The importance of a morning routine for mental health
by Laura Clipson
• Published 17/11/2022
Having a morning routine can make a huge difference to your mental health. It can help kickstart your day, ensuring you are as productive as possible and preparing you for the day ahead. It can also be a chance to have a little me-time before the day begins.
Having a morning routine can help you to improve focus, making you more motivated and boosting productivity levels. It can also help you to reduce anxiety and improve your mental health, as completing the tasks gives you a feeling of accomplishment. This can then encourage you to carry on being productive for the rest of the day.
Your morning routine needs to fit you as an individual, so every person’s routine will be different. Here are a few ideas of things you can add to your morning routine:
- Set an alarm so you get up at the same time every day. Try not to hit snooze, as this can actually make you feel more tired. Try to get up as soon as your alarm goes off - no scrolling through social media!
- Have a glass of water first thing to rehydrate yourself.
- Eat a healthy breakfast to set you up for the day. It’s a good idea to choose something you can prepare easily, or the night before.
- Exercise - do some yoga, go for a walk or jog, or just do some stretches. The morning is a great time to get your exercise in, and will make you feel energised for the rest of the day.
- Write in a journal, or just write a checklist for the day ahead. This can help you to clear your head and focus on what you want to accomplish throughout the day.
It’s a good idea to add things in gradually, rather than trying to change your whole morning routine in one go. Add one new thing at a time until a habit forms, then add another. Try not to overwhelm yourself by trying to add more tasks to your morning routine than you need. If something doesn’t work, replace it with something else.
Thank you for reading.
