What is the first thing you tend to do when you wake up in the morning? Reach for your phone? Hit the snooze button? Turn over to try and catch a few more z's?
If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes', you're not alone. Most of us don't exactly jump out of bed and shout, 'Awesome! Another day!'
And yet there are a few simple routine additions you can make to your morning routine to kickstart your energy and start your day with pizazz.
#1 Get enough sleep
This one seems like a no-brainer, right? Most of us need 7-9 hours of sleep, so if you're getting less, you aren't setting yourself up powerfully for the day.
Go to bed at a decent hour (set a reminder if you need it). And if you use an alarm to wake up in the morning, place it far away from your bed. You'll want to have to get up to turn it off. Once you're up, there's less temptation to hit that snooze button.
#2 Clean your mouth
Notice I said 'mouth,' not just 'teeth.' This is because you'll want to, ideally, scrape your tongue as well as brush your teeth.
Why scrape your tongue? Because tongue scraping can clear many of the bacteria from your mouth that cause cavities and gum disease. Another benefit is that your taste buds will be more sensitive to taste so that delicious latte or oatmeal or whatever your favorite breakfast is will be even tastier.
If you think you have to use fancy equipment to scrape your tongue, think again. You can do it with a spoon.
#3 Drink warm water
You will want to drink some water first thing in the morning to flush out toxins that your body has accumulated during the night while absorbing the nutrients you've taken in all day.
Why warm water? Because if you drink it cold, your body has to work harder to bring the temperature down, therefore impacting its ability to digest your food.
You'll want to drink your water after cleaning your mouth so that you aren't swallowing all that mouth bacteria with your cleansing water!
You can add a bit of lemon juice to your water or some apple cider vinegar for an extra energy boost. Adding that little bit of acid to your water will help boost your morning detox.
#4 Get moving
Stretching your muscles is a fabulous way to wake up and tell your body that it's time to start the day. Gentle stretches will get the blood moving, and you can focus on any areas that might feel a bit tight.
Stretching your back is particularly useful if you're going to spend the day sitting in front of a computer, at a desk, or both!
You can also add a bit of resistance to your stretching routine with resistance bands like the ones at Victoremgear.com.
#5 Dry brush all over
Dry brushing is an excellent way of sloughing off any dead skin cells, but did you know that dry brushing also stimulates your lymph system and your circulation? Do dry brushing before your shower to unclog your pores - your skin will thank you, and you'll be rewarded with more glowing skin if you do this regularly. The touch of the bristles against your skin will also wake you up!
#6 Finish your shower with a cold rinse
If you don't have a lake nearby, cold showers are the next best thing for waking up your body with cool water. Coldwater can help reduce muscle soreness and inflammation, and it also stimulates your circulation, thereby energizing you.
You can either take an entirely cold shower (about 5-10 minutes max) or start with a warm shower and then finish with the last 20-30 seconds of cold water.
Coldwater showers are particularly beneficial if you feel stressed, as the sharp intake of breath when your body reacts to the cold can help drive the blood flow out to your vital organs and distract your brain from unhelpful thoughts.
#7 Eat a good breakfast (if you eat breakfast)
Not everyone needs or wants to eat breakfast. Some people swear by intermittent fasting, where they eat between 12 noon and 8 pm. Others need a protein-rich breakfast to avoid becoming hungry by 10 am. And others prefer lighter fare.
Whatever your preference, if you do choose to eat breakfast, make it a healthy one.
Whether it's bulletproof coffee, a quick omelet, or some overnight oatmeal, give your body the fuel it needs for a high-energy day.
Have a fabulous, energy-filled day!
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