mintjournal:

8 Healthy Ways to Start the Day

Source: sparkpeople.com (edited)

Wake Up Earlier

When you have a stressful morning, chances are that you’re going to be feeling stressed for many hours to come. But it doesn’t have to be that way! By simply waking up 20-30 minutes earlier than necessary, you can enjoy a leisurely morning without the usual hustle and bustle. 

Eat Breakfast

You’ve been sleeping for seven to eight hours or more, so your body needs fuel to wake up your metabolism and help you power through your morning. Eating breakfast prevents you from overeating throughout the day, and people who eat an a.m. meal are less likely to be overweight than people who skip it.

Veg Out

Once you’ve gotten in the habit of eating breakfast, take it one step further and try to sneak in a serving of veggies with your morning meal. Add some mushrooms and tomatoes into your omelet, or try blending a little spinach in with your smoothie.

Take a Multivitamin

Although you should strive to get all the nutrients you can from your food, taking a multivitamin will help you fill in the gaps in case you fall short on any given nutrient during the day.

Drink Water

You’re going to need something to wash down your multi-vitamin with—so gulp a big glass of water! Not only are your fuel stores depleted when you wake up, but you’re also probably mildly dehydrated.

Sneak in Exercise

Working out in the morning is one of the best things you can do to get yourself on track for the day. Not only will you not have to worry about exercising later on in the evening, but you’ll also feel proud that you did something good for your body while most people were still asleep!

Stretch it Out

If a full-blown workout isn’t going to happen for you in the early hours, try a simple stretching routine, instead. You’ll still get your blood and endorphins flowing, while centering your mind.

Jot Your Thoughts

If your a.m. routine leaves you feeling scatterbrained by the time the sun is up, you may benefit from taking a few minutes to write down your morning thoughts. Journaling has been shown to boost self-esteem, and is a powerful way for you to work through any issues you might be experiencing.