Some might not be morning people, and with good reason. Waking up at the crack of dawn, leaving your warm bed, and getting stuck in morning traffic are some of the many reasons why mornings can be a thorn in your sides. Coffee might be the only reason why others stay alert half of the time, but is having coffee one of the healthy morning rituals you perform? Or is it just something that simply gets you through the morning, without appreciating everything around you?
Mornings should be the best part of your day because it can make or break your overall mood and there’s a lot you can get done in the morning that won’t affect your free time.
Despite your lack of excitement for mornings, there are things you can do to make them better. You don’t necessarily have to give up your usual cup of coffee for them, but they can make a great impact on how you approach the day ahead. Here are a few healthy morning rituals you can do to start your day right.
8 Healthy Morning Ritual
1. Wake up earlier than usual
This might sound difficult for those who love to linger in bed, but waking up earlier than your usual routine can give you more personal time. If you like to spend time with yourself at night, then it’s time for a change. There is just as much quiet time in the hours of the morning, and it can even give you the peace of mind you need. Healthy morning rituals like this will give you a noticeable change, as you’ll feel more relaxed when you work.
2. Lemon water: an energy booster
Despite your love affair with coffee, warm lemon water should be the best first liquid you drink in the morning. Think about it: You’ve been asleep for 8 hours and your body needs rehydration, so it needs something that is both cleansing and provides energy.
Warm water is needed so that it doesn’t completely shock your system, and the lemon will help your body get ready for the coming meals. If you have an issue with the tartness, add a bit of honey to sweeten things up. Lemon water is also great for flushing out toxins that have been in your system and can even help your metabolism. The vitamin C content also helps with your immunity.
3. Scrape the bad vibes away
Scraping your tongue is something you’d want to reconsider doing if you’re not into it. It helps keep bad breath away and transitions the body from sleep to wakefulness. Tongue scraping is one of the many healthy morning rituals that are great in keeping you awake. Although some toothbrushes have built-in scrapers at the back of the brush, investing in a scraper is a good idea if you don’t have one. They come in plastic, bristled, and stainless steel versions.
4. Stretch out those kinks
Stretching is one of those healthy morning rituals that help warm up your muscles for all the work you’ll be doing later on as the day progresses. It isn’t necessary to do a full exercise routine if you aren’t into it, but stretching your muscles from top to bottom for 5 minutes can wake your body up and keep away the aches and pains you usually feel when arriving home.
From there, you can transition to other forms of stretching and exercising such as yoga. They’re just as helpful as regular stretching and can also help you lose weight.
5. Great music to start a great day
Listening to happy or uplifting music can give you the right mindset for the upcoming day. It’ll motivate you to get things done with a smile on your face and to just have an enjoyable day all throughout.
But be careful when picking the right playlist and don’t listen repeatedly to a song too much. It can stick to your brain and you won’t be able to concentrate because of how annoying — and distracting — it is.
It’s entirely up to you what kind of music gives you a boost, as long as it encourages you to begin your day with a great attitude and not let bad energy ruin your positivity.
6. Dry brush
This helps exfoliate your body and gets rid of dead skin cells that can leave your skin dry and flaky. All you need is a dry loofah and thoroughly scrub, from your extremities leading to your heart. This is an Ayurvedic practice that brushes away dead skin and greatly improves circulation.
Once you’ve dry brushed your skin, hop into the shower like you normally would. You’ll feel the difference once you’ve finished. Make sure to apply some moisturizer to keep your skin feeling soft and supple throughout the day.
7. Achieve your zen
Meditating has been one of the go-to health morning rituals by a lot of people nowadays. It can calm the mind and give you peace that will last for the entire day. Sitting in a relaxed position, closing your eyes, and letting thoughts wander while not focusing on anything specific is a basic form of meditation that should be practised daily.
You can also focus on each body part, starting from your toes and releasing all the tension, and gradually work your way up to your head until your mind and body feel at peace.
8. Include fat and protein in your breakfast
Before you shut down this idea, here’s what you need to know: Fat and protein are essential in your meals, regardless if you’re on a diet or not. A high-sugar diet will only give you a temporary energy boost, and your body will end up crashing from the sudden lack of it later on. But don’t go overboard with your breakfast; just eat the amount you need depending on your level of activity. It’ll help you feel full longer and give you the calories you’ll burn off later in the day.
It’s never easy when you incorporate one or some of these healthy morning rituals into your lifestyle, especially if you already have a previous ritual that you swear by. But these are just some of the many ways to not only get you through the morning but to make you enjoy them and feel excited about going to work. These healthy morning rituals can help refresh your mind and keep the tension off your body so you can work at your best and be the best version of yourself.
