Start your day better with these 6 simple tips

Good morning. This is my favorite greeting to start the day. I have always loved the morning sunshine and I want to make an honest confession here. I am someone who loves waking up early, opening the curtains and gaze out at the sunlight. And yes, on some days, I even shout out: Good morning, sunshine! 

Why do I do that? Because I simply love the peace and quiet that the early hours give me. It helps me to prep myself for the day ahead and more importantly, enables me to follow a routine to get started.

And no, I wasn’t always like this. For me, studying late and getting up equally late had become a pattern. Later, I became lost in a growing social life and late office hours. In all the buzz, I was losing myself. Fatigue, low energy levels, irritability and low productivity. I had to catch myself from dozing in an office meeting once - the stare from my manager and the dressing down later was enough to give me a wake-up call.

I developed some tools to help me turn around my life and becoming a morning person is one of them.

Waking early is crucial to keeping good health. Our body's metabolism works best when we sleep early and wake up early. The functioning of our organs is best when we manage this.

Here are a few of my morning mantras to start your day and brighten me up with the morning sunshine.

1

Drink water, lots of it

 

One of the healthiest things to do when you wake up is to drink a couple of glasses of water. It helps to flush out the body of all the toxins.

 

2

Get moving

 

I’ve tried a couple of different exercise routines and found yoga suited me the best. Surya namaskars (sun salutations) give a good cardio workout and the other asanas stretch the body, massage the inner organs and prepare me for meditation.

3

Just breath easy

 

After exercise, it's important to harness the energy or prana. I usually practice pranayama or breathing exercises. There are many different kinds of pranayamas. One of the simplest and most effective technique is the alternate nostril breathing. Here are some detailed instructions on how to practice this pranayama.

You can read up on more pranayamas here.  

4

Meditate for some peace

 

This is a critical aspect of one’s morning routine. Meditation clears the mind, the thought process, gives the mind the rest that even a night's sleep is unable to give. There are various kinds of meditations. Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is a very powerful form of meditation that helps us to come out of the various patterns and habits we have formed.

If you have never experienced meditation, you can use a guided meditation.

Alternately, as soon as you have finished with the pranayamas, you can sit with your eyes shut and keep your attention on your breath. Make a strong intention to remain seated for at least 20 minutes and watch your breath.

5

Keep smiling & shining

 

A smile is contagious. The smile on our face reaches out to all whom we meet and influences their day as well. Of course, the day will have all kinds of challenges and not everything will go your way. That’s ok. You can still smile and take a few deep breaths and then think of a solution. Chances are, they will be more innovative.

6

Eat like a king

 

To give my best to the day ahead, I realized I need the energy and stamina. A healthy and filling breakfast does the trick for me. A good breakfast set me up for the day. I usually include fruits and nuts as well.

Try these tips to start your day and give a shout out to the day yourself: Good morning, sunshine!

 

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