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Mornings were not one of my favourite times of the day. Because I used to hate waking up early. But just like most people, I had no option but to wake up and get ready for work, so I can earn a living for myself and my family.
But that changed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The only time, when I had no reason to wake up early, I trained myself to wake up early. Yes, just like everyone else, I was part of 5 AM Club!
In this blog post, I will not discuss what you should do in the morning so you can have a fulfilling day. But I would highly recommend you to read 5 AM Club, as it has tons of information that can help you with that.
But, I will discuss 12 Morning Mistakes That are Ruining Your Day. So if you’re ready to start your day off on the right foot, keep reading!
Snoozing the alarm too many times
We have all been there and done that. The bed seems to be a lot sweeter when that alarm goes off early in the morning. However, when you snooze the alarm, you’re not getting quality sleep as your body doesn’t have enough time to complete an entire sleep cycle. Going back to sleep repeatedly confuses your body and causes it to become even more tired and groggy. I usually follow the 5 Second Rule and just jump out of bed. And believe me that will be a lot more beneficial than sleeping extra 10 to 15 minutes.
Checking your phone first thing in the morning
When we use our phone as an alarm, one of the first things we tend to do is check our social media, news, emails, etc. But this can expose you to negative news or reminders of pending work. Therefore, your stress levels will go up first thing in the morning. Also, by checking your phone, you can lose some valuable time to get ready or to do something productive, such as exercise. And all these will play an important factor in your stress and anxiety levels first thing in the morning. The best thing to do is to use a regular old-fashioned alarm clock and leave your phone somewhere that you can not reach as soon as you get up.
Drinking too much coffee on an empty stomach
I am a big fan of coffee and this is something I had difficulty to adapt. but trust me, it pays off. Although caffeine has many health benefits, we need to be mindful of how much and when to take it. Although caffeine can help with focus and alertness, to consume too much caffeine can make you feel jittery, nervous, and on edge. Also, having coffee first thing in the morning can cause digestive problems such as heartburn, acid reflux, and stomach ulcers, especially if consumed on an empty stomach. So, if you are a coffee lover, don’t avoid it, but try to wait around a couple of hours for your first coffee. And believe me, it will taste a lot better.
Rushing through your morning routine
Rushing through your morning routine can cause stress and anxiety, making you feel overwhelmed and frazzled, which can negatively impact your mood throughout the day. When you rush through your morning routine, you’re less likely to be efficient in completing tasks and planning your agenda for the day, which can negatively impact your productivity. When you’re in a hurry, you may skip important tasks such as preparing a healthy breakfast, stretching, or meditating, which can impact your overall health and wellness. So as I mentioned in the first step, don’t snooze your alarm and give yourself plenty of time for your morning routine.
Having a negative mindset
Having a negative mindset first thing in the morning can hold you back from achieving your goals, leading to decreased motivation and a lack of progress in life. It can affect your whole day. I know that we might not have total control over how we feel in the morning, but if you try to reduce and even eliminate other factors that I mentioned above, we can make a head start. Usually, when you go through your morning routine, it will give you a sense of accomplishment and you might start feeling good about yourself. So try to achieve something in the morning. This could be a short exercise routine, meditation, or making your bed.
Procrastinating on less important tasks
Procrastinating in the morning will keep you in bed longer and it will prevent you from getting more important things done. This will cause a chain reaction. You might end up finding yourself rushing through your morning and full of stress first thing in the morning. Again, Mel Robin’s 5-Second Rule can help you tackle the important tasks that need to be done.
Overloading your schedule
Although achieving something in the morning can give you a head start, overloading your schedule can also cause stress and anxiety that can have a negative impact on your day. You don’t want to use all your fuel first thing in the morning.
Skipping exercise
There are many benefits of exercising first thing in the morning. By skipping the exercise, you prevent yourself to receive these benefits. A morning workout can help you feel more energized throughout the day. This is because exercise helps to release endorphins, which have mood-boosting and stress-relieving effects. It also helps to increase blood flow to the brain, which can improve cognitive function and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. So, never put exercise on hold. It doesn’t matter how long the exercise is. Just get moving and let that sweat drops come out.
Avoiding natural light
Exposure to natural light can help improve your mood and reduce stress levels. This is because natural light helps to regulate the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood and sleep. It can also help increase your energy levels and improve your alertness. This is because natural light helps to regulate the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. Even a few minutes of exposure to natural light in the morning can make a difference in your mood, energy levels, sleep, and overall health. So make it a habit to get some natural light first thing in the day.
Dwelling on yesterday’s mistakes
Dwelling on yesterday’s mistakes is a natural human response, but it’s important to remember that you can’t change the past. I am aware that we can’t control what pops into our minds, but there are a few things you can do to help:
- Acknowledge your mistake. This doesn’t mean that you have to beat yourself up about it, but it does mean that you need to accept that it happened.
- Learn from your mistake. Once you’ve acknowledged your mistake, take some time to reflect on what went wrong. What could you have done differently? What can you do to avoid making the same mistake in the future?
- Forgive yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s important to forgive yourself and move on. Holding on to anger and resentment will only hurt you in the long run.
- Focus on the present. It’s easy to get caught up in the past, but it’s important to focus on the present moment. The past is over and done with, and there’s nothing you can do to change it. The only thing you can control is the present moment.
- Look to the future. Instead of dwelling on your mistakes, use them as an opportunity to learn and grow. Look to the future with optimism and excitement.
Starting work right away
Sometimes, it is so tempting to start work immediately after you wake up. When you first wake up, your body is still in a state of rest and your mind is not yet fully alert. This can make it difficult to focus on work and you may be more likely to make mistakes. When you first wake up, you may not be feeling motivated to start your day. You may be feeling tired, sluggish, or even a little bit groggy. This can make it difficult to get started on work and you may be more likely to procrastinate. If you start work right away first thing in the morning, you may not have had a chance to get organized or prepared for the day. This can lead to feeling stressed and overwhelmed, which can make it difficult to focus on work.
Forgetting to be grateful
It is very easy in the morning to get into a state of negative self-talk, such as “Why do I have to wake up early?”. Why can’t I win the lottery and don’t have to go to work anymore? and so on. When we focus on the negative aspects of our lives, it can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Gratitude, on the other hand, can help to reduce stress and anxiety by helping us to focus on the positive aspects of our lives. So, take a few minutes each morning to think about the things you are grateful for. This will help you to set a positive tone for the day.
Final Say
When we try to adopt a new habit or get rid of an old one that doesn’t serve us well, it can be tempting to try to do too much too soon. We may think that if we just make a big change, we’ll be able to stick with it. However, this is often not the case. When we try to make too big of a change, we’re more likely to get overwhelmed and give up.
The key to success is to take small steps. When we start small, it’s easier to stay motivated and on track. We’re also more likely to be successful in the long run.
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