Easy Ways to Have a Good Morning
I'm all about setting yourself up for success, and the little extra things we do in the morning go a long way.
Here are easy and effective ways to start your morning off great!
1. Brush your teeth & wash your face
This should be a no brainer but go right to the bathroom after jumping out of bed. Brushing your teeth and washing your face should always be the first thing you do in the morning.
There is a positive correlation between brushing your teeth and your mental health. You can poison your entire body by not brushing your teeth in the morning. Skip this step and the bacteria will start to grow and will slowly destroy your teeth, resulting in something like tooth decay and pain.
In a metaphorical way, not brushing your teeth in the morning doesn't allow you to brush away yesterday's bacteria and start fresh. Not to mention will you consciously smile a lot less knowing you didn't brush your teeth.
You have a great smile, make sure your teeth are clean and yesterday's plaque is scraped away from today's smile.
The act of cleaning yourself, a form of self-care, is a sure way to start out your morning appreciating your body and the life you have ahead of you today.
Even though I'm sure you're capable of picking out toothpaste, but if you want a recommendation on toothpaste, here's mine.
The same correlation goes for washing your face.
Spending an extra two minutes to love yourself and take care of your skin (the next best thing to your smile) is the next easy way to have a Good Morning. Wash away that dead skin and yesterday's problems... Splash your skin with cold water, feel the shock, look up into the mirror at yourself. Tell yourself it is a Good Day.
If you have a couple of extra minutes, I like to do a "facelift massage." It's super easy and weirdly therapeutic (I would assume the activity of massaging your own face - which feels amazing - creates some kind of chemical stimulation in your brain that makes you loveee yourself).
I use this product from my local skincare lady (there's probably a professional word for that, oh well). I like her brand because she has a degree in chemical and biological scientists. She makes all of her own products with science and the acidity, reactions, electrons, protons, etc. of our skin in mind. She also told me how she travels around to skincare trade shows and is very picky about the companies she uses in her own products. She told me about how she found this company that follows around live volcanos and then collects the lava for skincare! So cool.
I wash my face with the cleanser. I rub all along my nose and cheeks (where we all get the most blackheads) and then bring it down to my chin.
This product removes your blackheads when used correctly. Move your fingers in a circular motion across these areas.
With the cleanser still on your skin, it's now time to give yourself the face massage. I am NOT kidding people you face will look so much more awake and lifted after this!
You only have to do this for 2-5 minutes. You will see and feel the benefits of spending some extra time on your skin in the mornings.
Lastly, I put on moisturizer. Making sure not to pull down on my skin as it will reverse all the "lifting" you just did.
Well done! Moving on...
2. Go to the kitchen and drink 2 glasses of lemon water
Nope, not the time for breakfast yet. In fact, I recommend intermittent fasting for at least 3-4 hours after you wake up.
Lemon water boosts immunity, speeds up your metabolism, and does WONDERS for your skin. That skin that you look oh so good in :)
Every morning I get a glass of water, cut 1/4 of a lemon, squeeze it and drink.
Then I cut another 1/4 of a lemon, squeeze it and drink.
I see a major difference in my metabolism, the way I look in the mirror, my focus and my overall energy when I do this.
Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning is a present to your body and mind.
If you are doing a job that involves physical activity, you'll become hungry earlier - so just eat when you get hungry if you are moving around a lot. If you work out first thing in the morning, there's no need to eat. Drink 1 glass of lemon water and get to it! Eat after you finish your workout.
If you must drink coffee before your workout, drink it out of a #MondaysAreGoodDays mug and drink it black. Have just enough to put some caffeine in your system, but I would recommend saving the coffee for after so that you can enjoy it - without being rushed.
You did two things this morning that are already creating a positive feedback cycle for your day... continue on!
Good things lead to even better outcomes.
3. #MondaysAreGoodDays
You're not getting anywhere without a good attitude.
Enjoy #MondaysAreGoodDays to gain some insight on what you want out of your day. Read and absorb the good energy that is written to you. Listen to the podcast to hear good words and feel the motivation.
Slap a #MondaysAreGoodDays sticker on your wall, on your laptop or on the back of your phone case. Carry this good energy and remember the #MondaysMindset wherever you go.
#TeamMonday holds themselves accountable to a positive mindset.
You can find all #MondaysAreGoodDays here, and if you are not subscribed (so you can receive the #MondayMotivation right to your inbox), you better get to it, enter your email at the bottom of the page!
