Easy Morning Routine To Improve Your Mood
Effective morning routines can be quick, simple and easy.
It’s common knowledge that a specific morning routine that includes mindfulness and some quiet time to connect with yourself can set you up for a better day. So many of us don’t have much time in the morning, so how can you get the most out of your morning routine? Some of the most powerful tools to instantly improve your mood are connecting to your breath, doing something with your body and tuning into gratitude.
Here is a morning routine that is very simple, quick and easy to commit to and it will improve your mood. Find a dedicated quiet, comfortable place to sit with yourself. Sit either on a cushion or on a chair.
5 slow deep fully belly breaths
Think of and/or write down 5 things you are grateful for
Spend 1 minute in “victory pose” or arms up
The power of consciously connecting to your breath
When you bring your focused attention to your breath, even for a moment, you are connecting the mind and the body. Taking slow deep breaths cultivates the relaxation response within the body, decreasing stress hormones like cortisol. Starting off your day with conscious breathing can set the tone for an improved mood and less stress throughout the day. Studies have shown that conscious breathing can help reduce anxiety, improve mood and enhance mental and physical well being. There are many breathing techniques that have different beneficial effects on the body, but simply consciously breathing slowly just 5 times can make a difference and shift the tone of your experience.
The power of gratitude to improve your mood
Gratitude can improve your state of mind immediately. Its a powerful way to shift your perspective and therefore your reality. When you simply focus your attention on something that you are grateful for, your physiology changes and anxiety levels decrease. Like conscious breathing, gratitude also reduces cortisol levels. The more you practice gratitude, your brain will rewire to more positive thoughts and you’re more likely to shift into gratitude as opposed to negative thinking. So a long term committed gratitude practice can literally change the structure of your brain, improving your thoughts, immune system and biological function over time. Now doesn’t it seem so worth it to dedicate a few minutes to gratitude every morning?
Consistency is key
The key to a morning routine is consistency. It doesn’t necessarily need to take that long, but you do need to commit to doing it daily to really see the benefits.