Simple Morning Routine Habits
Most of us lead busy lives and we have been programmed to “get up and go”! Yet how we start our day sets the energy for how our day will go. It will make all the difference in your day if you set your alarm clock 20-30 minutes earlier, before you have to leave for work, your kids wake up or before you leave for a workout class and do the following 3 things:
Get Morning Sunlight
Get outside within 30 minutes of waking. On sunny days, 5 minutes will do. On overcast days, stay outside for at least 15 minutes. The natural sunlight in your eyes will help regulate your circadian rhythm, telling your body to wake up for the day by signaling your brain to make melatonin. Sunlight also boosts your energy and mood by raising serotonin levels. According to Dr. Andrew Huberman, he considers viewing morning light in “the top five of all actions that support mental health, physical health and performance”.
Hot Water with Lemon
This simple act has been around for generations, for good reason! Squeeze a ½ lemon into a mug of hot water with in 30 minutes of waking on an empty stomach. This will keep you hydrated, flush toxins from your liver, boost your immune system by providing vitamin C, reduce inflammation and will rev your digestion for the day. You can add ginger or turmeric for added antioxidant and digestive support.
Move Your Body
Even if you don’t have time for a full workout first thing in the morning, do a few yoga poses, Pilates moves, stretch, jump on a rebounder, or walk around the block. Just simply moving your body will activate your lymphatic system, raise your endorphin levels, improve your digestion and improve your mood for the day!
Habit stack, if possible. Go outside in the sunlight and take a walk while drinking your hot water with lemon. You can also sit outside and drink your hot water with lemon and then move for a few minutes. Do what works for you but witness the shift you feel by implementing these 3 basic, yet powerful habits into your morning.
How you start your day can make or break your day!
(Obviously there are other practices that are powerful in the morning like tongue scraping, hydration, grounding, etc. that I will dive into in future blogs).