Set Yourself Up for Success, Not Stress
It’s not always easy to meet the demands of our overflowing schedules. With work, family, social events, and taking care of ourselves (as we should), managing the stressors of life requires a little bit of planning. Consider how you start your day off every morning. Are you setting yourself up for success or stress?
If you feel like there is some room for growth, here are few things to keep in mind when mapping out your day:
The night before: How peaceful your morning goes ultimately depends on how you set yourself up the evening before. Save yourself some time in the morning by getting a few things prepared. This could look like having the coffee maker set on a timer to brew, having your lunch and snacks packed up and ready to grab, or picking your clothes out for the next day.
Skip the snooze: Right when you’re waking up that snooze button can feel like your best friend, but don’t be fooled by the enemy! For every minute that you stay in bed past your alarm, you are robbing yourself of the opportunity to make the most out of your day, not to mention elevating your stress levels first thing in the morning when you’re having to rush out the door. Allow yourself plenty of time to wake up and set an intention for the day.
Take a breath: If you’re like me and your mind instantly goes to your to-do list upon waking, try some deep breathing exercises. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is at its peak shortly after waking up in the morning, before going back down. To help keep your cortisol in an optimal range, avoid reaching for your phone right away and instead take some deep breaths to calm your nervous system and prepare yourself for whatever the day has in store.
Hydrate: Coffee has some tremendous health benefits and can be enjoyed daily, but it shouldn’t be the first beverage of the day. You might not realize it, but you wake up dehydrated in the morning because your body has gone about eight hours without consuming water while you sleep. It’s important to replenish and rehydrate before reaching for caffeine or any other caffeinated beverage.
Joy: Whether you’re commuting or working from home, taking a few minutes in the morning to listen to upbeat music, a podcast, read a couple of chapters, or anything that you enjoy can put you in a positive headspace to help combat the stresses of work demands.
If you’re aiming for a more efficient morning routine, consider implementing these habits for a week and see how productive your days go.
