Every morning, before you leave for work, there are a few habits and rituals you should try to follow that will help you kick off your days with your best foot forward. Even if you can’t get to them all, try to incorporate at least one or two of these to set the day in a healthy, positive motion.
Get Your Workout in Early
Whether you are doing pull-ups, going for a run, or stretching out with yoga or gratitude walks, exercising helps warm up your joints and sets a positive tone for the rest of your busy day ahead. It’s the one health rule- you should always try to stick to.
By exercising early in the morning you’ll start your day in an awesome mood. Even if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, a morning workout will boost your endorphins for extra smiles the rest of the day. Also, you’ll give your metabolism a big boost! You burn more calories throughout the day when you do a morning workout than you would if you did an evening workout at a similar intensity.
Limber Up
Stretching helps you prevent an injury, release tension, and alleviate any back pain you may have. While these aches and pains can develop at any time throughout the day, they often occur in the morning – after the body has been at rest for a long period. Stretching is a great way to improve blood flow, circulation and lower blood pressures, helping your body to de-stress and relaxes as you head out the door.
Many people, especially those who sit in front of a computer for extended periods of time, develop poor posture as a result of overstretched back muscles and tight chest muscles. Implementing a morning routine of stretches that focus on opening these muscles can be effective for loosening them up. As these muscles become more and more flexible, changes in stance and posture will become evident.
Hydrate With Lemon Water
Six to eight hours of restorative sleep can dehydrate the body so you have to treat yourself to a glass of warm water with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It takes just seconds to prepare and gives you a nice little vitamin C and immune boost to start your day.
Eat a Nutritious Breakfast
Many studies have linked eating breakfast for good health, including better memory and concentration, lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, and lower chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, and being overweight.
Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for the morning rush. Mix Greek yogurt parfait with fresh berries and oats that’s packed with protein, vitamins, and a serving of whole grains. If you are pressed for time, you will wash leafy greens and prepare the ingredients the night before for a fiber-rich green drink or vitamin cocktail smoothie so you can blend up your breakfast in mere minutes the next day.