There's power in starting your day on the right foot. Investing a small amount of your morning to creating a positive mindset will help prepare you for the day ahead. In fact, it's been affirmed that forming healthy habitual behaviours for the morning can set you up for a day of success. So, what are you waiting for? Discover the five simple steps that will help kickstart your day below...
1. Wake up to music
You know that horrible feeling of waking up to a headache-inducing alarm clock in the morning? Yep, that's got to change. Instead of being woken up by your regular alarm sound, set your clock to wake you up to some uplifting music instead. You can't really go wrong with waking up to Pharrell William's 'Happy' soundtrack, can you?
2. Start your day with a healthy brew
One small morning tweak that can make a massive different to your wellbeing is trading in your coffee for a do-it-all-organic tea. Our tea of choice is the Organic herbal wellbeing company Pukka Herbs who have just announced the launch of their new blend Feel New, a new naturally caffeine-free tea which promises to help you feel and look like your best self. Blended with herbs and spices such as aniseed, fennel, cardamom and turmeric, this herbal tea will help you kick start the new year on a high.
Medical herbalist Katie Pande told us that 'Feel New blends some of Ayurveda’s most traditional and well-known herbs such as turmeric, cardamom and fennel. In both traditional and modern science such herbs were known for supporting the body’s natural detoxifying and cleansing processes,' which makes it a good substitute for your regular coffee or tea.
She stated that caffeinated drinks are often associated with an energy 'crash' - something that the Feel New blend doesn't do. 'The quality and origins of the majority regularly consumed in today’s society is often debatable. Feel New provides a healthy alternative that can be drunk freely throughout the day and leave you feeling energised without the expected crash associated with strongly caffeinated drinks. Try swapping just one regular tea or coffee for a cup of Feel New and see how you feel; hopefully brand new!'
But that's not the only reason to covet this new tea. Pukka Herbs has ensured that the hot drink is ethically sourced, with the herbs being harvested sustainably and the growers paid fairly for their work. So with the Feel New tea, you can quite literally care for the environment whilst you care for your body. Double win.
3. Avoid screen time until breakfast
We tend to spend a lot of time on our phones, especially in the mornings and evenings, and this can have a negative effect on our mental wellbeing. If you have an iPhone, you can set a cap on the amount of time you use your phone by scheduling downtime away from the screen. You can also set time limits for apps that you know you may be tempted to check in the morning, like Instagram and Facebook. Trust us, you'll feel rejuvenated after your mini digital detox.
4. Do a mini workout or stretching session
Activating your muscles in the morning can do wonders for your body. Stretching for even a mere 5 minutes in the morning will help to improve your flexibility, as well as decrease your risk of straining your muscles throughout the working day. Aside from that, stretching will help you to relax and get into the right mindset before you embark on a busy day of work.
Oh, and on the subject of breakfast - make sure you have one before you leave the house. It's the most important meal of the day, so try not to skip it.
5. Activate your brain en route to work
Your journey into work doesn't have to be a chore - you can actually get a lot of use out of that hour on the tube. Use it as a time to activate your brain by listening to a podcast (like the Grazia Life Podcast) or reading a new book.
Watching something funny on your phone or laptop whilst on the train, like Jane The Virgin or a classic episode of FRIENDS, can also release happy endorphins that will help you start your day in the best way.
Feel New tea, £2.99, will be available from www.pukkaherbs.com and Amazon, as well as in store at Sainsbury’s. Plus, for more wellbeing tips, join the Pukka Collective here.