We all have a different association with our mornings.
Those are reoccurring times when we get that first shot of cortisol delivered naturally to our system as we stagger out of our bed after a 5 AM wake-up call with a big yawn and a trip to the toilet. A shower, a quick breakfast with our mobile in our hands.
We read the latest posts on whatever digital platform, and we’re off we go to work. Let’s thrive!
The connection we have with morning routines varies from person to person. The above-mentioned is merely one example of what many of us, in one way or the other. To go through the motions when commercial duties are up. All of us are looking forward to throwing away that alarm when the weekend or the holidays have arrived and getting into the groove of what to thrive means. We deserve to relax because of the urge to “we deserve it”.
It is a stigma that is ingrained in our minds.
We forget that our bodies do not know the difference between weekdays and weekends. An institution connected to breaking the chain of rhythm in favour of comfort. Without knowing, we deliberately reset our internal clocks without realising the consequences.
As much as evening routines determine the flow of the following day, so do morning routines to continue. It is all on the same path for what lies ahead that day. By denying the mechanisms of how our body moves and shakes, we are set up for an energy-depleting strategy one does not want to go for.
These three morning routines may well be the foundation to allow us to go more optimally through the day and thrive before the sun sets again.
Wake up at the same time, 7 days a week.
As adaptable and flexible as the human body may be, it also is a well-oiled machine that loves rhythm. We live and work in a 24-hour cycle based on the rotation of the earth around its axis. And our body is not an exception to the rule . Through a complex network of neurons and hormones, we must attune our body every day by exposing it to light. In particular sunlight.
The resetting of our so-called circadian rhythm (circa = approximate, dian = 24 hours) through exposing our retinas safely and securely to the rising sun is crucial for many health aspects.
Get that water in you.
On average, we are 60%-70% water. While we have control over drinking ample water during the day, we simply cannot control this when we are in our REM and NREM sleep states. Besides losing water through our urine and sweat, perspiration through breathing continues. And with this comes the loss of water. It may not feel like a lot, but the data shows, it is more than you can imagine.
Having two big glasses of water before you even pour your first coffee brings back balance to your bodily fluids. It is highly favourable to wait for approximately 1 hour after waking up for your first must-have caffeine shot. Your body is desperately trying to reset for the day to come.
Get a move on
The quote “if you do not use it, you lose it” also applies when being asleep. We may move around and wrestle with our partner in deciding who gets most of the blanket. In the end, we tend to be in a paralysed state for 95% of the night. Just as we stretch out during the day when we sit for hours and hours behind a desk, so is the urge to stretch out when we are awake.
Upon opening our eyes, our body automatically releases the hormone cortisol. Cortisol affects several aspects of your body and mainly helps regulate your body’s response to stress. In the morning, the release of cortisol is a good sign as it gears up the start of a new day.
Movement rides on the wave of positivity when cortisol is released right after a good night of slumber. It really does not have to be strenuous or long. It all depends on whether you like to exercise in the morning. Preferably 10 minutes outside within 1 hour after sunrise has proven to be the ideal time.
How little time we spend controlling our morning can have a positive and negative effect on how we feel during the day. These modern times come with unwanted yet automatically pushed-forward habits that subconsciously push us towards actions our body does not really prefer.
Even some of the more successful entrepreneurs and celebrities have shown that sticking to the same morning routine elevates levels of productivity. There is so much data out there solidifying the importance of consistently setting a morning routine.
Routines for 7 days a week, that promote better health, better sleep, and improved cognitive abilities.
The Secret of Getting Ahead is Getting Started | Mark Twain
