Many of us would rather dive back under the blankets than begin the morning with pre-ordained tasks. Yet adding a few new habits to your morning routine is painless, and will get your day off to a great start.
Of course, if you need more help with truly painless mornings, give us a call — but in the meantime, try these three basic steps.
Greet the Morning with an All-Over Stretch
Stretching does a world of good by helping you get more oxygen into your sleep-addled brain while limbering up your muscles — all before you’ve even gotten out of bed.
Start by reaching up to the ceiling. Flex and wriggle your hands, wrists and fingers as your arms are raised. While still in this “raise the roof” posture, breathe deeply and contract your ab muscles. Let that deep breathing fill your lungs for a few in-and-out counts, then slowly lower your arms.
Next, tighten and release the muscles in your toes, feet, ankles, calves and thighs. Finish with a few neck rolls, and you’re ready to bound out of bed with a little bit more vigor than you normally would!
Interrogate Yourself
Asking yourself one basic question each morning can be genuinely helpful: If this is your last day on earth, how would you want to spend it?
Of course, not every day’s schedule can align perfectly with the answer to that simple question. But successful people like Steve Jobs have pointed out that if too many days go by without your ideal day matching up with your actual day, consider making some changes.
Once you find yourself answering “yes” to the morning question, that daily mantra will become a truly life-affirming way to kick off the morning.
Get Moving
Starting your morning with a bit of physical activity will really set you up for the rest of the day. It gets your heart moving and your body more flexible (which helps avoid those midday neck aches).
Just as importantly, a bit of light exercise, whether your run up and down the stairs a few times, or settle into 15 minutes of yoga, is also a great psychological boost. After all, you’ve already accomplished something great, and the day has barely started!
Do aches and pains hold you back from doing even that brief workout? Our physical therapists can help get you back into a healthy routine. Give Magnolia Therapy a call and we’ll get you back to those life-affirming mornings!