By Monisha Vasa
One way to help increase the odds of having a good day is to start your day out calmly, which can sometimes be easier said than done.
We live in a fast-paced world, and so we tend to leap out of bed as soon as our alarm goes off so that we can rush to work. The problem is that we fail to take time for ourselves, and then when we get home, it’s time to make dinner and prepare for the following day.
That’s why it’s so important to establish a morning routine. It helps us set the tone for the day and allows us to better control our schedules.
So what activities should belong to your morning routine? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Eat a balanced breakfast: They say that you are what you eat, and they also say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a balanced breakfast will kickstart your metabolism and give your brain and body the fuel it needs.
- Write in a mood journal: We’ve already written about why it’s a good idea to keep a mood journal. Among other benefits, it boosts your memory, reduces stress, and provides an overall feeling of well-being.
- Take a morning walk: Taking the time to exercise can also help improve your mental health. On top of that, it provides you with some much-needed thinking time where you can prepare yourself for the day and week ahead.
- Meditate: Studies have shown that meditation is useful for relieving anxiety, pain, and depression and that it can be as effective as antidepressants for depression. It’s another important aspect of taking care of your mind and body.
- Plan: Taking some time to plan the rest of your day is a good idea because it will help you prioritize and make sure that you’re not missing anything. The result is that you’ll worry less and be able to better focus on your to-do list.
Now that you know a few of our tips for starting your day as calmly as possible, it’s time for you to put them into practice. Decide what activities you want to make up your morning routine, and then make sure that you stick to them. You might just be surprised by how much of a difference it makes.
Dr. Monisha Vasa is a board-certified psychiatrist and wellness consultant with a thriving private practice in Newport Beach, California. She’s actively engaged in supporting physician mental health at UC Irvine and City of Hope National Cancer Center.
