Have you ever stopped to think that your morning routine is ruining the rest of your day? You wouldn’t believe how normal these habits are too. You’re not the only one who got used to them.
It’s no wonder why there are many bad days when these habits take root. And it starts with the first hour of your day. What’s part of your morning routine and why does it still include these 5 habits?
Read over these 5 habits and start planning out your new morning routine.
Habit #1: You’re giving yourself too many decisions to make.
Raphael Vallat, Ph.D. shared in an interview with Inverse, “When we wake up from sleep, our brain does not immediately switch from a sleep state to a fully awakened state but rather goes through this transition period called sleep inertia that can last up to 30 minutes.”
When you overwhelm yourself with tasks right when you wake up, you’re dipping into something called the urgency effect. This effect is when we mistake the urgent for the important when we know that the important tasks have larger payoffs.
Pro-tip: Wake up 30 minutes earlier and do low-effort tasks like brushing your teeth; give your mind a chance to wake up fully. Afterward, sit down with a journal to focus your thoughts.
Habit #2: You reach for your phone and social media.
Your mind is easily affected by the information around you. You don’t have to ignore everything but what you can do for your mental wellness is manage the time you spend on social media. According to McLean Hospital, “When people look online and see they're excluded from an activity, it can affect thoughts and feelings, and can affect them physically. A 2018 British study tied social media use to decreased, disrupted, and delayed sleep, which is associated with depression, memory loss, and poor academic performance.”
Pro-tip: Put your phone on Do Not Disturb for the first hour of your day and try not to scroll through social media at the start of your day (and before bed).
Habit #3: Hitting the snooze button.
Each time you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock, you’re hurting your sleep cycle. It’s a constant interruption and your mind is trying to fight different states. It’s reported that the most hitting a snooze button will accomplish is making you feel more groggy because the snooze leads to oversleeping or throwing off your sleep schedule. In time, this takes a toll on your body.
Pro-tip: Put your alarm clock (yes your phone if that’s your alarm) somewhere else in the room. Make yourself get up to turn off the alarm and wake up.
Habit #4: Not drinking enough water.
Feeling foggy or fatigued? It could be that you’re not drinking enough water. When you’re dehydrated, your body responds by being tired or in a daze. And after sleeping for 6 to 8 hours, your body is definitely going to be dehydrated.
Pro-tip: That’s why it’s important to drink a full glass of water as soon as you wake up. If you need more structure for low-effort tasks like these, try the Self Care Planner from Lovet Planners.
Habit #5: Drinking coffee too soon.
According to nutritionists and experts, you might be reaching for the coffee cup too soon. It’s said that before waking up, your body begins to produce cortisol (stress hormone) in anticipation of the day. This acts as a stimulant and when you add another stimulant like coffee, that can make things too much to handle. That’s why a lot of people experience jitters.
Pro-tip: Reach for water first in the morning, prioritize tea if you need caffeine, and then switch to coffee 2 to 4 hours after waking up.
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