5 Healthy Ways to Start Your Day
For the last 16 years, Dr. Patel has served in a medical director capacity at various inpatient psychiatric units, outpatient psychiatric clinics, intensive outpatient programs, and nursing homes. Dr. Patel is a board-certified physician in adult psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, sleep medicine, and neuropsychiatry... more
What’s the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?
For the majority of people, it probably involved engaging in some sort of technology. Maybe you reached for your cell phone to do a quick scroll through social media or turned on the television while you got ready for work. The point is, you are in control of how you start your day. And, if you choose wisely, your thoughts and actions could pave the way to positivity and happiness. Don’t let the stress and society’s need for constant connection start your day off on the wrong foot. Here are a few ways you can change your mindset each morning to cultivate positivity and happiness that last.
1. Ease Into Your Day
Don’t start your day off with unnecessary stress and anxiety by continually hitting the snooze button. Instead, try easing into your day. Set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier. Be alone with your thoughts and practice mindfulness and meditation. Create a reasonable list of “to-dos” for the day that will spark energy and motivation instead of anxiety and overwhelming thoughts. And, best of all, you can do all of these things from the comfort of your own bed.
2. Be Grateful
Humans have an estimated 70,000 thoughts per day! That’s a lot of opportunities to either build yourself up or tear yourself down. If you develop a positivity mindset, you can use gratuity to fuel your happiness. It’s called the ‘Attitude of Gratitude’. Science shows that gratuity is one of the key elements of personal happiness. Even on the hardest of days, there is always something to be thankful for. Why not start your day off on the right foot by thinking of a few things you are thankful for each day?
3. Don’t Touch Your Phone
This is a big one, and it’s easier said than done (we know)! Don’t start the first 15 minutes of the day with screen time. Let your mind ease into the day and be present with your thoughts. This also means no work emails. Try making a goal to disconnect if even for a few hours a day. Setting boundaries is a great way to create a more balanced work/life ratio.
4. Eat Breakfast
Food is fuel for our bodies and our minds. Physiologically, going without breakfast can lead to poorer concentration and memory, and increase the chance of fatigue and eventual overheating. Set yourself up for success each morning with a breakfast that includes brain-boosting foods. Whole grains and dairy can help you feel focused, energized, and ready to take on the day.
5. Be Inspired
Find a way to motivate and inspire yourself each day. Whether it’s reading a quote or having a role model, inspiration can fuel creativity. Our words, thoughts, and actions affect the way we interact with others each day. When you choose positivity, you welcome happiness into your life. Be inspired each day to see things with a "glass half full" mindset.
