6 Morning Habits To Adopt Now For A Healthier You

No matter what your health goals are, they can seem difficult to incorporate into daily routines.

However, incorporating healthier habits into your lifestyle don’t need drastic changes or a total overhaul of your current routines. Making small changes can help you in the long run.

And wellness experts all swear by a good morning routine. Waking up early, exercising, meditating, having water, and more.

This article lists 7 simple morning habits to adopt for your physical and mental health and well being.

1. Drink a glass of water

Starting your day with a tall glass of lemon water or even plain water is an easy way to enhance weight loss. Water can help increase your energy expenditure or the number of calories your body burns, for at least 60 minutes. [1]

Starting your day with water also helps you hydrate your body and kickstart your metabolism. Not only this, but it can also help with constipation.

2. Get moving

Some form of physical activity in the morning can do wonders for your body. It gets your blood circulating and also helps boost weight loss. Physical activity has been shown to improve gut health and brain function. A quick workout in the morning wakes you up and energies you without the need for caffeine. It lets the right hormones like cortisol take over regular functions.

Working out in the morning improves digestion and nutrient absorption, improving your overall physical health. Another amazing side effect of working out is the endorphin rush you feel afterwards. It’s a natural stress reliever, so you can start your day with a calm mind. And a less stressed mind has been proven to help you make better decisions throughout the day.

3. Have a protein-rich breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of your day. Starting your day with the right nutrition sets the tone for your day. When you skip breakfast, your body craves food and you grab unhealthy pre-packed food on the go to keep you going. Make sure to always eat breakfast within 2 hours of waking up.

What you eat is as important as eating breakfast. Store-bought cereal or granola usually come loaded with processed sugar which is harmful to your body. And the labels can be misleading. It is always a good idea to get wholefoods as part of your day that is minimally processed.

Try squeezing in 10-15 minutes to make breakfast at home. A protein-rich breakfast is a great way to start your day, and it keeps you full longer. Some good breakfast ideas are here.

4. Grab a cup of tea

We know you might be someone who loves their morning coffee. And we won’t ask you to stop drinking coffee. All we ask if for you to grab that first cup of coffee at least 2 hours after waking up, rather than immediately. The high amount of caffeine in coffee can prevent your hormone cycles from functionally in the first few hours after you wake up.

So instead, maybe grab a cup of caffeine-free tea during the first 2 hours like Olive Teas. Or a less caffeinated alternative like green tea. Olive teas give your body an antioxidant boost and are a rich source of Vitamin C. They have 4 times more vitamin C than green tea. Olive teas also contain essential nutrients like iron and zinc. Iron is absorbed best on an empty stomach with Vitamin C. This is a great way to give your body a good amount of iron, antioxidants and zinc to boost your immunity and help your cells fight oxidative damage.

You can buy Olive Teas here.

5. Get some Sun

Getting a good dose of sunshine right when you wake up is one of the easiest and most rewarding morning habits to get into. Sunlight or natural light is beneficial for our circadian rhythm. Moreover, exposure to sunlight gives your body the chance to produce the essential vitamin D that isn’t easily available to the body through food. Meeting your vitamin D requirements can help you lose weight, prevent weight gain, and most importantly give your immune system a big boost.

Sunlight is also a natural mood lifter. So go on, get some Sun.

6. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice that involves fully focusing on the present moment and bringing awareness to your thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness is a natural quality that we all have. It’s available to us in every moment if we take the time to appreciate it.

It’s all about creating space for ourselves – space to think, to breathe, to be, to let go of your anxieties and worries. Mindfulness can really help reduce your stress levels. Moreover, it increases focus, increases your emotional intelligence, creativity and even your physical well-being. It does wonders for your overall health.

So it’s always a good idea to set aside even just 5-10 minutes for this. The idea is to just be in the present moment, acknowledge your thoughts as they come and go and try to connect with your senses instead of focusing on thoughts.