6 Daily Habits to Start Your Day Out Great
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” — Marcus Aurelius
When you wake up, do you make a habit to embrace the day and make it a good one? It’s easy to forget to do this sometimes and fall into a negative spiral that can spread throughout your waking hours. Creating morning rituals can provide comfort and ease of mind.
Here are 6 ways to start your day out great from the beginning:
- Plan your day the night before
Whether you have an appointment book or online calendar, create a to-do list in order for the next day each night. This will prioritize your tasks ahead of time. Be sure it’s a realistic list so you don’t set yourself up for failure. Envisioning your day beforehand is a powerful tool to make the most of your valuable time. It’s a way to be proactive rather than reactive to events and can help eliminate procrastination. Planning the night before can also involve saving yourself time in the morning whether it’s with making lunch, selecting an outfit, or packing a bag for the office and gym. This will reduce feeling overwhelmed or rushed, adding to your sense of peace.
- Set good morning habits
We all have morning habits, but they might not all be good ones to set our day out on a positive path. Getting up earlier than the rest of the household can be a wonderful way to find quiet, alone time, and peaceful moments before daily commitments begin. This time can be filled with yoga, meditation, or simple stretches. Taking a few moments to reflect can add purpose to your day. This can include reviewing what you’re grateful for, what you’re looking forward to, or simply clearing your mind and relaxing with deep breathing.
- Play music
Music can be a wonderful stress reliever as well as improve our mood. Select upbeat or soothing songs to play in the morning as you get ready for the day. This can create emotions of inner peace, joy, and enthusiasm for your hours to come. Music can also complement other morning habits such as yoga, walking, exercising on a stationary bike or treadmill, and writing in a journal.
Binaural beats set to melodies are another type of non-traditional music therapy that can improve focus, concentration, sleep issues, creativity, and more. This emerging form of sound wave therapy uses headphones to alternate beats in each ear at different frequencies to promote reduced stress and anxiety. Research free apps on your phone to experiment and see if this technique works for you.
- Empower yourself with inspiration
Creating positive energy for your day can start with embracing inspirational messages. These can be found in listening to a podcast, watching a motivational how-to video, or reading uplifting blog posts or a book chapter each morning. Seeking inspiration through others who’ve had a positive influence on the world is a way to empower yourself and seize the day.
- Get outdoors for a walk
Getting out in the early morning for a walk is not only beneficial for your health but a stress reliever as well. A morning walk can boost energy, improve sleep, and reduce your risk for certain health conditions. Twenty minutes is all you need to energize yourself. Many artists use a walk to solve a creative problem they may have. Getting outdoors and away from your home and all the duties related to it, can often clear the mind and help it tackle issues. Even if you’re not an artist, you can walk to work out a solution to a specific problem.
- Journaling
Many writers find that writing first thing when they wake before facing chores, computer work, or correspondence is when they get their best writing done—before their mind is cluttered for the day. The same can be applied to journaling in the morning. Like a walk, writing down your thoughts on specific topics may not only bring self-awareness but help solve a problem. Journaling also helps you process negative thoughts and feelings, providing stress and anxiety relief. It’s a good opportunity to include a gratitude list each day as a reminder of all the positive things and people in your life.
How you choose to start your morning really can set the tone of your entire day. Creating new habits to support a positive mood throughout can inspire you to react to your life with hope and resilience as it unfolds.
