Beat the Breakfast Blues: Ways to Make Waking Up a Joy, Not a Job

The alarm goes off as another morning starts.  Are you happy to wake or just prepared to go through the motions of another morning?  Some people wake up filled with joy while others deal with a case of the breakfast blues.  Here’s how to make waking up a gift rather than a job.

Put Off Screen Time

Smartphones are incredible inventions yet they consume a lot of our time, almost to the point of obsession.  Rather than check your phone or computer as soon as you rise, give yourself some time.  Don’t be a slave to technology as soon as you get up.  Facebook, Instagram, email, and texts can wait fifteen minutes.

Exchange Coffee for Lemon Water

It’s common to grab for a coffee in the morning, but it’s not the healthiest beverage available.  Rather than coffee, drink lukewarm water with a squeeze of fresh lemon.  It’s suggested you do this first before brushing your teeth.  It starts your metabolism, burns fat while sustaining muscle, cleanses the mouth, and provides a boost of energy.  Wait thirty minutes before brushing, eating, or drinking anything else.  You don’t “need” that morning coffee; you’re just accustomed to wanting and having it.  Read thealternativedaily.com/3-reasons-to-start-your-day-with-warm-lemon-water/ for the facts.

Use Good Posture

There are a bunch of horrible ways to get out of bed.  The best way is to roll over on your side and push yourself up into a sitting position while keeping your back straight (Don’t hunch!)  It’s gentle on the body, takes pressure off the heart and back, and is a great way to start your morning the right way.

Set Goals for the Day

While having your lemon water, envision the day ahead and notate what goals you want to achieve.  Limit the number to 3.  They may be very simple goals, such as packing your lunch or reserving time to solve a problem at work.  Creating 3 goals is realistic and it’s very powerful to realize you’ve accomplished (or at least targeted) goals each day.

Stretch

Stretching feels fantastic but is neglected by a lot of people.  You can stretch from bed or on the floor at the foot of the bed.  Ask your doctor for some suggestions as well as their recommendations regarding your initial abilities.  However, if you make stretching a regular routine, you’ll begin to get more flexible and more energized.  If you consider that your body has been inert for about 8 hours, stretching will seem pretty necessary and a practical idea.

Meditate

Like stretching, a lot of people neglect engaging in meditation, yet it is simple to do.  Sit in a comfortable position and focus on clearing your mind.  If you can do this almost a minute to start, that is good.  It helps clear your mind and facilitate your well being.  It also helps set the stage for the day ahead.

Wake Up Earlier

Some are accustomed to setting the alarm early enough to hit the snooze a few times until the very last minute so that they have just enough time to shower, get dressed, and rush out the door.  However, such a routine is stressful and the added sleep time is not worth starting the day in such a manner.  Rather than hitting the snooze, work on getting up 5 to ten minutes earlier each morning.  Try to get up to thirty to sixty minutes before regularly scheduled.  You may have to sacrifice some useless TV time the night before, yet you’ll find the added time better spent in the morning.

Scrape Your Tongue

Brushing is a regular occurrence but not all people scrape their tongue.  It helps get rid of morning breath and helps you feel more awake and alert.  It’s part of the transition from being asleep and alert.  You’ll be better able to taste food without the thin film over your tongue.  Buy a tongue scraper at your local grocery store.  Once you start scraping in the mornings you won’t want to stop!

Avoid Bad Habits

All people want to stay on top of the news, but do you really think you will miss out on major events considering all of devices you use during the day?  Avoid the morning news, which is informative but likely filled with depressing news.  If you miss a major announcement, you’ll be able to read up on it via the Internet in a few minutes.  Some say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet digestion is weakest in the morning.  Rather than a huge breakfast, eat something light and then have a snack later in the morning.  Unless you’re training for the Olympics or doing some heavy work, stick to a lighter breakfast.

It’s suggested to swap lemon water for coffee, mostly because coffee is a stimulant. Stimulants serve as a way to cover a lack of regular nutrition or needed sleep.  Rather than rely on coffee to give you a jolt, start doing things that will make you feel good naturally.  It feels great to ‘sleep in’ during the weekends, yet it throws the body off course.  Try to stick to your regular schedule even on the weekends.  

Harrison Gibbs has worked as a healthy living life coach for 6 years. He encourages everyone to ditch the fast food, ditch the negativity and live life to the fullest. He writes mostly for health and fitness and men’s and women’s lifestyle sites.