If you're like most people your day starts out with a mad rush from the time your feet hit the floor in the morning, to the time your head hits the pillow at night. But with a few simple habits set in motion you'll get some control over your stress level and stay in control throughout your day, rather than being at the mercy of everyone else's agenda.
Tips For Your Nightly Routine:
First get your nightly routine down. This will set the tone for the next day:
- Set out clothes for the next day
- Put things by the door you leave from in the morning
- Take a bath, or do something else relaxing- video games and other screen-time doesn't count!! The brain needs time to unwind and the eyes need a rest too.
- Write down what you typically do now in the first hour or two when you get up in the morning
- Now write down what you'd like to do before turning on the computer or going to work. Plan to do things that recharge your batteries. Reading good books, prayer, quiet time, exercise, and eating a good, healthy breakfast. I'll cover healthy breakfast choices in a later post. For now just include fruit, veggies, smoothies with little or no sugar, some form of low-fat protein and a whole grain toast, or low sugar, whole grain cereal. Don't skimp on Breakfast! It will help set the tone for your day.
- Set an earlier bedtime
- Write a To Do list, or as I like to call it, a TAH DAH list for the next day- Include prayer/quiet time, exercise, and reading self improvement books. I read the Bible or other positive books throughout the day to set, and reset the tone of my day. Also include housework, errands, appointments, business tasks, online tasks, and time with your spouse or children. Include healthy meal planning too. You can only be your best if you put quality, healthy foods in your body. I'll have lots more on that in future posts.
- Get to bed at a reasonable time. If you have to cut out computer time, TV time, or social time, do it! You'll be so much more rested and focused. It has been shown that your best sleep is between 10 PM and 7 AM. The hours before midnight are the best for good, restful sleep. It has something to do with the circadian rhythm. Our bodies work best sleeping at night and being up during the day.
When you wake up, hopefully about 6 AM or so if you followed the tip of sleeping before midnight, you should form some simple habits that will get your day off in the right direction and help you accomplish more with less stress.
Exercise:
I don't care how long you do it for, JUST DO IT!! Even 10 minutes of vigorous exercise a day will boost your metabolism and energize you without the crash that coffee or some other stimulant would give you. I try to exercise hard everyday. The days I don't work out I don't sleep well, I'm crabbier, and I have little energy. Try working out more often along with eating right and journal on your mood and energy level. Include in your journal the reports from your doctor. You will find that you are much more productive! Don't think you have time? Forget that excuse. You don't have time to die either. Do what's best for you and your family. Give yourself the gift of health. In another post I'll share how I used to struggle so badly with poor health that I couldn't get out of bed most days. Exercise has saved my life. Watch the short video I did and learn to like moving. We were meant to move!
Facebook me, and get into one of the small, accountability groups I've set up for people to get fit and overcome health issues. You deserve to live abundantly!
Get your TAH DAH list and your morning habits in place. It may take a month to get down solid habits, but you'll be so glad that you got your priorities in place and so will your loved ones! Believe me my family is extremely glad that I'm not lying in bed all day anymore and so am I. Also if it takes awhile to get your new habit's solidly in place don't get discouraged. There is help out there and others who will cheer you on through both the good and the bad days.
I'm Cathy Haight Ulrich on Facebook: facebook.com/cjulrich
beachbodycoach.com/sing2u
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