By Kyla Stelling –
Not a morning person? Who is, seriously? Without at least two cups of coffee I am downright unpleasant, and therefore choose to keep my mouth shut until I’m sufficiently caffeinated. Those who have been in a meeting with me pre-9 a.m. should know better than to expect creativity at such an ungodly hour.
Luckily coffee isn’t the only thing that can help me get going. Increase focus, energy, confidence and creativity with these easy-to-implement activities. If I can do them in the morning, anyone can.
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Stretch
Wake up your muscles with a thorough stretch, once you get yourself out of bed. Waking up your muscles will help your body fight against any tension that may build up from the stress of the workday. Set aside 2-10 minutes where you can focus on your stretch routine. You can even incorporate a yoga routine that you’ve learned from an online tutorial or your yoga studio. Make sure you drink plenty of water before and after you stretch, as your body often becomes dehydrated overnight. Dehydration will increase the risk of muscle strain and injury.
Prayer & Meditation
Fit in 10 minutes of stillness before you start the day. This can be in the form of meditation, prayer or even just silence. Look online or ask your church leaders where you can find prayers that align with your values. A clear and energized mind helps you ward off stress and will enhance your focus. Instead of thinking of all the tasks on the to-do list, channel your thoughts toward having a positive attitude and treating people with kindness. Welcome the day with mindfulness and intention.
Workout
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Let the endorphins run through your body! First thing in the morning, this will increase your energy and positivity throughout the whole day. Go for a run or bike ride in your neighborhood. If your neighborhood won’t accommodate outdoor activity, join a gym. Many gyms, like 24 Hour Fitness, have early morning classes that will help jump start your day. Join an indoor cycling class, bootcamp or pilates. The morning is an ideal time of day for exercise, as you won’t be fatigued from a long workday and it will boost your metabolism for the entire day.
Confidence Boost
Boost your self esteem and strengthen your confidence with physical and verbal validation exercises. Smile at yourself in the mirror for 30 seconds (this seems cheesy, but just do it). This will trigger a release of serotonin in your brain. Psychology Today found that a smile will also help you gain confidence. It makes you look and feel more attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. Look into the mirror give yourself verbal encouragement or say a mantra. Say three things you appreciate about yourself with a tone of celebration and encouragement. You can incorporate these three characteristics into a mantra. A mantra example would be: “I’m strong, smart, beautiful and ready to take on the world!” Before you leave your house for the day, hold a power pose for a minute. A power pose — think Wonder Woman — increases your confidence-producing testosterone and lowers the stress-related cortisol. Amy Cuddy has a whole TED Talk about the benefits of strong body language.
Kyla Stelling is a graduate of the University of Washington, where she studied literature. She is the curator of the blog Seattle Street Style which focuses on fashion and design in Seattle where she lives. She has worked in L.A. doing costume design but has recently shifted her career focus to public relations. When she isn’t working as a freelance writer, she is preparing herself delicious food or working on a DIY home decor projects.
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1 thought on “Morning Rituals That Will Brighten Your Day”
Great tips!! I used to workout in the morning and it definitely kicked off the day on a positive note and I tended to eat healthy. All of your tips are things I want to try, so I think I will just pull the trigger and do it!