Starting your day right with some reliable morning rituals is the best thing you can do, as it’ll set you up for a successful rest of the day. Taking some time to invest in yourself first is so important, for your physical and mental health, and you’ll feel much better for it. It seems to be quite common for people to preach about their super complex and busy morning schedules, however it really doesn’t need to be that complicated!

Small, simple changes are the way to go, as you’re much more likely to stick to them! Move your body, stay hydrated, get outside and fuel your body, and you’ll be surprised at how much it can turn your whole day, and therefore your whole life, around.

Hydrate As Soon As You Wake Up

When you’re asleep your body dehydrates, and so the best thing you can do when you wake up is to drink water to rehydrate, jumpstart your metabolism and aid digestion. Before bed, put a bottle of water on your nightstand, then when you wake up and your alarm goes off, you can just drink your water and you’ve already done something really positive for yourself as soon as you wake up! It can also help your body to remove toxins, so your kidneys can flush out waste products that have accumulated overnight.

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Get Natural Light Exposure

Before you go to bed, pick out an outfit, put it onto the floor by your bed and when you get up in the morning, head straight out for a walk. Even if it’s not super sunny, getting natural light exposure is fantastic to help with the circadian rhythm, naturally waking the body and helping to provide more sustained energy throughout the day. You’ll feel more alert, your mood will be enhanced and it will also help you to sleep better the next evening as your circadian rhythm was adjusted in a positive way!

Gentle Movement

On the same theme, gentle movement is important in the mornings. If you wake up and do a really intense workout, then you’re at higher risk of injury because of stiffer muscles and you’ll likely experience reduced performance. Also, it spikes your cortisol levels, which can cause your body to feel more stressed and you to feel more fatigued through the day. Instead, a walk outside helps to wake up your body to gradually wake up and prepare you for the rest of the day. Whether it’s 15 minutes or you have time for something longer, it’s a great way to start your day. Why not meet up with a friend and make it a social occasion!

Have A Nutritious Breakfast

Taking time to make yourself a nutritious breakfast is so important to start the day right. When you have a balanced breakfast with protein, fibre and healthy fats, it helps to kickstart your metabolism, keep you feeling full for the morning and boost your energy levels. If you grab something quickly on the way out the house, often it won’t provide what you need to feel satiated and energised for the morning.

A great breakfast if you love savoury food is to have eggs, wholemeal sourdough, spinach and tomatoes with a drizzle of chilli oil over the top. If you like sweet, a bowl of Greek yogurt with granola, nuts and fruit will set you up perfectly, to make your morning happier and healthier.

Slow Down

One of the best things you can do for your body is to slow down. If you rush in the morning, jump up right out of bed and move a million miles an hour, it doesn’t give your body the time to gradually wake up and get ready for the day. Instead, try to give yourself the first hour of the day to naturally wake up and adjust!

Instead of rushing straight to the gym or leaving it as late as possible to wake up so you’re in a rush, wake up, make your delicious coffee, head outside for your walk, make yourself a nutritious breakfast, get ready and then head out of the house. You’re likely to be so much more awake and prepared for the day, as well as feeling fresher for longer and not crashing mid-morning!

Make Yourself A Coffee

For many of us, starting the day with a delicious coffee is a pretty good way to kick things off. However, it’s recommended to not have your coffee for an hour after waking up, so once you’ve headed out for your walk and prepped your breakfast, you can enjoy your caffeine without it spiking your energy and causing you to crash. Getting yourself a good quality home setup, with a great espresso machine and DF54 grinder, will help you to create cafe-quality coffee from the comfort of your home!