How would you choose to spend your perfect day? For some, maybe that’s spending the afternoon cozying up with a favorite book. For others, it may be getting up early for a brisk morning jog surrounded by nature. Though we may not always have the luxury of a full day off, it’s still possible to incorporate happy habits into each day that center around our health and wellness. By doing so, we can ensure that we have the best day ever both physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Yes, even on our busiest of days!
Give the iPhone a Break
Starting off the morning strong is key, and one of the best things you can do to start your day off right is to ignore the temptation of turning over and scrolling through Instagram as soon as you wake up. Social media can be a source of comparison and self-doubt and in order to have the best day ever, it starts with getting ourselves in the right mindset. Additionally, the blue light from your screen can throw you off physically by messing with your internal body clock. Too much screen time can have a negative effect on our natural body rhythms like sleep and hormone balance (Forbes).
Get Moving
Maybe you’re someone who enjoys spending a couple of hours at the gym regularly. If not, don’t worry, science suggests that a quick 10, 7, or even 4-minute workout can also be an effective way to get your body the exercise it needs (New York Times). Incorporating shorter, high-intensity spurts of exercise into your morning, whether it’s swimming, running, jumping rope, or stair climbing, is a great way to get your body energized and ready to tackle the day.
Make a Plan
In a study conducted by the University of Hertfordshire on the nature of self-acceptance, participants were asked the following survey question, “How often do you do things that contribute to your most important life goals?” Whether your goals are career-oriented, or geared towards self-improvement, making a plan and then breaking that plan down into small daily action steps prevents us from feeling overwhelmed by the largeness of our dreams. So set a plan for the day the night before. It could be finally getting around to that one thing you’ve been putting off since last week, or it could be simply committing to the idea of being kinder to yourself today. Either way, getting things off our to-do list is a major mood booster and gives us the confidence to maintain motivation and excitement about our goals even when things get tough.
Sit with Yourself
Many of us avoid spending too much time alone with our thoughts, but in order to have the best possible day, it’s essential to embrace quiet time with ourselves. This can be in the form of meditation, journaling, or partaking in something you’re passionate about. The point is to spend this time focusing on what gives your life meaning and purpose. Practicing gratitude can be a great way to begin flexing this muscle. By taking the time to notice the world around us or taking note of what we feel we do well, can help get us into a place of groundedness. Morning quiet time can also be a great opportunity to try something new. A commitment to ongoing learning has a major influence on our happiness and it doesn’t have to be within the realm of formal education. If you like plants, maybe consider checking out a YouTube video on how to start a window box garden. Unsure what that is? Now is a great chance to learn something new.
When it comes to morning routines, there are endless ways one can structure their day to help increase creativity, productivity, and all-around happiness. If you’re interested in further suggestions, consider checking out Arrmon Abedikichi’s book, “Morning Magic: How to Sleep Better, Wake Up Productive, and Create a Marvelous Morning Routine” and you may find yourself having more of those perfect days, every day.
-Erin Marie
Photo by raihan n. aziz on Unsplash
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