It’s winter, and moods are low. It’s cold, pressure is on for the Christmas period, and a significant reduction in sunlight (resulting in a drop in vitamin D production) is killing our collective mojo. None of us wake up and say ‘Oh I’d love to be miserable today’, and yet this is how so many of us feel each morning. So, how do we turn it around and seize control of our mornings?
Journalling
Have you heard of morning pages? This form of journaling means waking in the morning, sitting with your journal and dumping out the contents of your brain through your pen. Aim for three pages, or 20 minutes of this, and just keep the pen moving. It does not need to make sense, you just need to use it to process. You may look back over it, or you may never read it again, but the clarity it can create on an early morning is phenomenal.
Steer clear of social media (at least first thing in the morning)
Social media can be quite depressing as we hear stories of poverty, despair, political debates and heated discussions. Scrolling past when something triggers you can be hard. On the other hand, seeing all your friends doing wonderful while you aren’t feeling your best can be challenging too. To avoid being sucked into a 6am debate about whether pineapple belongs on a pizza, avoid scrolling your socials in the morning when you are tired and vulnerable. If you need it for work during the day, consider a timeline blocker on your desktop PC so you only see what you need to see, and it hides everyone else’s poses.
Move your body
Exercise releases endorphins and can wake the body up even when you aren’t feeling the early morning vibes. If you enjoy exercise, get up and go for a run or a session at the gym to get the blood pumping. However, we aren’t all up for running a marathon – but a quick trash/dishes/laundry dash through the whole house is enough to get you motivated and raring to go. Just grab a bin liner, a laundry basket and a dish bowl, and go from room to room filling them. Then, pop a load in, take out the rubbish, and do the dishes. Much better than sitting on the sofa staring at a screen.
Does your morning routine need a ‘happiness activating’ makeover? Book a call now to see how we can work together!
