Morning routines can determine how the rest of your day will go. Here are some common habits that you should try to avoid.
We all have our morning routines that help us focus and start the day off right — at least that’s what we assume. Although these habits are very personal, there’s a lot of overlap with the majority of the population. People like to have their coffee, watch TV and check their phones to catch up on world news Instagram.
Whatever works for you works for you, but there are a few tweaks here and there that can improve your mornings and make you feel better for the rest of your day. Bustle spoke with experts and compiled a list of popular morning habits that are not that healthy when you give them a closer look.
Jumping right out of bed
While ripping the band-aid off quickly works for many (who are these people?), there are some experts who believe it promotes anxiety. Dr. Catherine Jackson explains that rushing so early in the day puts unnecessary stress on your body, increasing your need to get everything done as soon as possible. If you’re an anxious person, waking up 5 or 10 minutes earlier than usual in order to meditate and have some time to think could really improve your attitude toward the rest of your day.
Checking your phone
RELATED: A Lot Of People Are Having Weird Food Cravings During Coronavirus
You knew this one was coming. This habit is extremely common, with almost everyone checking their phone first thing in the morning since they have to interact with it in order to deactivate their alarm. While checking social media or reading the news might be something you like to do, these activities are highly addictive, delaying the start of your day and distracting you from other things. There’s also nothing more stressful than waking up to a bunch of unread emails or by reading crazy tweets from politicians.
Eating lots of carbs
There’s a common belief that consuming high caloric meals in the morning is good for you, because it gives you energy for the rest of the day. While this is true, consuming a lot of carbs, especially simple ones, like sugar cereal or pastries, can make you feel very sluggish and bloated. Experts recommend getting in some protein and fat with your carbs. Foods you may have thought were carb-heavy but are actually great sources of protein and fat include: oatmeal, sprouted grain bread, and chickpea flour pancakes.
Thinking about your to-do lists
RELATED: How To Take Care Of Your Libido When Quarantined With Others
To-do lists remind us of all the stuff we need to do, which is great, but maybe checking them first thing in the morning is not what you need. This anxious feeling can quickly become overwhelming when you’re waking up to particularly busy days, filled with meetings and things you need to do. Keep your to-do lists in mind, but try to push them to the back of your head, at least while you’re waking up and getting ready to work.
Washing your hair
Lots of people need a shower first thing in the morning in order to feel like they’re up and awake, which is great, but maybe skip the shampoo. Society has taught us to wash our hair more than necessary, leaving most people with tons of split ends and dryness. Buy a shower cap and try washing your hair every other day or every couple of days. Two words: dry shampoo. You’ll quickly notice the change.
