Better Moods in the Morning

Establishing a morning routine can help you feel more in control and intentional about your day.

Let’s face it. Mornings can be difficult, especially as we move toward cooler months.

But even small practices can have a big impact on your mood.

Looking at your phone when you first wake may make think it's helping you ease into the day, but it's actually helping you feel more stressed and overwhelmed. When you wake up, your brain is in a suggestible state. It’s ready for action. Looking at your phone floods your system with alerts, stress, and even social comparisons before you’ve even had a chance to center yourself.

Instead, start your morning with movement, even a short walk or a few yoga stretches in bed, can release endorphins that naturally boost your mood and make you feel more awake.

Keep a journal next to your bed and jot down your dreams or any thoughts that are on your mind. Listing even three things you’re thankful for can help guide your brain to noticing what’s good.

Create a morning playlist of songs that help you ease into the day or give you a jump start in energy can be helpful while you are getting ready.

Affirmations, or positive statements, can help us replace our underlying negative thoughts/feelings with a positive one. The more you repeat, the more you begin to shift your thinking (believe) the statement. When feeling anxious or stressed, affirmations can help calm us. There are many popular affirmations from which to choose, but you can also create your own. Use an affirmation that is short, positive, and meaningful for you and try to say it, with confidence, at least 3 times/day. Some people write it down and stick it somewhere visible (mirror, computer, fridge).

Meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting in silence for 30 minutes. Start with just one or two minutes of paying attention to your breath, or try a guided meditation from an app or YouTube. Even mindful moments, like focusing fully while sipping your coffee/tea, noticing the warmth of the coffee cup, the smell, the steam, all count. The smell of your shampoo, the temperature of the shower water, the feel of the towel, are other ways you can build mindfulness into the morning in a natural way. It’s about building consistency.

Set an intention to direct your focus. Our brains are constantly scanning for information, and an intention works like a filter, you’re more likely to notice things that align with what you’ve chosen to focus on. That can mean choosing patience, kindness, or productivity. It’s less about control and more about guiding your energy.

As with anything, sometimes you need to repeat an activity a time or two before it clicks or you notice a change.