The first moments of the day before your mind has been influenced by the chaos of everyday life present you with the opportunity to make a change.

Morning routines can be the best strategy to bring you success across all areas of your life, but it requires discipline to get a habit to stick. If you take time in the morning for yourself to execute mindful practices, you will experience incredible improvements in your mindset throughout the rest of your day.

Here are some of the benefits of maintaining a morning routine:

• Stabilize your mood
  Our minds are easily influenced in the morning, so engaging in mindful practices first thing in the morning can be monumental in laying a positive foundation for your day. Morning routines encourage us to appreciate the opportunity to take on a new day and enjoy the simplicity of right now, allowing us to carry that mindset throughout the rest of the day.
• Improve your productivity
  The first few tasks you complete in the morning set the tone for how the rest of your day may go. Set yourself up for success by committing to a morning routine that you can attainably accomplish – it will boost your cognitive function as well as empower you to continue making good decisions throughout the day.
• Boost your confidence
  Establishing a morning routine challenges you to focus on yourself. You are the main character in your own story, so by prioritizing yourself during the first part of your day and engaging in a healthy morning routine you can feel a sense of accomplishment as you move closer toward your goals.

3 Tips for what to do during your morning routine:

• 1. Don’t look at your phone as soon as you wake up.
  One of our biggest downfalls in society is the common habit of checking our phones first thing in the morning. Back before cellphones with instant internet connections existed, humans didn’t have the opportunity to access the highlight reels of people from all over the world the second they opened their eyes. Back then, people were grateful to wake up with a roof over their heads and a fresh meal to look forward to.
• 2. Don’t look at your phone for the first hour of the day.
  If you can’t last a whole hour, at least wait 30 minutes before checking your notifications. Comparison is the thief of joy, so this is no way to start your morning. Our minds are extremely malleable, and we are only offered the “clean slate” of waking up once a day, so make sure you spend those precious moments wisely!
• 3. Dedicate time for movement in the morning.
  After up to eight hours of rigid sleep, the morning offers an excellent opportunity to take a shift and execute a form of fitness or movement. You might be the type of person who goes to the gym or runs first thing in the morning. If so, great! You’re on the right track! If you fall on the other end of the spectrum and aren’t as energized and ready to exert energy in the morning, a simple yoga or stretch routine is the perfect option to achieve amazing results for your mental and physical health.

Set positive intentions for your day.

Expressing gratitude is the key to manifesting more abundance and curating a positive mindset. There are several methods you can try, including writing a list of things you’re grateful for, repeating positive mantras to yourself, or visualizing your goals in your head. Regardless of how you approach this step, setting intentions for your day will put you in the right headspace to conquer your day with confidence and pride.

Your time in the morning is the perfect time to be selfish, and by establishing a routine of healthy habits first thing in the morning, you’ll discover countless benefits for your health and wellness. Rather than rushing right into your workday or wasting away as you scroll through social media, dedicate the first moments of your day toward becoming the best version of yourself. Try it out for yourself and observe how quickly your life can change!

For more actionable tips on how to curate a fulfilling lifestyle, check out Outrun Gravity for all of your health and wellness needs.