5 Little Habits That Changed My Morning
Let’s face it, we are bombarded with so many Millennials and Gen-Zers showing us their morning routines. Some of them seem doable, but good God there are a ton just like ‘Where did you get the motivation to do all of these things before 9 am?!” I got a bit overwhelmed when I got sucked down the TikTok rabbit hole which is the morning routine. I had to take a step back and realize that there are a number of small habits I could implement into my day that wouldn’t make my morning routine so daunting. Here are 10 little habits that changed my morning.
Water before coffee
Okay, before you come at me, just take this in. I’m not saying you need to chug 20oz right when you wake up in the morning so you can get that beloved caffeine into your system. All I’m suggesting is drinking a glass of water before grabbing your cup of joe. In an article from USA Today, Angela Lemond, national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, stated, “After being asleep all night, we wake up every day slightly dehydrated. Starting the day with two glasses of water upon waking is a great way to begin the day hydrated.”
2. Move A Little
If I’m being honest, sometimes I suck at getting movement in. Now that I’ve made it a part of my morning routine, it doesn’t really feel like a chore. I also like to switch it up. I’ll go for a walk outside, or put on a video from YouTube. Movement is also a natural remedy for stress! Getting in some movement in the morning helps relax tension and muscles, which helps fight the negative effects of stress on the body.
3. Get That Collagen
I have to thank my sister for getting me in on the collagen game. An article from Healthline points out that there are six key benefits to taking collagen: it can improve skin health, relieve joint pain, prevent bone loss, boost muscle mass, and improve heart health. Other benefits include hair and nail growth, gut and brain health, and weight loss. My favorite collagen I’ve found is SpoiledChild’s E27 Extra Strength Liquid Collagen. All you need is one to two tablespoons a day, and it comes in a few different flavors.
4. Gratitude Journal
I like to take five minutes in the morning to write down what I’m grateful for. This is a practice I started about five years ago with my friend, Elise, where we would text each other each morning a gratitude list. I also like to write them down in a journal. There are a lot out there with some great prompts, including Stilip’s Five Minute Gratitude Journal. It has a few prompts to get you on the right track for the day and comes in different colors.
5. Set The Tone For The Day
Listen, you’re not going to wake up every day feeling like a Disney princess with the sweet sounds of birds chirping and the sun shining on your face. Sometimes you need to set the tone for your day. Make or find a good playlist, get some fresh air, light a candle, etc. Do what makes your space and day feel like a brand new day. It doesn’t take a lot to make it happen, but it’s totally worth setting a positive and chill tone for the day.
