9 simple morning rituals to achieve a healthy, happy, glow for the day

My mum used to always say I was the biggest dilly dallier (aka time waster) in the morning.  I don’t know how I managed it, but no matter how early I got up, time used to slip away from me without realising, resulting in me just about making it to school on time.  Still to this day I can dilly-dally and get lost in a time warp (usually with social media and emails) if I’m not careful.

Over the last year or so I decided that I wanted to use this vortex of ‘wasted’ time in the morning to cultivate a morning routine that would set me up for having a healthy, happy, glow throughout the day.

This morning routine offers simple, gentle, nourishing ways of taking care of myself before I head out into the day and focus on other’s needs.

It’s my way of committing to starting the day off with positive vibes (thoughts, feelings and energy) and protect against the harmful effects of stress the rest of the day may bring.

These morning rituals also act as a fresh-start, a re-set button on whatever happened the day before.  It’s like I’m starting anew every morning.

Some of the many benefits of having such a morning routine / ritual include:

• Overall sense of wellbeing and calm
• Lower levels of stress and a more positive outlook on life
• Increased energy and stamina
• Heightened creativity, focus and problem-solving
• Better diet choices for the rest of the day

 

Here’s 9 simple ways to get your day off to a healthy happy start and achieve a day long glow:

HEALTHY

Drink water

Most of us wake up dehydrated.  Not only will drinking water quench the thirst and rehydrate us, it will also help our liver and kidneys flush out the toxins that our bodies try to detox overnight.  Drinking water first thing in the morning can help prevent feeling sluggish and therefore improve energy and clarity.

Drink some green stuff!

Try a green juice or smoothie at the start of the day which are nutrient packed powerhouses that your body will love.

Also having a cup of green tea or my favourite, a matcha latte instead of a coffee, is an amazing way to flood your system with antioxidants.

Get a little exercise

Whether it’s a 10-minute stretch before getting ready for work, doing a quick morning HIIT session or getting outside for a walk (even a walk to work), moving your body and getting your circulation going will not only wake you up but could potentially prevent aches and pains that come with sitting at a desk all day.

 

HAPPY

Meditate

Spending even 10 minutes meditating and becoming mindful of your breath, thoughts and feelings can have huge benefits to your health (emotional and physical) and happiness.

Write it out

Whether you decide to journal your thoughts with dedicated morning pages or you write down three things you are grateful for in a gratitude journal (or both!), writing is therapeutic.  It can alleviate anxiety, encourage creativity and can cultivate a more positive and happier attitude.

Affirmations

Affirmations are positive words or sentences that transform your thoughts to intentions that you can repeat like a mantra.  For example, ‘I love and accept myself just as I am’.  You could have a number of different affirmations pinned to your mirror in the morning so you’d see them as you get ready.

Listen to or read something positive, inspiring and uplifting

I’m a podcast junky and I love listening to interesting podcasts while I get ready for work and on my commute.  Listening or reading something that makes you happy or inspired is such an uplifting way to start the day.

 

GLOW

Pretty much everything I’ve mentioned so far will help create a healthy happy glow but there are a couple of things you can do to help your skin glow even more!

Water with lemon

Remember I suggested to drink water in the morning?  Amp it up by adding some fresh lemon juice.  Lemons are full of antioxidants and vitamin C which both promote radiant skin.  Just make sure not to use boiling water as it will kill the vitamin C.

Dry brush your skin

Get a natural bamboo brush from any health food store or pharmacy and before you jump into the shower, get brushing.  Gentle, repetitive strokes, towards your heart, to stimulate the lymphatic system, creates smoother skin, promotes improved circulation and reduced cellulite.

 

All of these are little things that don’t need to take up a whole lot of time in the morning.  But they add up to BIG things for your healthy, happy, glow.

 

Do you include any of these in your morning routine?