Let’s face it. The way we start our mornings sets the tone for the rest of the day. So, if your day happens to begin with high levels of stress, you’ll likely feel stressed out for the rest of the day. And that doesn’t sound like a great experience.
So, here are some ways to start the day on a more positive note and decrease stress in the morning:
1. Start prepping the night before.
One way that you can decrease stress in the morning is by starting your prep the night before. The more you can prepare and accomplish before the sun goes down, the less you have to worry about or remember as the sun is coming up. Try to take care of anything that requires making a decision. Decide what you’re going to wear the night before. Think of all the items you need to remember for tomorrow and pack your gym bag, lunch bag, and work bag. Take care of anything that can be prepped before you head to bed.
2. Forget you have a snooze button.
When you set your alarm, you probably give yourself plenty of time in the mornings to get ready, make coffee, eat breakfast, work out, etc. But, all that time starts to disappear every time you hit the snooze button. As tempting as it is to stay in bed for “just a few more minutes,” you could be adding stress to your day by doing so. So, once your alarm goes off, turn it off, and get out of bed. It will take a few mornings to adjust to this new habit. But when you stop rushing around the house trying to get ready and leave on time, you’ll be more motivated to forget that the snooze button exists.
3. If possible, pause incoming notifications.
As you’re getting your day started, you’re probably thinking about what you need to do that day. It can be hard to focus and prioritize your tasks or to-do list when you have notifications pinging you every five minutes. If possible, pause all incoming messages and distractions. Give yourself a chance to plan your day. Once you know your priorities, you’re less likely to get overwhelmed by lower priority notifications.
If you are looking to start back up with your health and fitness goals, the YMCA of Greater Whittier is here for you! Contact us to learn more about the programs we’re offering that will get you back on track.
