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Photo Credit: Getty Images
No matter what time you wake up, mornings can be rough for some people. If you tend to feel tired or stressed when you get up, it can leave you feeling irritable, which can affect your mood for the rest of the day. But according to happiness experts, there are some simple habits you can add to your morning routine that can help improve mental well-being and mood all day long.
To take charge of your day and boost your happiness:
- Pick a wellness habit, then link it to a morning ritual you already have - The wellness habit can be anything from exercise to meditation to just focusing on nature for a few minutes, the trick is to do it with a routine you already do every day. Linking it to something you already do makes you much more likely to stick with it and consistency is the key to boosting happiness over time, according to psychiatrist Murray Zucker, chief medical officer of the healthcare platform, Happify.
- Get your phone out of your room - The thing is, when your phone is right next to your bed, you’ll reach for it as soon as you wake up, and that invites the outside world to dictate your mood first thing, life coach Allison Task says. Of course, screens can also get in the way of sleep and your happiness takes a hit if you’re not getting enough quality sleep.
- Talk to yourself - Zucker advises using your name when you’re talking to yourself and using it to pump yourself up. If you have a big presentation at work, encourage yourself by saying, “You’ve done this before and you like doing this. You got this!” It helps to take control over your thoughts, which he says can set you up for more happiness throughout the day.
- Talk to somebody else, too - Make a social contact, whether it’s a call or text, or meeting up for coffee to start the day. Just reaching out and connecting with someone you have “positive regard for” sends positive thoughts their way and also boosts your mood.
- Incorporate gratitude - Research has shown that people who journal about things they’re thankful for during the week score higher on measures of happiness than people who take note of things they’re irritated by. A daily gratitude practice may also help improve physical health, which can then boost overall feelings of happiness.
Source: BuzzFeed