What if I told you that how you start your mornings can and will greatly influence how the rest of your day unfolds? I am talking about your energy levels, productivity, health and overall vitality as well. Creating a healthy morning routine is one of the most effective ways to boost your productivity, sense of well-being and daily accomplishments. Trust me, even if you are not a morning person. This article will give you the tools to make the most out of your mornings anyways. Here are my Top 5 Morning Rituals for Increased Productivity & Vitality.

Last year, I read The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod and it completely changed my life. Granted, I had always known that starting the day off right can have a drastic effect on your energy levels, mood and productivity. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t create a morning routine that I was satisfied with. I was able to stick to a few health practices such as working out or meditating but I would still end up feeling rushed and out of time most mornings, which I hated. Can you relate to that? Keep reading because today’s article is all about my top 5 morning rituals to help you start your day from the right foot.

As with everything else, it takes willpower and practice. So, if you are not able to create your ideal morning routine right away, please have patience. It can take up to 21 days to create a new habit. Hence, give yourself the time to get there ;).

Furthermore, before we even get into my top 5 morning rituals, let me give you 2 tips that will help you implement a healthy morning routine:

1. Wake Up Earlier: Yes, it can sound difficult, even impossible maybe. But trust me, setting up your alarm a few minutes earlier than your normal waking time can do wonders in helping you ease up into the day, as opposed to rushing and feeling stressed out. To guarantee waking up earlier, make it a habit to go to sleep earlier too.
2. Ditch The Snooze: This is another important step to help you have a more natural waking process. Snoozing might make you feel like you are getting more rest, but in fact, it creates more fatigue and grogginess. To avoid snoozing, place your alarm on the other side of the room and when you get up to turn it off, open the curtains right away. The natural morning light will help signal to your body that it’s time to get up.

Now, let’s talk about these morning rituals, shall we?

The morning rituals I share with you today have proven to be very effective and beneficial for myself and many of my clients. But test them out first and feel free to modify them or to add any new practice that brings you joy, peace and enthusiasm in the morning. Here are my:

Top 5 Morning Rituals For Increased Productivity & Vitality

1. Re-Hydrate:

This is vital. You might not realize it but 75% of your body is made of water and up to 90% of your brain is water. Hence, in order for your bodily functions to be optimal, water in the morning is a must. Get in the habit of drinking at least 2 big glasses (500ml) of water first thing in the morning. It will wake up your digestive system, re-hydrate your cells and give you back some energy. Kick it up a notch by adding some fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon) into the water for increased health benefits.

2. Move Your Body

After having been practically immobile for up to 8 or 9 hours throughout the night, you might wake up feeling stiff and sluggish. You can easily remedy this feeling by incorporating some movement into your morning routine. Try some stretches, morning yoga, a nice jog or even dancing to your favourite song. This will boost your immune system, increase the flow of oxygen within your body and brain, which in turn will boost your mood and creativity later on.

3. Tune In

Do you ever take the time to actually check in with yourself in the morning? Greet yourself, see how you are truly feeling inside and take some time to tune in before you reach for your phone or get bombarded by outside news. Trust me, the outside world can wait for a few minutes. First, re-connect to what truly matters: you. Find a way to re-centre yourself and to relax. Meditation, journaling or morning affirmations are all great way to connect with your inner self and creativity.

4. Uplift Your Mind

Instead of letting the morning news or the overwhelm of social media greet you in the morning, start your day with something that will truly uplift and inspire you. It will make a big difference in your outlook for the day and the rest of your life. Try a book (audio or not), podcast, or some music that truly uplifts your spirits and gets you excited to be alive. Gratitude and a genuine enthusiasm for Life will surely sets you up for more happiness and success!

5. Drink a Green Smoothie

Feeding your mind in the morning is a great habit to have, but feeding your body is just as important. Many people either skip breakfast or eat too heavy in the morning, which ends up making them really tired before it is even lunch time. Avoid the morning slug by fuelling your body with nourishing foods that will give you energy and increase your vitality. Drinking a green smoothie is a quick and efficient way to achieve both of these goals. Click HERE for a few smoothie recipes to get you started.

And there you have it folks, my top 5 morning rituals for increased productivity and vitality. Honestly, these practices have changed my life and get me excited to wake up in the morning.

What are your favourite morning rituals? Remember that sharing is caring.

As always, stay vibrant!

Sarah.