Are you a morning coffee person? Plenty of people say they couldn’t get going without a caffeine boost. Yet, while a morning cup of coffee might taste good there are healthier alternatives.
5 Healthy Habits to Start Your Day
Get to Bed Early and Get Good Rest
Most adults seem to require between 7-8 hours of sleep per night. The path to an alert morning, therefore, starts by getting a good night’s sleep. This requires that we do what is required to get a good night’s rest.
Putting down the phone or laptop a couple of hours prior to bedtime allows our brains to calm down and help us become sleepy. Calm breathing and quiet will also help us become tired. Try to ensure that you go to bed at a reasonable time and allow yourself time to try and achieve the 7-8 hours. When we are well rested the night before we are more alert the next morning.
Morning Exercise
Starting out our morning with exercise is a great way to wake our minds and bodies up. Regular exercise helps boost energy, improves mood, and promotes better sleep. This could be aerobics, jogging or even a brisk walk. When we get our bodies started, energy increases and we become more alert.
Eat for Alertness
You may be looking to cut out that caffeine in your diet but there are other foods that can help place the alertness you are seeking. Berries, nuts, and whole grains may help you start the day with heightened energy and alertness.
How you eat in the morning is key to how alert you are throughout the day. If you eat too heavily you may start the day feeling sluggish and tired. Try to eat fresh foods that offer slow-release energy rather than heavily sugary foods. You may get a brief sugar rush but you may pay for that later in the day.
Say Good Morning to the Sun
When you get up in the morning, get the shades open and let in the sunlight. Not only does the light help us to wake up but it also helps our bodies produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for our bones, blood cells and immune systems. Of course, sunshine for many people is a seasonal commodity. Supplements in the form of tablets can be useful and foods such as liver, eggs, oily fish and some breakfast cereals can be an additional rich source.
Upbeat Music
Music holds the key to many of our emotions, it can make us cry, smile, and sometimes remember better times. A good playlist can take a simple workout to the next level proving that the right songs can lift our spirits and increase our alertness.
Set yourself a morning playlist of high energy upbeat songs. Sing along to them and dance around if the feeling takes you. As part of your morning routine, music can set you up for a positive and productive day.
Final Thoughts
We do not have to depend on the artificial boost that coffee affords us in the morning. There are plenty of natural ways to wake ourselves up in the morning. Exercise, a good breakfast, or a stimulating morning routine can all help to make us more alert.