Start Your Day on the Right Side

If you are like me, you're not a morning person. I love the idea of starting my day early and getting everything done by noon. Or the idea of having some self care before I head into work. But instead I wake up grumpy and hit snooze at least 3 times. Thats until I found my rhythm. I found that if I do these four things when I first wake up, I am happier, healthier and more productive throughout the day.

1. Drink a glass of apple cider vinegar (ACV) water  

Apple cider vinegar, made from fermented apples is an organic unfiltered vinegar that contains “Mother” strands of enzymes and good bacteria. Add one tablespoon to a glass of water every morning and experience the following benefits:

+ Increases energy (1)

+ Decreases blood pressure (2) (3)

+ Decreases blood sugar levels and cravings (4)

+ Balances PH levels (5)

+ Promotes digestion (6)

+ Promotes better heart health (7)

+ Weight loss (8)

+ Eliminates bad breath (acetic and malic acid)

2. Write

I don’t know one person that wakes up with nothing on their mind and in today’s world we have a ton of thoughts running through our mind that can lead to anxiety and depression. Many people, not just creatives and business owners have shown that writing “morning pages” can help:

+ Clear the mind

+ Reduce anxiety

+ Promote creativity

+ Generate better ideas

Morning pages is a ritual that emerged back in 1992 in the classic bestselling book on creativity The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. If you find yourself waking up in the morning thinking about yesterday, worrying about tomorrow, why he/she won’t call, financial concerns, career, etc., then morning pages might help. There are no rules to this, just simply get a pen and paper and write 3 pages of whatever is on your mind. It does not need a particular format or even make sense, just write what is on your mind. Do what works for you and I hope it brings you some inner peace like it did for me. (9) (10)

3. Stretch and/or exercise

Depending on the day, my morning routine varies between stretching, yoga, a 10-minute run or a bike ride. I find the release of endorphins is a form of mediation for me and gives me a sense of serenity. “Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses.” (11) Benefits of exercise and stretching in the morning:

+ Enhances metabolism (12)

+ Burns a higher amount of calories after workout (13)

+ Improves mental well-being (14)

+ Provides more energy (15)

+ Soothes muscle aches and pains

4. Meditation, Prayer, Affirmations

Whether you do one or all three, I find that the last thing I do before I walk out the door or drive my car is to meditate, pray and say a few affirmations. This routine is like my daily motivational pep talk, an opportunity to be thankful for that day, to be present and manifest my aspirations.