8 Simple and Effective Tips to Start Your Day off Right

Before 9 am, start your day off right with these simple yet effective tips and tricks.

They are quick, too, so your morning routine won’t require you to wake up at 4 am.

Why Have a Morning Routine?

How you start your morning can set the tone for the rest of the day. That’s why everyone is hopping on the perfect morning routine trend and doing things to make their life a little brighter.

A good morning routine can prime you for a good day, helping you be more positive, productive, and happy.

The problem?

Not everyone is willing to wake up at 5 am just to “rise with the sun,” nor will they have time to do a morning workout, juice, or whatever else.

Instead, here are 8 super easy, incredibly simple, and highly effective tricks and tips you can fit into your morning.

These take little time, no money, and will very much help set your day up for success.

Eight Simple Ways to Feel Better Before You Start Your day

Here are eight quick, easy, and effective ways you can make your day go the way you want!

Think of Two Things You’re Grateful For

Genuine joy for something in your life can be a great mood booster, especially in the morning. 

Gratitude itself has lasting benefits that can increase overall happiness permanently. Take time in the morning to think of at least two things you’re grateful for.

It can be something small, like looking forward to seeing a friend, a day off, a pet, a family member, etc.

It can even be a feeling of gratitude for waking up, for having somewhere to rest, for having a roof overhead.

When we start to take things for granted, they stop bringing us joy. Start a habit of being grateful for things in your life this morning by thinking about at least two things you are grateful for.

Smile Genuinely for 30 Seconds

Don’t underestimate the power of a smile. 

Smiling in happiness sends signals to the brain that everything is ok and relaxes the body, decreasing stress and negative emotions.

In the morning, think about things that bring you joy and happiness. Let yourself smile in delight for at least thirty seconds.

This can be a tip combined with gratitude; smile when you feel grateful for something.

Quick Exercise to Get Blood Flowing

Yes, exercise in the morning is an amazing way to boost energy, get the blood pumping, increase oxygenation to the brain and body, and can even boost productivity.

But I am not sweating before work nor taking the time to wake up an hour earlier to workout and shower.

The good news? Exercise in the morning can be as simple as 15 jumping jacks.

Even a short amount of movement will give you some of the benefits of a workout, without the time and effort.

Of course, in general, it is recommended to work out at least 30 minutes a day which can be through walking, HIIT cardio, or strength training. 

Preferably a combination of all the above.

However, this quick and easy workout in the morning can increase cognition, decrease stress and pent-up energy, and set you up for a productive day!

Breathe Deeply

Take at least 5 deep, slow breathes in the morning. 

This is an amazingly simple way to relax, bring peace to the mind, and release tension in the body.

Breathing deeply will activate the parasympathetic nervous system in the body, the part of the body responsible for relaxation and calm. 

Breathing deeply has great benefits such as improved digestion, lowered blood pressure, lower stress, and increase relaxation!

Smell Something Nice

A smell or certain scent can be used to boost mood and increase relaxation.

Aromatherapy for example, while not a cure for every disease, does have research backing its mood-enhancing claims.

Lavender is great for relaxation, peppermint is a good mood-boosting scent, and rosemary can improve mental state.

Scent can also be a powerful tool to bring back nostalgic memories.

Notice the Present Beauty

Stopping to note the wonderful things around you is a quick, simple way to teach yourself to appreciate the beauty of the world.

The best part is you can choose what to focus on!

Look outside the window, glance at your walls, think of your kitchen, your spice cabinet, etc.

Nature, however, is particularly rewarding.

Stopping to smell the roses does in fact have benefits. In general, nature does bring an increase in joy and relaxation.

Think About Why You’re Getting out of Bed

Give yourself goals you can feel accomplished after doing. It can be something as simple as going to the grocery store later, making your bed, cooking breakfast, etc. 

Before going about your day, take note of at least one or two things you want to accomplish.

Your brain is wired to feel accomplished after completing a goal you set or an activity you do.

Making your bed in the morning? Instant dopamine, is the reward hormone in the brain.

Scream

Yup. Scream.

Shout.

Let it all out.

A bad mood can linger if you ignore it or let it fester inside you.

Bottling up negative emotions can lead to inauthentic, toxic positivity that has no benefits too.

Find a way to let negative emotions out, as this is an easy way to express bad moods, thoughts, or feelings. Allowing yourself to feel it can help you feel the validation you need to move on and cope. 

The Takeaway

A morning routine does not have to take hours or a lot of money, or huge effort even. 

There are several small ways you can being to change and better your life one day at a time.

Plus if a morning routine takes too long or requires too many steps, you are less likely to keep it up and build a habit.

Instead, try micro-changes or microhabitats, small ways you can improve and make your morning just a little bit better.

Remember, fitness and wellbeing are a journey that starts with a single step!