[dropcap]D[/dropcap]o you ever roll out of bed in the morning, sleepily pour yourself some coffee, and wish you could just crawl back under the covers and sleep away your responsibilities? We’ve all been there at some point, dreaming about a day when we could feel motivated and excited about our lives.
While life isn’t always smooth-sailing, these tips can help you stay encouraged on those days when you just wish life could take a backseat for a while.
10 Tips For Morning Motivation
1. Remember your “why.”
When you wake up in the morning, remind yourself why you will carry out your day in the way you have planned. It helps to keep that mental image in our heads of why we do certain things, so that we don’t operate on autopilot and forget our ultimate reasoning for going to work, school, or whatever we have going on. With that said, if you don’t feel inspired or fulfilled by what takes up the majority of your life, you should definitely think about leaving your current job or career path behind in favor of one that will truly make your heart feel full and happy.
2. Meditate when you first wake up.
As you awaken, you haven’t yet encountered all of the daily stressors and chaos that inevitably cross our paths in daily life. Mother Earth is still waking from her slumber as well, and the world is much quieter than at any other time of the day. Use this time to go to a peaceful spot in your home or in your backyard, and just allow yourself to relax and balance your energies. This will help set the stage for a positive, productive, and motivating day, and will assist you in dealing with any stress you encounter.
3. Exercise before you begin your day.
Morning exercise revs up your metabolism and wakes up your entire body, getting you pumped up for your work or school day. Many scientists agree that working out first thing in the morning on an empty stomach promotes weight loss and prevents weight gain as well, but it might suit some people better to eat a small breakfast before beginning their workout routine. Follow whatever method works for you, just remember to engage in an activity you enjoy and get your blood pumping!
4. Get a good night’s rest.
Of course, getting a poor sleep will just make you feel like slipping back under your covers, not meeting life head-on. You can’t function properly without getting a restful sleep, so make sure you go to bed at a decent hour and get rid of any distractions in your room. Lights from electronics can disrupt your circadian rhythm and keep you awake for longer hours, so make sure to turn off all your devices before nightfall.
This might seem difficult in practice, but just try it out tonight before bed and see how much better you feel when you wake up the next morning. Instead of using electronics for entertainment, try reading a book, playing a board game with family, or doing arts and crafts. Facebook, emails, tweets, and texts can always wait until morning when you have had a chance to rest your mind and body.
5. Eat a healthy, balanced breakfast.
When you wake up each morning, make sure you have a nutritious breakfast of something like a fruity smoothie, oatmeal, whole fruits, or maybe a green juice. Having the essential vitamins and minerals in your bloodstream will give you the energy to tackle everything in your day, and will help keep your blood sugar under control.
Many people either skip breakfast or eat sugary, nutrient-lacking foods that spike their insulin, leaving them feeling lethargic and unmotivated to do much of anything. Go for whole, fresh, ripe fruits and veggies or starches to give your body the energy it craves. J
6. Start off your day with a glass of lemon water.
Lemon water offers a slew of benefits, from fighting off colds to boosting the immune system to promoting weight loss, so pour yourself a nice, cold glass in the morning with a couple of slices of lemon added in. Not only will the tart, zesty flavor from the lemon wake you up, but the vitamins from the citrus fruit will invigorate you and get you excited for your day.
7. Have a list of small, achievable goals to look at each morning.
This goes back to the first point about remembering your why; you need to have your most important goals written out to refer back to often, so you can have a constant reminder of what you wish to accomplish in this crazy game of life. We often get sidetracked with all the distractions we face, which pushes our original motivations and aspirations to the back burner. Make sure you have a list somewhere in your room that you can consult often about your goals, and try to work toward them in some way each day.
8. Change up your routine.
Sometimes, we can feel stuck in a rut when we do the same things day in and day out. Take a different route to work, eat something unordinary for lunch, or go on a nature retreat to somewhere you’ve never been before. Adding variety into your life will help keep your motivation up; this way, you won’t risk burning out or falling into a state of complacency.
9. Work smarter, not harder.
Long work hours don’t do a body or mind good; if you can, try to get more work done in less time so that you have a portion of your day to allot to other activities, like working out, meeting up with friends, relaxing in nature, and just recharging. In Japan, people actually die from overworking; the term they use there for it is karoshi. This affects many people there, so obviously working to the point of mental and physical exhaustion does not have a positive outcome. Make sure you balance your work with your life for optimal health and happiness.
10. Say a few mantras that will get you in a positive mindset.
When you first wake up, say a favorite motivational quote of yours either aloud or in your head; this helps to start your day off positively and will inspire you if you wake up feeling discouraged.
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