6 Things to Do In The Morning to Boost Your Mood
(WellAndGood.com) Most people don’t exactly respond to the sound of their alarm with a loving pat and a leap out of bed. It’s more like walking groggily-eyed to the kitchen, following the siren call of the coffee pot. But those few crucial hours between getting up and arriving to work determine the mood for the rest of your day. (Anyone who has ever accidentally set their alarm to p.m. can attest to this fact.) All it really takes to start each day on the right foot is incorporating some brilliant hacks into your daily ritual. Rounded up here are six ways to instantly have a better morning every single day (no weekend necessary). Try one at a time to give your early hours a boost, or bookmark this page so you can reference it whenever you need a little reset — hey, sometimes it takes a few tries to makeover your mornings. Keep reading for 6 morning habits that will help you have the best day ever — every day.
1. Put your phone down
Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin believes in stepping away from your phone in the morning to allow for a distraction-free zone. Just imagine how much better your morning will be when you start it off by spending time with your pet or journaling — Liukin’s a.m. activity of choice — instead of firing off emails.
2. Take a healthy shot
Nothing will wake you up quite like a shot of ACV, something Hilary Duff knocks back every morning. Plus, the cure-all elixir has been said to help stabilize blood sugar, promote healthy digestion, and reduce candida overgrowth.
3. Make your bed
Your mom may have been right when she told you to make your bed every morning. It’s the first thing that actress Elaine Hendrix does in the a.m. because, as she explains, it “symbolizes the closing of yesterday and the start of a fresh new day.” Plus, it makes the whole room look less chaotic, which subconsciously calms the mind.
4. Get your caffeine fix in a smoothie
No one wants to start the day hangry or tired — and you can kill two birds with one avocado (okay, and a little brewed coffee), thanks to this genius smoothie recipe from celeb trainer Adam Rosante. Finally, Team Smoothie and Team Coffee can both cheer over the same morning blend.
5. Try oil pulling after brushing your teeth
Coconut Kitchen and Nucifera founder Meredith Baird swears by the Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling to get rid of bacteria and keep teeth white and gums healthy. Some say it even helps ease digestion and fatigue, but at the very least the practice will just make you feel fresh and clean — key on those mornings when you don’t have time to shower.
6. Light it up
The first thing beauty influencer (and former Miss USA winner) Olivia Culpo does in the morning is light a candle to literally bring light into the room. Plus, the aromatherapy benefits are real.