Your morning routine (or lack thereof) is powerful. It has the ability to impact your health- physically, mentally, and emotionally- in a positive or negative light. This is especially true for your mood and mental state. As a result, how you spend your mornings should carry a little weight. Examine your morning routine: does it support or suppress a healthy mind?
Does Your Morning Routine Influence Your Mood?
Simply put, yes. Your morning routine can (and most likely, will) impact your mood for the day to come. Some studies even show a direct correlation between morning meals, exercise, and light exposure on mood levels. For this reason, it’s important to pay special attention to your morning routine- especially if you struggle with mood disorders, like anxiety or depression.
5 Morning Mood Boosters
There are many habits that can help you establish a healthy mood. The first step is understanding which habits can hinder or support your mood. The following are tried-and true habits to set you up for a happy, confident, vibrant mood:
- Hydrate– Drink a full glass of filtered water first thing in the morning- before eating breakfast or exercising. After all, your body just lasted 8+ hours without any hydration! Bonus points if you add electrolytes to your water for boosted absorption.
- Eat a Well-Balanced Breakfast- You know what they say: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And, it’s true. Eating a balanced breakfast with protein, carbs, and fat is a sure-fire way to improve your mood. My favorite balanced breakfasts include: avocado toast with a runny egg and protein oatmeal with nut butter and berries.
- Focus on Breathing– Spend just five minutes every morning focusing on your breathing. Actually, without knowledge, most people breathe very shallow breaths throughout the day, which is much less effective than deep, thorough inhalation and exhalation. Use breathing techniques to focus on your breathing, such as box breathing: inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, repeat.
- Stretch it Out- Morning movement of any kind, even slow, intentional movement (like stretching) works wonders on the mind. Establish a morning stretching routine, even only for 5-10 minutes. Your mind and body will feel more awake and lively, as a result.
- Practice Gratitude and Affirmations- Gratitude is the number one cure for low mood. While it’s not always quite so simple, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Practicing daily gratitude through journaling and speaking affirmations is a proven way to boost mood.
If you struggle with low mood or mood disorders, give special attention to your morning routine. Are you setting yourself up for a positive mood and thinking? Or not? Even if you don’t experience moodiness, establishing a mood-boosting morning routine can be beneficial to your productivity, confidence, and energy levels.
