing this for a few minutes each morning and notice the positive impact it has on your day.

5. Set meaningful yet manageable goals for the day

Having a sense of purpose can help you to feel more confident and happy, but often, that purpose can grow into an unmanageable to-do list that leaves you feeling unmotivated.

To resolve this and rediscover the joy in your work, it might help to split your tasks down into more manageable chunks. Setting goals that will help you to move forward in your work but that don’t overwhelm you could be a useful way to find a healthier work-life balance.

6. Limit how much news you consume

If you often start the day by reading a newspaper or catching the morning news, you might find that the negative news stories stick in your mind. If you let this happen, it can cause you to feel down for long periods of the day. This is because your mind is most easily influenced when you have first woken up in the morning.

Instead of starting your day with news stories that stir up negative emotions, you might find it more helpful to focus on something more positive. Maybe you could reflect on the things you enjoyed from the day before, or something you’re looking forward to in the days and weeks ahead.

By focusing on gratitude and happy thoughts, you can set the tone for the rest of your day. Then, catch up with the headlines a bit later on to stay informed without letting them influence your mood so easily.

Get in touch

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you have a great day by creating a financial plan that helps you to achieve your long-term goals, please get in touch. Our friendly team of advisers will be happy to assist you.

Email us at info@harperlees.co.uk or call 01277 350560.

Please note

This article is for information only.