4 Habits to Begin Your Day in a Positive Way

When I was learning how to combat my anxiety and depression in a more holistic way, I discovered how GREATLY having a solid morning routine can positively impact my mental health.

I’ve found that the kind of morning I have actually sets the tone for the rest of my day. It effects my motivation and my mood.

Now, I am a mom. I think that’s important to note. I do not have a lot of time to spare, so I’ve learned that making the most out of the time that I have in the mornings is KEY.

I’m going to discuss the 4 things I started implementing into my life, every morning, that have been a major benefit to the health of my body, mind and soul. Bonus that all of the below only takes 15-30 minutes to do.

MOM WIN 🙂

PS. Nope. I’m not going to tell you to get up at 4 AM to meditate. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that if you have the means to do so. At the particular place I am at in my life, I need something that will fit into it without causing me any more stress. I know all the busy moms feel me!

Minerals and water

I’m starting out with minerals and water. Getting hydrated first thing in the morning is super important. The body is nearly 70 percent water, and the body needs it for every single process. It is especially important for proper function of the brain, which you want to get the good brain juices flowing in morning, so you can get the best possible start to your day, right?

but why are minerals important? Sodium is needed to push the water into our cells. Inside our cells is where we need it to be so that it can do the work it’s supposed to do.

I use this Redmond Real Salt. It comes from the earth, unprocessed by human hands. Just the way I like it (lol). Plus, its packed with other essential minerals your body is probably in desperate need for.

I just take a 1/4 tsp and drop it in my mouth and wash it down with water. You can add it to your water and sip it all day too.

NO Social Media/News

social media/news/emails first thing in the morning is major downer on the rest of your day. why? Checking social media when you first wake up gives you an initial hit of dopamine that you will continue to reach for, for the rest of your day.

Basically, if you start with Facebook or Instagram first thing in the morning you are more likely to want to scroll more often throughout your day.

When it comes to watching the news and checking emails first thing in the morning that will immediately put you in a state of fight or flight triggering the release of your stress hormones, this sets a negative tone for not just the morning but the rest of the day.

Staying away from social media and the news first thing in the morning is huge for creating healthy morning habits. Try reading or listening to an uplifting podcast instead.

Sunlight

Get natural light/sunlight in the morning. This one is huge for your mental health and key for a great morning routine. Sunlight is proven to help alleviate depression, but did you know that basking in the sunlight when you wake up resets the bodies circadian rhythm which boosts the brain chemicals that wake you up and help you feel alert when you need it (during the day) and also regulates the release of melatonin which helps you feel sleepy and tired at night?

Getting sunlight first thing in the morning is a huge motivation booster!

Also, when you can get a good night’s sleep you can wake up with more energy to dive into your morning routine!

This is a positive cycle you want to be on!

Movement

Movement is a must for great morning habits. Listen for some working out first thing in the morning does not sound fun, I get it. I still don’t want to do it half the time, but I get up and I get it done anyway. Why? because I feel incredible afterwards. Movement and exercise stimulate and release the feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain like dopamine and serotonin. When these neurotransmitters are flowing, we feel happy and motivated.

I can tell a difference in how my days go when I work out and when I don’t. On days I have to go to my big girl job I spend about 10-15 minutes stretching, doing yoga, jogging or Pilates. On the weekends I’ll do longer workouts usually around 30-45 minutes.

It doesn’t really matter how long you work out. Just getting in 10 minutes a day is always better than none. remember that!

Affirmations

This is really important first thing in the morning. Our brain is the easiest to influence in the morning when we first wake up. This means that this is the best time to speak positive and uplifting words over yourself.

you might think this is silly. I did in the beginning. however, seeing how this has changed my perspective, my thought patterns, the way I view myself and the world around me over time, I am completely sold on affirmations and positive thinking.

It’s not going to change your life in one day, but if you stick with it for a while, I promise you will see it impact your life in positive ways.

click here to read my post on 10 great morning affirmations to start your day. I actually record myself saying my affirmations and play it back to myself every morning while I’m either working out or getting ready for work. This is extra effective because your mind knows your voice and automatically trusts what you tell it!

Cold therapy (BONUS)

Nothing and I mean nothing compares to the wakeup call that is taking an ice-cold shower in the morning. It is invigorating and it just makes me feel ahhhhhmazing. Studies have shown that the increase in dopamine with a cold shower is huge and it lasts for several hours after the cold shower or plunge.

I put this one down as a bonus because cold therapy is fantastic for your mental health and it is a great way to start your day, but when I first began my healing journey I was in pretty severe adrenal fatigue. Read more about adrenal fatigue here. Adrenal fatigue symptoms include fatigue, exercise intolerance, anxiety and depression. The reason I didn’t find cold therapy helpful in the beginning is because I felt super fatigued and sick so instead of invigorating me the cold showers actually made me feel worse. I noticed the best improvement with cold therapy after I had put in the work to physically heal and was able to exercise without falling on the floor afterwords.

I encourage you to give it a shot and check in with yourself to see how you feel. This also goes for everything else I mentioned above. Take what resonates and works with you and leave the rest.

Now go out there and crush those new morning habits and routines!

Let me know about your morning routine in the comments.

I wish you healing my Friend.

_{Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition. If you have any medical or psychiatric concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed healthcare provider.}