How you start your day sets the tone for the entire day. A good start increases positivity and helps with productivity.

Five Morning Habits For Happier Days;

Good mornings start the night before

Getting a good nights sleep is very important. Most adults need between seven and eight hours sleep. It’s really easy to get sucked into something in the evening. You start watching TV  or checking out social media and before you know it it’s late and you’re not going to get your eight hours. Be disciplined.

Work out what time you need to wake up and work backwards, I get up between 6.30 and 7.30 depending on my plans and therefore need to be asleep by 10.30 or 11.30 to get eight hours. Have a good bedtime routine and stick to it. For me that involves watching some TV, heading to bed around 10pm, reading for about half an hour then lights out. You will thank yourself in the morning.

Yoga

I can’t stop talking about the benefits of yoga! I started practising yoga every morning three months ago and it’s made a massive impact on my life. I use a You Tube yoga channel by Sarah Beth Yoga and choose a 15 or 20 minute routine.

From the moment I roll out my yoga mat I am entirely focussed on my practise, my breath and the postures. It has increased my flexibility, and I start every day feeling calmer.

Healthy Breakfast

Choose something healthy for breakfast. Something that will sustain your energy, is packed with vitamins and minerals and will help you make the most of your morning. Good choices include yoghurt, eggs, muesli, wholemeal toast and fruit.

Starting your day with a healthy breakfast is about more than food. It’s about loving and respecting yourself and your body.

Routine

I have a routine which I follow every morning. First Yoga, then breakfast, next I get dressed and washed after which I have a set list of tasks I complete in the same order each morning. Packed lunches for the children, feeding the cat and dealing with her litter tray and setting of my robot hoover for a morning clean.

Routines reduce stress, you don’t have to think about what to do next enabling the day to start calmly and easily. Write out your morning routine and put it somewhere visible whilst you get into the habit and rhythm of it.

Check To Do Lists, Diary, And Plan Your Day

Organise your day. First I check my to do list and my diary, next I figure out what space I have and what tasks I can complete. That way my day ahead is clear and planned and I feel ready for my day ahead. Then simply start your day feeling calm and in control of your life.