If you wake up in a bad mood, you’ll stay miserable for the rest of the day. Instead of letting your gloominess follow you, you need to stop the negativity when it starts.
Simply changing your morning routine can help you have a better day. On days it seems impossible to cheer up, these habits are bound to boost your mood.
1. Get Enough Sleep
A lack of sleep makes waking up even more nightmarish. Getting the right amount of sleep might seem complicated if you’re constantly stressed, but you should still try to change your sleep pattern. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep every night, otherwise, getting up will always be a hassle.
2. Quit Hitting Snooze
Most of us hit the snooze button because we still feel tired when the alarm buzzes in the morning. However, doing this increases your symptoms of fatigue and grogginess. That’s because snoozing isn’t restful; it simply increases your sleep inertia and disrupts REM sleep.
Also, snoozing increases stress levels in the morning. When you sleep in, you have less time to get ready, and then you rush to make it out the door. This feeling of panic follows you for the remainder of the day, which tanks your mood.
So, stop mashing the snooze button to boost your mood in the morning.
3. Quick Exercise When You Wake Up
Exercising when you wake sounds unpleasant if you’re not a morning person. You don’t have to do an intense, full-on workout – just doing some jumping jacks, push-ups, or going for a brisk walk is enough to get your heart pumping. A small workout can make you feel more awake, not to mention that it releases mood-boosting endorphins.
4. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
There’s a reason why people say, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” In fact, there are many benefits of breakfast. If you’re looking for a way to instantly boost your mood in the morning, a nutritious breakfast is a great choice.
Breakfast boosts your energy levels and improves your concentration. It makes it easier to recall information and perform daily tasks. Therefore, you will feel more focused, energized, and ready to tackle the day if you eat breakfast.
5. Listen to Music
Turn on some upbeat tunes when you’re getting ready in the morning and even during your commute to work. Music can immediately inject some happiness into your day. Play some pop music, EDM, dubstep, or whatever type of music gets you pumped.
6. Laugh
Try finding humor in the morning as well as throughout your day. Laughing at minor hiccups can help you avoid negative thoughts and stay stress-free.
Start your morning by smiling at yourself in the mirror. The simple act of smiling can give you a more positive attitude. Don’t forget to keep that smile all day!
7. Have a Cup of Coffee or Tea
Treat yourself first thing in the morning by making (or buying) hot coffee or tea. A bit of caffeine can have you feeling motivated and energized. Plus, indulging in your favorite morning beverage can instantly cheer you up. If you’re not a coffee or tea drinker, a delicious smoothie or refreshing juice works just as well.
8. Meditate or Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness practice involves focusing on the present moment instead of letting your mind focus on past mistakes or worrying about future problems. Although you can incorporate mindfulness into your day in many ways, adding it to your morning routine will boost your mood.
Meditation and other forms of mindfulness help reduce habitual thought patterns. Mindfulness also regulates your emotions and balances your mood. Starting your day with calming exercises sets the tone for the day. In many cases, this increases productivity and equips you with the tools to manage stress better throughout the day.
9. Take a Break From Your Phone
Like most people, you’re probably guilty of keeping your phone beside your bed. You might’ve even gotten into the habit of checking social media when you wake up. This unhealthy habit will only make you feel worse during the day.
People only post positive things on social media. Unfortunately, seeing your friends or acquaintances post about their brand-new cars, amazing jobs, or latest vacations can inspire jealousy and depression. Instead of keeping tabs on everyone else, take the time to think about your achievements.
10. Clean Up a Little
Waking up in a messy room isn’t the best way to start your day. At the very least, make your bed, fold your clothes, organize your wardrobe, or clear any clutter off your desk. Some simple cleaning tasks can give you a feeling of satisfaction.
11. Look Your Best
Putting the effort into dressing well, doing your hair, and applying makeup can make you look and feel great. You aren’t trying to look suitable for others. You want to look good for yourself. You’ll feel more confident and happy when you like what you see in the mirror.
12. Check Off a Task
Sometimes the hardest part of the day is simply getting started. But once you get the ball rolling, you can ride that momentum throughout the day. Therefore, you can boost your mood in the morning if you start with a simple task that you can easily check off your to-do list.
Stay Positive All Day
A great start to your morning will only lead to a great rest of your day. You might have to make some extra time in the morning to incorporate some of these adjustments, but your happiness is worth it.
Sometimes, challenging people can contribute to horrible mornings. In this case, you’ll want to learn how to recognize the toxic people in your life and cut them out.
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