Today's Life Tips
Start every day refreshed and focused
The best ways to get a morning boost
If you struggle to get focused and motivated
before 12pm, check out this guide to the best ways to get the most out
of your mornings, so that you start every day feeling refreshed and
focused.
Your morning ritual is something which shapes how
you feel for the rest of the day. If you’re someone who constantly
reaches for the snooze button again and again, then chances are you end
up prizing yourself out of bed, only to feel rushed and frantic because
you're running late.
OK, some of us are just not ‘morning’ people, but you can make
yourself go some way to becoming one just by modifying your morning
routine. The following tips focus on how to improve how you feel from
the very moment you wake.
How to start your day refreshed and focused: Move your alarm clock
You may want to have your alarm clock close to hand so you can
constantly keep leaning over and pressing it for a few extra minutes
snooze time. The reality is it doesn’t really help. Place your alarm
just that bit further away so that you really have to stretch or even
get up to reach it — any stretching movement stimulates the waking part
of the brain.
How to start your day refreshed and focused: Avoid caffeine
It may be through habit that one of the first things we do when we
get up is go straight for the caffeine hit, but this should be avoided
if possible. Since your body has been several hours without fluid, what
you need is a proper rehydrating drink such as freshly squeezed orange
or grapefruit juice. A cup of hot water with a touch of lemon and honey
is also a good way to start the day. If you can, add some ginger — this
acts as an extra boost to your circulatory system.
How to start your day refreshed and focused: Good posture
Your body position is fundamental, bad posture has the effect of
limiting the flow of oxygen through your body, meaning you are not
getting the maximum benefit, and waking your body up will be a real
struggle. Pay attention to straightening your posture, feet flat on the
floor, hold your stomach in and extend up through your spine. These
small movements will work wonders and act to relieve tension before you
get out and face the day ahead.
How to start your day refreshed and focused: Deep breathe
There is often a sense of anxiety ahead of a stressful day and
sometimes we are far from relaxed when we get up. To get your body into a
state of relaxation, it is important to control the functions of the
body, like the beating of the heart and breathing properly. A good
method is to try 2:1breathing; this is easy and really effective — you
gently slow the rate of exhalation so that you are exhaling twice as
long as you are inhaling.
Although many of us probably don’t feel like it, a bit of morning exercise
will help. We are not talking about a full-on several-mile run, just
some activity to increase your body temperature, and get your metabolism
and enzyme activity kick-started. This could involve just doing a few
basic stretches or even jogging on the spot. If you do fancy taking on
something more energetic in the morning, then ensure that you have
thoroughly warmed-up.
How to start your day refreshed and focused: Surroundings
Your surroundings can have an impact on your mood from the moment you
wake. If you wake up surrounded by clutter, then that is hardly going
to get you off to the right start. Keep your bedroom as clutter free as
possible. You can also pay attention to your décor — certain colours can
be good for your mood, choose something that uplifts you. If possible
have some green plants in your bedroom — a little bit of greenery can do
wonders to enhance your mood and positivity.
How to start your day refreshed and focused: Breakfast
Is this the most important meal of the day? Yes! After a long sleep, breakfast
is responsible for replacing your liver glycogen, which helps you stay
focused and switched-on throughout the morning. Choose your breakfast
carefully — sugary breakfast cereals only give you a quick hit and can
rapidly wear off. The best bet is to eat some protein combined with
carbohydrate to help maintain your alertness throughout the morning. If
you find yourself hungry before you have even reached work, you might
want to consider eating part of your breakfast at home, and then
preparing the remainder to have at work.
These simple changes to your morning ritual will be strange at first
but they will slowly become habit and then second nature — before you
know it bleary eyed, groggy mornings will soon be a distant memory.
To get refreshed and focused — start tomorrow!
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