5 HABITS TO ADOPT WHEN YOU WAKE UP.
According to experts, habits form when new behaviors become automatic and we've all heard that the popular method to building habits is called the 21/90 rule.
Not heard of this rule? It’s simple enough. Commit to a personal or professional goal for 21 straight days and after three weeks, the pursuit of that goal should have become a habit.
However! Studies show that it’s not about developing just any habits but correct habits and implementing them into your morning routine in particular to set the tone for your day. Whether you want to get up earlier, exercise more, or be more productive, having a strategy for your morning has been proven to save a lot of time and achieve more.
Having a daily morning routine isn't about adding more to your to-do list for the day. A solid morning routine has been proven to brighten your mood and give you more energy during the day, reduce anxiety, boost your productivity levels, and make you feel better overall.
I’m saying that, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite habits to go by when you wake up. We want to get you ready to face the world with a smile and a positive outlook. Below are some 5 habits you can adopt when you wake up;
1. Don't check your phone.
The first is the habit of not checking your phone. It can be tempting to pick up your phone for a quick scroll as soon as you wake up, especially when your phone is beside you on the bedside table.
Resist the urge! We suggest keeping your phone at a distance so you cannot reach for it.
Prepare your mind for the day ahead and spend 20-30 minutes without any incoming digital information or screen time. Try instead to practice gratitude and set your intentions for the day whether it be through deep breaths and thoughts or writing it down.
2. Drink a glass of water.
The practice of drinking many glasses of room-temperature water first thing in the morning is known as Japanese water therapy - a habit we love.
Keep a jug and glass by your bedside to make this habit an easy one to achieve.
Drinking water when you wake up has numerous benefits. Which include (but are not limited to the following):
● Serving as a lubricant in your body. Water is an important component of your body's lubricating fluids, which include saliva, gastric, intestinal, respiratory, and urine mucous.
● Contributing to brighter, more hydrated skin.
● Flushing out the stomach, thereby balancing the lymphatic system.
● Increasing your energy and brain activity.
● Increasing your metabolism.
3. Make your bed
Yes, sorry to say but the age old parent-child argument about making beds is actually very important! Making your bed sets the tone for your day ahead and shows that you value your space and you value yourself.
Lay your bed today!
4. Meditate
You don’t have to be a guru. Whether it be 5 minutes or 2 hours meditation is your space to realign and connect with yourself.
Meditation has been proven to enhance your mood, improve awareness, reduce worry, prevent stress and anxiety, increase productivity and focus.
If you’re not sure where to start, there are brilliant Youtube videos such as this to help you learn the basic tools to meditation. You can also try focus and meditation apps such as CALM or BUDDHIFY which set you tasks and short but sweet meditation tasks and seminars.
5. Make a list of things you want to accomplish for the day.
Making a list of things to do in a day is a common method people use to plan their activities for the day.
This activity helps in keeping yourself up to date with the things you need to do and also helps you categorize what you need to do into important and urgent or trivial and inessential.
With these five simple habits, you can be set up for a productive day from the moment you wake up. You can do these in the order that they are written and you can also switch them up.
Consider your morning habits after reading this list and see if there's a way to make them more efficient. Start small and work your way up; you'll be astonished at how quickly your habits become more worthwhile. And you'll be glad you put in the effort when that happens!