Morning Habits to Improve Your Day

I love weekends because I typically am not rushed to begin my day. I have found that if I have an hour or two before my workday every day, I feel less stressed, have more energy, and even am more productive because I have time to prepare for my day.

Becoming a morning person is not an easy thing to do if you are used to the routine of snoozing your alarm. Try setting your alarm 15 to 20 minutes before you normally would, and slowly start increasing the time up to when you would like to begin your day. Creating morning habits can help make it easier to prioritize your mental and physical health for the day as well. Here are some tips to help you get started towards a more positive day:

Make your bed. A retired Navy admiral William McRaven said it best in a 2014 commencement speech, “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.” Having a made bed will make it easier to keep up with the rest of your bedroom.

Avoid checking your phone. Many of us routinely check our phones in the morning. A study from IDC Research found that about 80% of smartphone users check their phones within 15 minutes of waking up. Reaching for your phone can easily derail your morning and plan for a good start to the day. Instead try putting your phone on airplane mode, so you aren’t receiving any notifications, and create a list of things you want to accomplish before checking your phone.

Drink water. Water has been proven to rehydrate your body, increase levels of alertness, fuel your brain, strengthen your immune system, get rid of toxins, jump start your metabolism, as well as many other benefits.

Stretch. Stretching can help energize you for the day.It also can improve your mental state as it reduces stress and tension. Try incorporating these morning stretches and see if you notice a difference.

Be intentional while doing something. Put on a playlist or podcast, read a book, draw or journal, complete a crossword puzzle, or take time to make a delicious breakfast. Whatever you decide to do, be intentional with this activity.

These are just a few ideas to help you get started with a morning routine. Once you find what works for you it will be well worth it. I encourage you to try one, two, or even all of these tips to start your day.

Jill Haupts, Outreach Coordinator for The Kim Foundation

Jill Haupts is the Outreach Coordinator at The Kim Foundation. She received her bachelor’s degree in Child, Adult, and Family Services from Iowa State University in 2016. Jill joined the Kim Foundation in January coming from Des Moines, Iowa. Her previous experience includes volunteer recruitment and fundraising, as well as experience coordinating services and providing resources to adults who have a mental health diagnosis. Jill’s role in the foundation is coordinating event logistics, presenting and attending community fairs, as well as volunteer coordination and recruitment. She enjoys working in the nonprofit field and has a passion for advocacy and helping others.