Do you find it difficult to get out of bed and get going in a morning? Here are some tips for an easy, stress-free start to the day.
The first step towards enjoying your morning is making sure you sleep well the night before. Many people struggle to get to sleep; if you're one of them, try taking a hot bath before bed or listening to some soothing music. The key is to get into a routine, particularly one which will relax you.
Studies have shown that around seven or eight hours of sleep is healthiest for most adults. Of course, the amount of sleep needed varies from person to person. Work out a median between feeling tired and feeling groggy in the morning from oversleeping.
However long you sleep, make sure you leave yourself long enough to get ready in the morning. Rushing around after yourself or others will leave you feeling harried and stressed, which could affect how you feel for the rest of the day.
Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning can combat the dehydration which can occur overnight, particularly in hot weather. This will help wake you up and is particularly important if you're prone to getting headaches from lack of fluids.
Breakfast is, if anything, even more important. The studies proving the health benefits of breakfast are numerous - eating well in the morning can improve concentration and speed up your metabolism, for example. A healthy breakfast, such as non-sugary cereal and fruit, is perfect.
Pampering yourself just a little in the morning can help put you in a good mood. Choose something simple but effective, such as using a luxurious soap in the shower, listening to your favourite radio station while you get dressed or drinking a cup of your favourite coffee with breakfast.
If you have children, try to get yourself ready in the morning before you sort them out, even if it means getting up earlier. A few moments to yourself will help you relax and you don't want to be trying to apply make-up and feeding the kids at the same time!
Another way of reducing your stress in the morning comes with preparation. Lay out your clothes the night before and make sure you know where your car keys are before you go to bed. This is particularly important if you have children, as it will generally take longer to get them ready than yourself.
Developing a routine - even if it's as simple as "shower, dress, breakfast, go" - will make sure you don't forget to do important things in the morning. Again, developing a routine with children will encourage them to do things for themselves, such as dressing, leaving you more time for other things.
If you find yourself getting unduly stressed during your morning routine, give yourself a moment to stop and take a deep breath. Setting off for work in a good frame of mind will often make your whole day run more smoothly. Quite often we make mornings more stressful than they need to be - give yourself chance to relax!
