If you are making health a priority in 2024, congratulations! You are not only doing the best thing for your physical health, but for your overall wellbeing. A successful day starts with a healthy morning routine. Cultivating positive habits in the morning not only boosts your physical and mental well-being but also sets the tone for the entire day. In this article, we’ll explore seven essential healthy morning habits that can transform your mornings and contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
It’s about a Way of Life
Achieving and maintaining good health is not about quick fixes; it’s a journey of cultivating habits that become a way of life. The key to waking up looking and feeling amazing every day lies in adopting a series of healthy morning habits. The seven habits below are not just a one-time-fix. It is only when incorporated into your morning routine, done on a daily basis, that they can transform your overall well-being.
1: Get To Bed, Early!
The foundation of a healthy morning begins the night before. As I said in this article about Zero cost ways to be healthy, you are more likely to wake up ready to tackle the day, if you go to bed earlier. Going to bed early sets the stage for a rejuvenating sleep, allowing your body to repair and recharge.
Benefits of going early to bed include (but are not limited to):
- better quality sleep. In terms of cell repair, the hours before midnight are worth double the hours after midnight.
- promotes better mental health by preserving a positive mindset (source).
- those late-night hunger cravings will fall into oblivion as you snooze your way to health.
2: Rise and Shine with the Sun!
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!
This old adage has a lot of truth in it. Though it is often painful, getting up early is usually the best healthy morning habits we can adopt to be the best version of ourselves. When you wake up with the sun, you embrace the natural rhythm of your body. Exposure to natural light in the morning helps regulate your circadian rhythm, promoting better sleep (it’s a cycle!) and overall well-being.
Getting up with the sun also helps you to phase out of sleep a lot more effectively. The morning sunshine stimulates the hormones that regulate sleep, energy and metabolism. In a nutshell, by getting up early, we eat better, burn better and sleep better – that’s a no-brainer for me!
Rising with the sun is so effective that it even beats extra sleep, if you did have a late night. By rising early(rather than snatching some zzzz’s), you are more likely to return to a normal cycle of sleeping and metabolising.
3: Hydrate Your Body
The third step to the Perfect Morning routine is to drink water as soon as you wake up. After a night of sleep, your body is in need of hydration. Kickstart your metabolism by drinking a glass of water. Better yet, add a slice of lemon for an extra burst of freshness and to jumpstart your digestive system. Staying hydrated supports cognitive function and keeps your body functioning optimally.
Your body has been doing lots of work during the night, repairing cells and resting your muscles. It needs to be hydrated!
Water is the first thing you should feed your body, above coffee (no matter how tired), above breakfast (even fruit). Think of your freshly-woken body like a newborn baby, in need of pure milk. Water before anything else will be satiating your body in the best possible way.
4: Chew a clove
The humble clove is a nutrient powerhouse! Chewing a clove is a great healthy morning habit to adopt because it is antibacterial, high in antioxidants, and helps to regulate blood sugar.
Plus, if you do not want the toothpaste taste in your mouth as you eat breakfast, but still want to freshen your mouth, chewing a clove is a powerful mouth cleanser. It will blast that morning breath away, and help you feel ready to fight the day! It can really numb your mouth, so if you have any tooth pain, grab a clove and chew away!
How to chew a clove: Soak 2 cloves in boiling water for 2 minutes, and chew until you can bear it no more (they pack a pretty powerful punch!). Then, swallow them as you would a pill, washing it down with the steeping water.
5: Take Your Supplements!
If you take supplements, make it a habit to do so early in the morning. I was terrible at taking my prenatal supplements, so pairing this routine with breakfast or a morning ritual made sure I didn’t forget it.
The sense of accomplishment from this habit sets a positive tone for the day. If nothing else, the placebo effect of pill-popping nutrients makes me feel better physically and mentally, contributing to an overall feeling of well-being.
This kind of attitude is a GREAT thing to cultivate so early on, as your day flows from there. You are more likely to have a productive day when you start it feeling good about yourself.
6: Enjoy a Nutrient-Rich Breakfast
Breakfast is more than just a meal; it’s an essential fueling of your body after a night of fasting. A hearty breakfast supports your daily activities, providing energy and aiding in concentration. Prioritize nutrient-rich foods to nourish your body for the day ahead.
I have had seasons in my life where I ate breakfast religiously, and seasons where I did not eat breakfast because I thought skipping meals made you lose weight (long story), and breakfast was the easiest one to skip. Then, in another season of my life I actually forgot to eat breakfast, regularly (I can’t believe that, myself).
Skipping breakfast did NOT work for me – I definitely didn’t lose weight. And I definitely don’t gain weight from having a nice hearty brekkie in the morning. Think about it: your body does lots of repair and restoring through the night. You have already been fasting for 6+ hours. Your body needs fuel. The tasks you will do for the day, the people you interact with, all need for you to be fueled and at your best. Take care of yourself!
7: Read your Bible
The seventh Healthy morning habit is the most powerful one, and that is to nourish your spirit and mental well-being by spending time reading your Bible. Regardless of religious beliefs, engaging in mindful and meditative practices positively impacts mental and spiritual health. Focusing on positive thoughts and recognizing your sense of love and purpose sets a powerful tone for the day.
Your spiritual health flows into every aspect of your life, including your physical and mental health. Focusing on positive thoughts and recognizing your sense of love and purpose sets a powerful tone for the day.
Reading the bible is such a good way to focus your thoughts on what is good and how loved you are. Being loved is one of the most important things to know about yourself – without this, we cannot truly love others.
Conclusion:
Embarking on a journey towards a healthier and more vibrant life begins with the intentional cultivation of morning habits. By consistently practicing these seven rituals, you’re not just kickstarting your day; you’re crafting a lifestyle that prioritizes well-being. Remember, health is not a destination; it’s a continuous process of making mindful choices every morning.
