7 Things Wrong With Your Morning Routine
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Your morning routine is probably so ingrained that you don’t even think about half the things you’re doing. It may surprise you, then, to find out that many of those regular activities are all wrong. Read on if you want to start a healthy, productive day the right way.
1. Waking Up
Image via Flickr by Bill Rogers
If getting out of bed in the morning includes a few rounds of snooze on your alarm clock, your routine is probably making you sleepier than you have to be. The snooze cycle doesn’t give you enough time to complete a new cycle of sleep, so you don’t gain the benefits of more rest, and in fact set yourself up for morning grogginess that can take up to 90 minutes to shake off.
Pro Tip: Set your alarm for the time when you really plan to get up, without snooze built in, and stop going back to sleep once it’s woken you.
2. Brushing Your Teeth
Brushing twice a day is important, but many people still get the precise timing wrong. Brushing teeth after a meal is actually the worst time to do it. Acidic foods and beverages soften tooth enamel, so you’re essentially scrubbing that protective layer away when you brush right after a meal. Either brush before your meal or wait at least 60 minutes after eating. If you think you’re safe because you didn’t drink orange juice with breakfast, think again. Cream cheese, pastries, coffee, bread, and eggs are all acidic as well.
3. Lazing About
If you’re slow and a bit subdued in the mornings, you’re missing out on a prime opportunity to jump-start your entire day. Exercising in the morning gets endorphins flowing and helps you feel more energized for the hours ahead. It also boosts your metabolism to help with weight loss. If you just can’t bring yourself to do a morning workout, at least do a few stretches and deep breathing exercises.
4. Using the Restroom
A healthy bowel movement in the morning is fine, but you may be surprised to find out that most people are doing this wrong. Tall toilets that put you in a seemingly comfortable sitting position make this routine activity more difficult than it should be, and may even cause problems like hemorrhoids.
Pro Tip: A lower toilet can make this essential activity much easier. Lacking that, try placing a stool in front of the toilet to approximate the effect of a low toilet and create a squatting position.
5. Eating a Hearty Breakfast
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but some people are still approaching it from the wrong angle. Many foods considered classic breakfast fare are a horrible option for a healthy morning. Loads of sugar and fat will leave you feeling sluggish and lead to a major mid-morning slump. Ditch the carb overload in foods like bagels and doughnuts, and balance your meal with protein. Oatmeal, Greek yogurt, eggs, and fruit are some of the healthiest options for breakfast.
6. Working with Scattered Belongings
Do you spend half the morning roaming around your house looking for things? Streamline your morning routine by putting things where they belong the night before. Better yet, designate parking spots for your most important items, like your wallet, keys, your smartphone, and sunglasses. Place your essentials in the same area every night and get rid of the morning hunt.
7. Taking a Shower
A whopping 93 percent of Americans report shampooing every day, but believe it or not this huge majority may have it wrong. Showering and shampooing daily aren’t really necessary unless you spend time in particularly germy areas, such as public transportation or medical facilities.
Pro Tip: Showering every other day, or twice in three days, is a healthier option. This helps you retain moisture in your skin and natural oils in your hair. When you do shower, drip drying over a towel instead of rubbing vigorously will keep your skin softer as well.
Perk up your morning with a few simple changes to your routine and you may see significant results. Set your days up for success from the moment you get up by altering these essential routines.
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I can really apply this thing. Hope it truly is what you are saying.
I guess scattered belongings is something I have to improve on. Thanks for sharing this. I’ll keep them in mind.
Okay, so most things I do in the morning is not as good as I expected. Almost all parts of my routine are written in this article, it’s a shock for me.