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Health and Wellness

Rise and Shine

My secrets to being a morning person

Jovahana Avila

Oct 31, 2016

Saint Edwards University

Flickr

The power of a positive morning can truly change the course of your day. I encourage you to try a tip or two to see if you have a change in attitude. Maybe you might find yourself looking forward to getting out of bed in the mornings.

Sleep prep

Your phone has a “Do Not Disturb” option, which is helpful when you’re trying to stay away from any work-related stress. I always turn this option on 30 minutes before I go to bed, so I can give my body time to wind down. Instead of spending the last 30 minutes of my day on social media, I like to do meditation or yoga. Your body gets tense throughout the day, so giving your body the time to decompress will allow you have the most fulfilling sleep.

Don’t snooze your life away

Set one alarm at a time that you want to wake up and stick to it. I used to set my alarms starting at 4:00 AM to prepare my body to get up at 7:00 AM, which led to restless sleep. All these disruptions can affect cognitions, which can leave you feeling like you got no sleep at all. Now, I set one alarm for 5:45 AM, which is the perfect time for me.

*Pro tip: It also helps that I wake up to Drake’s Hotline Bling every morning.

Motivational pep talks

When my alarm rings, the first thing I do is give myself a pep talk. Here are a few things I tell myself:

“You can do this”

“Work hard and stay humble”

“Seize every opportunity to fail, learn, and succeed”

This gives me the little boost of self-confidence that I need to start off my day.

First thing on the agenda: Workout

My favorite thing to do in the morning is going for a run. I love the feeling of waking up alongside the sun. The rush of endorphins in the morning also boosts your energy and increases your metabolic rate.

Reward yourself

Treating yourself in the morning? #Bless. It’s one of the best ways for me to mentally prepare myself for the long day. When the rest of the world is quiet, it’s easier to find the time and space for some much needed “me” time. This is the time that I separate for myself to read the news, write in my journal, or just dance around my room.

Don’t skip breakfast

This is my favorite meal at my favorite time of the day. A healthy breakfast increases cognitive function and the ability to concentrate, which is critical to improving your performance in school or the workplace. It also reduces blood cortisol levels and helps control appetite, which can keep your body from craving unhealthy foods throughout the day.

Appreciating the little things

My favorite part of every day is the sight of the sun touching the sky for the first time in the morning. The way my mug begins to warm up when I fill it with hot tea. The way my windows fill my room with the sun’s light. Once you get into the habit of noticing all the small things, it will not only make your mornings pleasant but the rest of your day.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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