Why I Love Triathlon
How triathlon helps maintain my positivity, gives me a sense of accomplishment, a supportive community, and has helped me come to terms with my illness.
More Than Our Story
Starting Your Day Off Right
Mornings can be difficult, but following a solid morning routine can not only make us stronger and sharper, it can also dramatically boost our mood. Those of us with mental health issues will notice a substantial difference.
1. Improve Your Bedtime Habits
The best way to kick off your day is by improving your bedtime habits, and getting a good sleep the night prior. Some tips to accomplishing this:
- Give yourself adequate time to decompress from your day. Put down your gadget, the blue light can impact your sleep quality.
- Take a warm bath or shower before bed – not only is it relaxing, but it can also lead to a more restful sleep.
- Don’t go to bed until you’re ready to go to sleep. You don’t want your body getting used to being awake in bed.
- Go to bed, and wake up at the same time each day, to promote a healthy sleep cycle.
2. Get Adequate Sleep the Night Before
Sleep deprivation can lead to a range of health problems, so it’s important we get enough sleep every night. Our sleep needs are based on many factors, but the average adult needs around 8 hours of quality sleep per night.
3. Be Grateful
Set a positive tone for the day by giving yourself a few moments to smile. I practice gratitudes with my husband each morning – we take a minute to reflect upon everything we have to be grateful for. Smiling releases neurotransmitters that lift your mood, relax your body, and lower your heart rate.
4. Create a Morning Routine and Stick to It
Having a good morning routine can help you to wake up feeling like you have purpose, and direction. Make your bed when you get up, that way you’ll feel accomplished before you even leave your room. There is a popular idea that it takes 21 days to form a habit, but the truth is, like any habit, consistency is key.
5. Plan Your Day/Review Your Todo List-
Don’t leave important decisions until the morning. Preplan your day, and your to-dos in advance. You will reduce the amount of stress you experience right out of bed and be more confident about your plan for the day.
6. Get Moving
Whether you’re a person that thrives off morning exercise or not, moving first thing can have a great impact on your mood and energy levels. Whether it’s a full workout, stretching, or going for a morning walk, getting your blood pumping first thing in the morning is a great way to start your day.
7. Eat a Healthy Breakfast and Hydrate
We all know that we should start our day with a healthy, nutritious breakfast – unfortunately that’s easier said than done. Planning our breakfast the night before can make it easier to prepare in the morning. Eating a well-balanced, healthy breakfast will fuel us for our day, and help us to better focus and concentrate. We should always have at least one glass of water in the morning, as it helps to flush out the toxins our bodies create while we sleep.
8. Practice Self-Care
It’s about more than simply brushing our teeth and washing our face. Practicing self-care means putting the time and effort into caring for ourselves. Spending a few moments on our appearance can help build our self-confidence, and keep it boosted throughout the day.
SOURCES
- Boston Direct Health, 7 Ways to Start Your Day with a Healthy Morning Routine, January 21, 2020, Dr. Steven Zivich
- Chopra, 10 Morning Habits to Start Your Day Off Right, September 22, 2019, Melissa Eisler
- Self, 9 Small Morning Habits That Will Make Your Whole Day So Much Better, January 16, 2020, Anna Borges
- Everyday Health, 10 Ways To Improve Your Morning Routine
- WikiHow, 3 Ways To Start Your Day In A Healthy Way, June 13, 2021, Jennifer Butler, MSW
Denise
Denise is the most positive person you will ever meet. She takes pleasure in sharing and giving and is selfless beyond imagination. She is also an animal lover and will never miss the opportunity to say hello to any four legged friends along her journey.
Denise is also an advertising and PR wizard and will charm your socks off. In 2021 her journey began becoming an irreplaceable part of More Than Our Story.
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