5 Ways to Start Your Day & Why
Certainly! Starting your day on the right foot can set the tone for a productive and positive day. Here are five ways to start your day and why they can be beneficial:
1. Start with hot water and lemon
We love coffee; a cup of Joe is comfort at your fingertips. It does the job of waking up our bodies and minds (caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline!) to excel in our day. But did you know that coffee is highly acidic? Yes, most foods we crave are highly acidic: coffee, sugar, and animal protein. I’m not saying avoid these things, but moderation is the key. Start your day alkalinizing your body. A simple cup of hot water and lemon squeeze will do this effortlessly, balancing your blood sugar, stimulating digestive enzymes to aid digestion and assimilation of nutrients, and stimulating the bowels.
2. Disconnect to connect
Studies have shown that disconnecting from your devices one hour upon waking and one hour before sleep can significantly reduce adverse physiological effects (such as the stress hormone cortisol, blood pressure, and anxiety).
3. Gratitude is the secret
Whether this is done daily or weekly, recent research has shown that gratitude practices increase feelings of gratitude. Though even one time can create positive benefits, practising gratitude four times a week for three weeks (along with keeping a gratitude journal) has been proven to create lasting changes. Results like lowered depression symptoms and stress, improvement in sleep quality and increased well-being are a few that have been measured and validated from a consistent gratitude practice.
4. Can meditation help?
We tend to dismiss the benefits of meditation because it’s not as easy to assess mental benefits as it is to assess external and physical changes. But let me say: the benefits are enormous; those who meditate for 10 minutes a day experience quicker focus and longer attention spans. Studies have shown that long-term meditators experienced increased grey matter and increased volumes of the right hippocampus. The hippocampus is in charge of emotional regulation and response control, while grey matter processes information in the brain. These aspects also significantly impact our ability to process and retain memory. Science aside, there are also those effects that you can’t put your finger on. We’ll call this an increased connection to yourself and the world around you.
5. Working out is more effective in the morning
This is for a few reasons: you will feel less stressed throughout the day, Have a better mood (hello, endorphins!), You will have a reason to start your morning with coffee (coffee-fueled workouts are proven to be more productive), And you can even burn more fat since studies show that you can burn up to 20% more fat by exercising in the morning before your first meal. Make sure to run home after and make a hearty breakfast because holding off for too long can hinder your metabolism and slow it down.
