Are you the person who always reaches for the snooze button?
If motivation or consistency is the biggest thing holding you back right now, it might be time to consider your morning routine. Whilst exercising first thing isn’t for everyone, creating a small morning routine can positively influence your mood, your mental capacity and even your energy levels – ultimately putting the wheels in motion for a much more productive day.
But don’t just take my word for it; let’s look at the science:
When we experience even small amounts of success, our brain releases Dopamine – “the happy hormone” – which is connected to feelings of pleasure, learning and motivation.
Think about how great you feel when you complete a workout. This is because exercise stimulates the release of Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins – all of which play a huge role in boosting your mood and overall sense of wellbeing. Now think about the sense of achievement when you tick things off a list. It feels good doesn’t it? Thanks Dopamine!
When we feel the effects of this “happy-hormone” in action, we get the desire to repeat the experience. This chemical process is how healthy habits are formed. It’s also the indisputable reason why motivation follows action – not the other way around. Read that again.
With that in mind, let’s check out a few tips to help you get started with making the most out of your mornings:
2. Set a regular sleep/wake routine
I cannot stress enough the importance of consistent sleeping patterns for overall health and performance. If you’re the person who sits up late watching TV or browsing social media (guilty); try setting yourself a technology curfew to give your body the best chance at winding down before sleep time. When the weekend rolls around, try not to sleep for more than 60-90 minutes past your normal wake up time. This helps to keep your body clock regular and will make Monday morning far more easier to bare – I promise!
It’s not going to come naturally straight away, but it’s important to persist! Remember: motivation follows action. I was never a morning person before I was a Personal Trainer, but now it’s my favourite part of the day! Be strict with yourself for 14 days, even if it just means getting up 15 minutes early to begin with. Once you’re on your feet it’s easy. Mind over matter here, peeps!
It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about fat loss, recovery, performance or sleep – hydration is always a factor. Water is an essential element to a healthy, happy body and how you feel when you wake up is no exception. A dehydrated body is a tired body. Before you go reaching for the caffeine, make sure you drink at least 500ml of water to help kickstart your day the right way.
What’s more important to you: 30 extra minutes in bed, or feeling energised and unstoppable? It’s a priorities thing. If you want to see change, you need to create change – it’s that simple.
Once you’re up, you’re up! This is such a simple trick, but it’s a great way to force yourself out of bed. The rest is much easier once you have two feet on the floor!
Rise and shine, early birds!
(Pic via Pinterest)
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