4. Put on an outfit that makes you want to take some mirror selfies!
Look GOOD, feel GOOD - it's not rocket science people.
Whether your next step is to go to work or go workout, an outfit that supports you physically & mentally is important.
I am writing this while in quarantine during COVID19, so I am GUILTY of wearing the same exact sweatshirt and sweatpants every single day. But today, after you finish reading this, I deeply encourage you to put on a nice pair of pants and a shirt you love.
For two weeks I was washing my favorite sweats and then putting them right back on... the same outfit over and over and over... but finally, I stood in front of my closet to purposely pick a pair of pants with a perfectly matching top, and then I watched myself turn from baggy pants & lazy to productive and pretty.
I remembered what it felt like to project my personality through my clothing, and how it felt to put on some clothes with the purpose to conquer the day in style!
Who knew simply wearing a pair of pants could improve my mental health and the way I was seeing and talking to myself so fast? Typically "quick fixes" don't last, but wearing an outfit that makes you feel and look GOOD is a simple way to get your morning started in a positive way.
Look in the mirror, tell yourself you look good (and hear me: you look so good!!), and continue down this list so you can have a Good Morning!
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5. Good Music
Music has SO MUCH ENERGY and passion - feel it, feed off of it.
Whenever I wake up for the gym and has absolutely no energy, my eyes halfway open, I force myself to listen to ABBA. I mean, you can't not sing to the songs? The energy from the music and my inability to hold back my Grammy performance wakes me up naturally and now I'm happy :)
Music is essential, and I can confidently say it improves my mental health - I cannot go a day without music. I wrote an entire blog post on music and one of my favorite artists. I write about music therapy and how music can relieve anxiety.
Here are some of my favorite playlists to help you have a Good Morning:
6. What to eat in the morning
If I wake up at 8 and decide to fast until 12, at 10 I have a cappuccino (with dairy free milk). Because you fasted, the caffeine from the cappuccino can fully absorb into your body and give you that BUZZ all we coffee addicts love. It also will help you poop - nice.
When it's time for you to eat, the first meal should not be something picked out of the freezer or picked up at a convenience store.
You need nutrients, fiber, and energy. No frozen foods in the morning, I would stay away from dairy (eggs are good, though - if you consider them dairy), nothing from Dunkin Donuts, nothing overly salty and nothing high in sugar.
I have a taste aversion to (mostly all) frozen foods and anything from a fast food joint, just knowing the nutrition facts makes me want to vomit. And I don't like the way I feel after I eat stuff like that - half of it is in my mental, but half of it is in the physical. Bloated, drained energy, hunger within the next 2 hours. FOOD is FUEL! Use it to help support you throughout the day.
Things like oats, whole grain breads, avocado, vegetables are all great options.
Here's what I like to eat:
1. Avocado Toast (on it's own or with a side)
Sides: cucumbers, apples, an egg, omelette (I recommend onions and lots of spinach)
2. GoMacro bar
These are the best protein bars on the market.
Texture, taste, quality of ingredients, the ethics behind the company, the fact that these keep me FULL and energized... These are, again, the best.
My favorite way to eat them is right out of the fridge! And the Double Chocolate + Peanut Butter Cups is my favorite flavor!
I could write on and on about how much I love these bars and the company, but instead, you should just trust me and order yourself a box.
3. Sweet Potato Brownies (yes, brownies)
Yup, brownies.
A slice of these yummies keeps me full for hours and they are sooo good that I have to find every ounce of self control not to eat the entire loaf!
Would you prefer for me to write my own Sweet Potato Brownies or would you rather go find our own recipe online?
If you find your own recipe DO NOT use recipes with canola oil, all purpose flour, or white sugar. Use ingredients like apple sauce, peanut butter, almond flour, and coconut sugar.
4. Smoothie Bowl
Here's my recipe for making great smoothie bowls!
5. Scones (on Saturdays)
I LOVEEEE scones and I eat them from my favorite local cafe every single Saturday morning with my mom. Part of self care is knowing when to praise and treat yourself for all the hard work you've done by following these "Good Morning" suggestions. Here is a reminder that life is all about balance and it is important to enjoy the things you love.
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Most likely, if you didn't poop yet from the coffee on a fasted stomach, the fiber in these meals will help you go.
(Pooping is important.)