How do you begin your day so that you truly shine? You can make the choice to consciously start each morning in a healthy way.

Tip 1: Make sleep a priority. Plan your day so that you get a good night’s sleep. Getting enough sleep is critical to your overall health. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average adult needs 7 – 9 hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation can lead to a higher risk of chronic health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Tip 2: Allow yourself time to hit the snooze button. Most people don’t jump out of bed full of energy. If you do, feel blessed. For the rest of us, plan on hitting snooze once to allow yourself time to wake up slowly and let your brain reconnect with the here and now.

Tip 3: Before getting out of bed stretch, smile, and move your arms and legs to wake your body up. Then take the time to be thankful for your blessings. Notice what is great about waking up. For example, the sunshine, your health, or what you have to look forward to that day. Starting your day with positive thoughts will wake up your brain in a optimistic way. Your first thoughts in the morning can set the tone for your entire day.

Tip 4: Don’t rush. Starting out your day in a hurry can cause stress and anxiety. Instead, give yourself a little extra time in the morning. Take some deep breaths and sit up slowly before getting out of bed.

Tip 5: Start your day with a slow moving activity. For example: pouring and having a sip of coffee or juice, reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, turning on the news, reflecting on your dreams, meditating, taking a warm shower, or doing simple stretching exercises.

Tip 6: Use the sun light to help you shine. It takes 10 – 15 minutes of sunshine or exposure to light to get your body to stop releasing sleep-inducing chemicals. Allow yourself 15 minutes of leisure activities before you begin chasing the day.

Giving yourself time to wake slowly up in bed and then leisurely starting your day should help you rise and truly shine. Beginning your day without the stressful hustle and bustle will help you tackle what’s to come in an energetic and winning way!  

If problems are interring with your happiness, have a supportive chat with Vicki at www.supportivetalk.com