Struggling with Morning Stress? Try These Habits!

Mornings, right?

They are really tough — I used to drag myself out of bed each morning.

Rushing through things — eating, getting ready, and then driving to work.

All this rush makes morning so chaotic, your mind is half tired by the time you reach your destination.

Your heart is racing, your mind is occupied, half of your co-workers are already there and when you finally reach your desk, your boss hands you work.

No time to breathe, think, or give your brain a break.

You are stuck in this loop forever.

Your morning habits just leave you stressed and unproductive.

However, tweaking your morning routine a bit can really turn things around.

I am not talking about waking up happy, I am asking you to set up a few morning habits that get you ready for the day while you enjoy a sense of calmness throughout the day.

But first,

Go Easy on Your Digestive System

In order to eliminate morning stress the first thing you should do is go easy on your digestive system.

Well, I am no expert but I know this — eating heavy at night can cause discomfort and indigestion, making it harder for you to fall asleep or stay asleep.

On the other hand, a light meal is easy to digest and gives you a restful night. (Source: UPMC Health Beat)

I have experienced that whenever I ate heavy meals at night, I woke up tired, and in no mood to work.

So now I have made a habit of eating a light dinner.

Get a Good Night Sleep

Well, you already know that a good night sleep is important for both body and mind.

But, there is no harm in reminding this to yourself.

Here’s what I like to do to make sure I sleep well:

• I do a little breathing exercise to relax your mind. Just a simple breathe-in and breathe-out exercise.
• Empty my mind by writing down my next day’s to-do list (both work and personal), so that I don’t sleep and wake up thinking about it.
• Keep my phone in silent mode, turn off the Wi-Fi
• Listen to some calming music for at most 8–10 minutes.

I basically set the stage for the morning.

Try it!

You will feel that when you wake up after a restful night, your morning is calm and productive.

Now, let’s talk about the morning!

Rise with Intention, Not with Alarm

Wake up on purpose, not because the loud sound of your alarm buzzes you awake.

Don’t snooze your alarm for that extra 5 minutes of sleep.

Get up at the same time each day, even on weekends.

When your body knows what to expect, you can go to sleep more easily at night and start your day feeling more awake and full of energy.

I have felt that when the room is dark, it’s tough for me to wake up. My mind thinks that it’s too early to wake up.

So here’s how I tricked my mind: I installed a smart light bulb in my room. Now my smart bulb and my alarm time are synced.

I start each day feeling fresh and focused.

Hydrate Before You Caffeinate

After sleeping for hours, your body is super thirsty.

So before you reach out for a cup of coffee, grab a glass of water.

It isn’t just about quenching your thirst, it’s about waking up your insides.

I have made it a habit of having a glass of water as soon as I wake up.

Drinking water gets your metabolism moving, flushes out toxins, hydrates your skin, and most importantly increases concentration by improving oxygen flow to the brain.

Once you’ve had that water, then go for the coffee if you still feel like you need it.

Have a Balanced Breakfast

Overeating, eating too little or not at all in the morning is never a good idea.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Go for a mix of protein (like eggs or yogurt), some good fats (maybe a slice of avocado or a handful of nuts), and carbs (like whole-grain toast or oatmeal).

It is important to keep your energy steady and your brain sharp, so that you can tackle your day like a champ.

Tackle the Most Challenging Task First

Complete all your big, challenging tasks first thing in the morning — whether it’s a complicated report or sorting out your finances.

The tasks that require most of your brain power should always be handled first.

I am saying this because in the morning our mind is fresh, full of energy with all the creative juices flowing.

So, get those to-do lists done before your brain starts to get all busy with a million other things.

As the day rolls on, we all get a bit tired, and so does our brain.

That’s when you should handle the easy stuff — the tasks that don’t need as much brain power.

By splitting your day this way, you’re matching your tasks to your energy levels.

By lunchtime, you will feel you have accomplished most things, instead of getting burned out.

Wrapping Up

Change is always hard at first and it won’t happen overnight.

But you can always start small and work your way up.

Instead of picking up all the morning habits at once, start with one or two.

Once you have incorporated those habits successfully, move on to the next.

Build the habits slowly so that they stick and become a natural part of your life.

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