If you’re 2020 goals include living a healthy lifestyle then you’re not alone. According to Inc.com, 60% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions and out of the top 5 most common resolutions, health pledges take up the three top spots. Clearly, working out, losing weight, and practicing better health habits are on everyone’s mind as they enter into this new decade. So what’s the best way to stick to your health-based goals? Try starting each day with healthy habits to set the tone and give you the motivation to stick to your resolutions. By incorporating these healthy morning habits first thing in the morning, you’re pledging to commit to your health over and over again each day.
#1. Start Your Morning The Night Before
The last thing you want greeting you first thing in the morning is a mountain of stress. Try to set yourself up for success the night before with a little pre-planning. Select your clothes for the next day and lay them out. If you have kids, help them do the same. Do any breakfast or packed lunch prep work the night before as well. Take a few moments to reflect on the day ahead, fill out your planner or to-do list in advance. Now you’re ready to face the next day with a few less things on your plate. Get to bed early enough to get at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep and set your alarm.
#2. Wake Up And Hydrate
While sleeping, you’re also participating in an unintentional water-fast. Your body goes 8 hours or more without a drink, so getting hydrated should be one of your first priorities in the morning. A recent article on MSN.com talks about why drinking a glass of water on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up is vital for your health. Drinking a glass of water when your stomach isn’t full and digesting food will help you rehydrate quickly. It also gives you a feeling of fullness which can help with weight loss. Remember, your body needs adequate water intake to keep the blood flowing and organs working.
If you’re looking for an easy way to stay hydrated all day long, then fill up a reusable water bottle before you head out for the day. This insulated stainless steel water bottle from Kool8 is a great choice because it will keep your water ice-cold for hours and hours. Make sure your healthy habits aren’t contributing to single-use plastics filling up the landfills and oceans by using reusable bottles.
#3. Get Moving First Thing In The Morning
Some people have no problem jumping out of bed an hour early to get their morning workout in, but even if you’re not a morning person, getting the body moving first thing in the morning helps kick off your metabolism and get the blood pumping. You can do a full workout with cardio and resistance training if early mornings are your jam. If you prefer to workout in the afternoon or evening, you should still do an activity to get your body moving. You can do a series of stretches, a few core-enhancing moves, or do a yoga routine. Yoga is a great morning workout because it is slow and steady but also provides you the opportunity to flex and stretch your body.
#4. Make A Healthy Breakfast
Once promoted as “the most important meal of the day,” breakfast has taken a backseat to intermittent fasting lately, but skipping breakfast isn’t for everyone. Skipping breakfast is actually preferable to eating an unhealthy fat-filled breakfast like the type you’d get handed to you at a drive-through window. If you need breakfast to help you wake up and feel full so that you don’t start snacking early, then you need to be sure you are breaking your nighttime fast with healthy foods. Here are a few healthy breakfast foods you can start your day with:
- Eggs
- Oatmeal
- Greek Yogurt
- Chia Seeds
- Nuts And Berries
- Protein Shake
#5. Pack A Snack – How About A Protein Bar?
Plan ahead for afternoon munchies and post-workout snacks by throwing a protein bar in your bag. A low carb high protein snack bar can be your saving grace when hunger strikes. You can find a great list of protein bar options on GiftWits.com. Many of these bars include essential vitamins and minerals as well as a healthy amount of added dietary fiber to keep you feeling full longer. Having a healthy source of lean protein in your diet is great for weight loss. Protein can be used as fuel and also used to rebuild muscles after a workout.
#6. Motivate Your Morning
We’ve talked about a healthy body, but what about a healthy mindset? Having a healthy positive mindset as you start your day is critical to having a great low-stress day. Positive thinking can actually lead to the manifestation of good things in your life. Studies have shown that people who are able to frame a positive mindset have less stress, lower incidence of depression, and sleep better at night. Everyone is motivated differently, find what works best for you. Here are some great ideas for a motivational morning:
- Meditation – Start your day with meditation to connect your body and mind. You can use a meditation app like 10% Happier to get you started.
- Affirmations – Set yourself up for success by saying positive statements out loud to yourself in the mirror. A simple example would be, “today is going to be a great day!”
- Gratitude Journaling – Write down your gratitudes or blessings daily to remind yourself of all the good and positive things that are already in your life.
- Motivational Podcasts – Some people live for podcasts these days, and there are a lot of great ones out there for morning motivation. You can listen while you get ready for work, while you workout, or even in the car during your commute.
- Joyful Music – Listen to your favorite music that makes you smile and want to dance!
Image by Avi Chomotovski from Pixabay
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