If this quarantine taught us anything at all we at least know the importance of committing to healthy habits, mind-body, and soul. We are all currently living in some pretty trying times and it’s important, now more than ever, to maintain a sense of normalcy and inner peace.
One way to do this is to implement healthy habits in your morning routine that keep you aligned mentally, emotionally, and physically. Here are three practical healthy habits you can add to your morning routine now.
Open your windows and blinds
Staying home can be great, but after a while, we all start to feel a little gloomy and closed in if we don’t get the fresh air and sunlight we need. And truth be told, keeping your windows and blinds shut for hours at a time doesn’t exactly help the cause.
So instead of going straight to your phone or heading to breakfast as soon as you get up, make it a priority to open your windows and blinds, and let in the natural air and light.
This might seem like a preference thing, but according to science, it truly does have an emotional, mental, and even physical benefit. Various studies show that opening up your windows encourages proper ventilation and clears indoor pollutants which leads to an improvement in cognitive functions such as learning and decision-making. Sunlight is also beneficial by itself.
Daily exposure to the sun is known to increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is important because it contributes to everything from regulating anxiety and depression to getting enough sleep and having proper bowel movements.
Drink water and stretch
Both drinking water and stretching are important for many different reasons, but one thing they have in common is that they improve your body’s blood circulation.
This is important because more efficient blood flow encourages life-saving benefits such as decreased risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, stronger functioning lungs and muscles, better digestion, and improved immune system.
When you think about it, committing to drinking some water and stretching first thing every morning is really not a tall task.
All you have to do is keep a bottle or cup of water next to your bed as a reminder to drink as soon as you wake up. Your stretches don’t have to be super complicated, either. Movements such as light arm swings, standing knee or toe touches, and sitting ankle circles are ideal stretches to start with.
Start journaling your thoughts and feelings
One thing we all need is an outlet. Whether it’s a friend we feel safe venting to, a creative project that brings our ideas to life, or releasing frustration via an intense workout, regularly getting out our thoughts and feelings can be both incredibly rewarding and therapeutic—especially during these trying times. One way to do this is through journaling.
Journaling isn’t much different than that diary you kept as a teenager. It’s a safe, private place for you to jot down your beliefs, opinions, ideas, and emotions without feeling exposed or invalidated.
You can write based on prompts like “what is there to be grateful for today” and “how did this situation make me feel“, write down affirmations and intentions for the day, or you can freely put down whatever comes to mind.
Finally, I really enjoyed @iamdodo’s productive work from home morning routine. In the video, she does some of the things we outlined above and a few others that we all should consider adding as well.
Watch below:
What healthy habits have you adopted during quarantine? Comment below!
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