5 Morning Habits You Should Avoid To Improve Your Life

Mornings are crucial parts of our lives, and creating positive morning habits can make a big difference in how your day goes.

You’ve been taught to think like this:

Get up. Eat breakfast. Go to work. Do this. Do that.

We wake up existing like soulless zombies instead of living like real humans. We’re always in such a hurry that we forget to slow down and live for a moment.

Remember: You weren’t born to wake up stressed out and in a hurry. You won’t do your best work if you don’t improve your mind, body, and soul first.

If you want to wake up in a better mood, try avoiding these normalized morning habits.

#1. You’re Easily Irritated At Everyone And Everything.

Being stressed out in the morning and pointing a finger at everyone won’t do you any good. It doesn’t work like that. No one carries the responsibility for how you feel but yourself.

You’re the only one who has a problem if you react to life negatively. Change your mindset, even if things don’t go your way.

It’s all about being calm — when the sun shines on a beautiful day and in the middle of a storm.

Woodward, the sleep medicine educator, said this:

“It’s not enough to make sure you get to bed at a reasonable hour. It also matters the quality of sleep that you get, which affects your body and mood.”

What To Do Instead:

Ask yourself why you feel irritated. When you notice yourself on the edge of becoming grumpy, try to take a deep breath — or, even better, meditate daily to improve your inner calm. Control your mind and you will control your emotions better.

Become more self-aware of how you react to the world around you. Find the root of why you’re easily annoyed. For example, maybe it’s because you never give yourself time to relax because you’re always on the run. If that’s the reason, try reorganizing your schedule to give yourself time off every day.

Quote on this topic:

“Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.” ~ Maya Angelou

#2. You Don’t Have Morning Routines.

It’s super important to start your day off with some good morning rituals so you do something positive when you wake up.

Having morning routines improves your mental clarity, focus, and mood. It also helps you get new ideas to improve and organize your life for the better.

If you are unsure about this, try it for yourself. Having time to yourself gives you an idea of what you want in life and how to improve.

I spend at least one hour meditating, drinking warm tea, saying some affirmations, and listening to relaxing music before starting my day. It has helped me feel better and have more motivation throughout the day. It’s the routine I have before I write articles.

What To Do Instead:

Find a morning ritual that works for you. Maybe it’s not sitting and meditating. Maybe taking a walk in your local park for a half-hour is what you need to improve your mood before starting your day.

Try journaling in the morning by writing down a list of what you’re grateful for that day (if you like journaling) and stretching your body out. Stretching is essential if you want to have a flexible, healthy body. Listening to your favorite music is another great way to start your day off while making breakfast.

Quote on this topic:

“Morning is an important time of day because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.” ~ Lemony Snicket

#3. You’re Still In That Damn Bed.

The longer you stay in bed, the harder it will be to get out of it. I understand that your bed is your best friend because it’s comforting, and believe me, sometimes we need to lie in bed and relax for the whole day. It’s a way of meditating after hard work.

But if it becomes a daily habit, then you’ll start to increase your procrastination and you’ll end up being lazy the whole day. Your body needs to exercise, move, and be used for something productive.

We have a body for a reason; it needs to move as often as possible. The more you move your body, the stronger it will get.

If you feel down, try consuming more serotonin (the brain chemical associated with feeling happy.) The natural way is to move your body, get sunlight, and improve your diet.

What To Do Instead:

You can place your alarm clock across the room so you have a reason to get out of bed. Make to-do lists on your phone and start completing them right away.

Open the window so your room gets fresh air. Start making a green smoothie to boost your energy. Make sure to consume enough protein and zinc daily because not having enough can be the cause of your fatigue in the morning.

Quote on this topic:

“If you get up in the morning and think the future is going to be better, it’s a bright day. Otherwise, it’s not.” ~ Elon Musk

#4. You Read The News.

This is one of the worst “normalized” morning habits we’ve created. Reading the news is the worst way to start your day by being reminded of how “terrible” the world is, and it will only make your anxiety worse.

You don’t have to be constantly reminded of how the world is. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss, as the famous quote says. You don’t have to know everything all the time.

What happens in the world has no effect on your daily life, for the most part. You can’t always control how the world is, but you can control how your inner world is. Your life. You’re the director of your own life. 

Research has confirmed that starting your day off with bad news has a negative effect on your mental health. So, of all the morning habits to avoid, this is an easy one to tackle, and it can really help you feel better.

What To Do Instead:

Say good morning to your loved ones and read a few pages of your favorite book. Have a conversation with your loved one or pet your cat/dog.

Meditate or organize your room in slow motion without being in a hurry. Make your bed and say a few prayers to get in touch with your heart.

Quote on this topic:

“The sun is a daily reminder that we too can rise again from the darkness, that we too can shine our own light.” ~ S. Ajna

#5. You Eat Unhealthy Foods In The Morning.

Eating soul food in the morning will make you more tired and lazy. On the flip side, eating nutritional food will give you more energy and mental clarity.

Add more vegetables to your meals. Make your own juice; it can detoxify your body. You can drink water or a green smoothie as well, which will help you stay hydrated. 

I understand that unhealthy food tastes good, but how will your body feel in the long run? It won’t do your health any good, and you’ll see yourself getting health problems out of thin air.

Foods like avocados, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, nuts, and seeds help to improve and boost your energy in the morning. There’s a reason why people say an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

What To Do Instead:

Find the right diet for you. Get rid of the unnecessary cr*p that your body doesn’t need. Consume more protein.

Blend water with your favorite vegetables, like sliced cucumber or lemon. Add water to your favorite smoothie instead of milk or plant-based milk. You don’t have to drink eight cups of water as some suggest online; you can get a lot of hydration from fruits and vegetables and other foods too.

Quote on this topic:

“To ensure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life.” ~ William Londen

Final Thoughts.

When you break bad morning habits and replace them with healthy habits, you’ll see your life become better day by day. It’s the small actions that give us remarkable results.

When you apply these habits, you’ll become more productive and have more energy throughout the day. Your mental clarity and focus will improve, and you’ll notice yourself being in a better mood.

It all comes down to your will.

It’s one thing to read this and agree, but will you take action as well?

Do you want to apply these morning habits to improve yourself?

You can, if you believe it.

This article was written by Suzan Daila and first appeared on Medium. If you’d like to join Medium and support her at no extra cost, click here.