The Benefits of a Morning Routine for Adults

“I’m not a morning person!”

Raise your hands if you’ve uttered these words before!

We aren’t morning people when we have to get up for work, or school or to get the kids to the bus on time. We’re not morning people when we stayed up until 3:30 the night before watching Narcos on Netflix. We’re not morning people when our mornings tend to be stressful and chaotic. Well, the truth is, everybody has the capability of being a “morning person,” so if you think you’re not one, there’s a good chance you might be doing mornings wrong.

The advantages of establishing a good morning routine are far reaching and can extend to your mental, physical and spiritual health. Studies show that creating and following a good morning routine can decrease your stress, depression and anxiety levels, and can directly improve your life satisfaction.

Here’s a few reasons why you should be putting more effort into your mornings.

1. People tend to be more productive, focused and have more willpower in the mornings.
2. A good morning can set a precedent for the rest of your day.
3. By being more organized about your mornings, you are more likely to have a few stress-free minutes to relax before you start your day.

Of course, the right morning routine should be one that is tailored to you, your lifestyle and the demands of your life; but here are a few things you should be including in your routine to maximize your morning success.

Wake up and visualize. What do you want your day to be like today? Calmly think about your goals and how you are going to achieve them in the most efficient way possible. If you find yourself waking up feeling overwhelmed by all the things you have to do in the day, try focusing on only your most important goal and aim to tackle it early on.

Meditate and appreciate! We all have days where we wake up just plain grumpy. Take a few minutes in the morning to meditate, practice deep breathing, and think about the people and things in your life you are grateful for.

Engage in some form of physical exercise. Do yoga, go for a walk, use the treadmill, go to the gym, run up and down your basement stairs; do something that will get your blood pumping.

Visualize your day, your goals, and how you are going to effectively manage what’s on your plate. You might find a journal helpful with this.

Eat a good breakfast. The rule is, eat light at night and heavy in the morning. A good breakfast will not only give you a much-needed burst of energy, but can boost metabolism and help you loose weight.

Have something to look forward to. If that good breakfast doesn’t do it for you, how about listening to music? Reading a book? Watching an episode of a show you like? It can be something as simple as having your first cup of coffee while you sit in the sunny spot by your living room window.

In the same vein, be sure to take some time for yourself; however long you can manage. Try doing something you enjoy – I like to write in my journal – and decompress. This will not only put you in a more centered place, equipping you to better deal with the rest of your day, but can also be a great incentive for managing your mornings better and ensuring that “me time.”