Waking up is hard, especially during the week when the sound of your blaring alarm is beckoning you to get out of bed. And if you’re not exactly a morning person, it’s probably even more of a challenge. But what if we told you that a few things you might be doing in that morning haze could be throwing off your day entirely?
You’d probably want to ditch those habits ASAP. And the good news is, you absolutely can! We’re sharing the morning habits that might ruin your day so you can avoid them and set yourself up for success.
1. Hitting the Snooze Button
How many times are you guilty of hitting the snooze button each morning? Just once? Maybe two or three times? We’re all guilty of wanting a little more shut-eye. However, it doesn’t matter how many times you’re pressing snooze and trying to drift back to dream land, it’s still not a great way to start off your day.
All it is doing is getting your morning off to a sluggish start and you’re ultimately going to feel even more tired than usual. And not to mention, when you’re scrambling to get yourself ready and out the door on time, that stress is only going to send you into a panic.
Instead, you need to get rid of the temptation to press snooze. One simple trick is to place your alarm on the other side of the room. This way, whenever it goes off each morning, you’ll have to get out of bed to turn it off. It’ll help wake you up and actually get you out of bed on time.
2. Checking Your Phone Before Getting Out of Bed
FOMO is real, but that doesn’t mean you need to start scrolling through your Instagram or Facebook as soon as you wake up. It’s just not healthy and it can greatly impact your mindset for the day ahead. There’s way too much negativity and comparison traps when it comes to social media. And do you really want to start your day off with a screen in your face?
Your best bet is to avoid getting invested in everyone else’s life first thing in the morning. And instead, focus on your own. What can you do with your morning that would be more productive, relaxing, and help prepare you for the day? Some great ideas to start the day are journaling, stretching or meditating. Find something that works for your life.
3. Rushing Your Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? That’s why you absolutely shouldn’t rush your breakfast time or skip it. It’s crucial that you’re nourishing your body in the morning and providing it with the nutrients it needs. That’s going to give you the energy to get through the day. Otherwise, you’ll wind up hungry and grumpy. Definitely not a good combination!
If you find that you’re short on time in the morning, your only option isn’t to do a grab-and-go type of meal. You can actually prepare something hearty and delicious ahead of time so you won’t have to spend additional time in the kitchen. Something like overnight oats or even a smoothie can be a fantastic breakfast and it’s filling. Since you’ll prepare it the night before, you can reach for it in the morning and just enjoy it before rushing out the door.
4. Getting Way Too Sweet
Another one of the morning habits that might ruin your day is opting for a sugary sweet breakfast. While those cereals from your childhood were certainly delicious, they aren’t the most filling and they don’t contain the most nutritious ingredients. In fact, they’re typically loaded with sugar that’s going to impact how you feel for the rest of the day. Same with donuts or danish or any sweet pastry. Stick to something healthier.
5. Skipping Your Workout
You get major benefits no matter what time of day you exercise, but it turns out those morning workouts are especially beneficial. A great morning workout routine can boost your metabolism and keep it going all day long. Not only that, but it’ll put you in a better mood and increase your energy levels for the day ahead. That’s something you’ll notice well into the afternoon.
While it’s not possible for all of us to make morning workouts a regular habit, it’s definitely worth giving it a go. You can wake up a little earlier or do a quick routine at home just to get the blood flowing. You’ll be thanking yourself for it later!
