Mornings may or may not be your favorite time of day. Some of us leap out of bed ready to go, and others want to keep hitting the snooze button.

Either way, adding some energy-boosting elements to your morning routine can make all the difference to how your day goes. We might not have the ability to control everything, but we can certainly take charge of our morning rituals.

Here is a ‘menu’ of morning routine additions for you to choose from that you may or may not have heard of before. Use a few, or use them all – either way, you’ll feel a difference by using them consistently.

 

Morning Routine Additions That Will Help You Boost Your Energy

 

#1 Move your alarm clock

 

If you want to start the day strong, move that alarm clock far enough away so that when it sounds off, you have to get out of bed. There is no scientific evidence that hitting the snooze button provides more rest. On the contrary, by delaying getting out of bed, you’re sending a message to your subconscious that mornings are difficult. Therefore, you will continue to experience mornings as brutal!

If your alarm resounds with a strident ring, try waking up to your favorite music instead. No-one wants to hear buzzing before they’ve even opened their eyes. For you, soothing music might be perfect. Or it could be tunes that inspire you to move. Have fun with this, and change songs every once in a while to keep things fresh.

 

#2 Move your body

 

Exercise is an excellent way to wake up because you are bringing more oxygen to the brain by getting your circulation flowing.

Whether you choose to run outside or do some stretching, moving in the morning makes it much easier to wake up. If you’d rather not leave your house, try some exercises using something like these Victorem resistance bands to boost your flexibility and strength.

 

#3 Sing your heart out

 

Singing, whether you consider yourself a pro or not, releases feel-good chemicals in the body that can lift your emotional state quickly. If you don’t want heads to turn while you’re out and about, do this in the shower or in your car.

You can create a playlist of singing favorites where you can, for those few moments, be the incarnation of your favorite stars. Fun, right?

 

#4 Use cold water

 

Cold water on our skin makes our blood vessels dilate, increasing heart rate, circulation, and blood flow. As with exercise, better circulation means more oxygen to the brain: thereby helping you wake up!

If contemplating a cold shower makes you shiver, you can try one of these options:

• Jump into a cold shower after having done exercise when your body is already feeling warmer
• Start with a warm (not too hot) shower and then turn the temperature down to cool or cold for the last 20 seconds
• Skip the cold shower and splash cold water on your face, or submerge your face in a bowl of cold water while holding your breath for 30 seconds. Note: Submerging your face rather than just splashing it is particularly effective if you feel stressed or anxious.

 

#5 Use the power of smell

 

Aromas can be very evocative and even healing. Many of us know that lavender is a good choice for relaxing, but did you know that jasmine increases beta waves responsible for us feeling alert, active, fresh, and even romantic?

Peppermint and rosemary are other scents that can help you feel more alert. Both are easy to grow as herbs, either indoors or outdoors.

Citrus scents such as lemon, grapefruit, or orange help boost our serotonin levels – the ‘happiness’ hormone. If you usually drink lemon water in the morning, take a moment to savor the smell of the lemon before you squeeze the juice into your water or tea.

Ginger or cinnamon are other excellent foods to add to your morning glass of water. You can also enjoy their benefits by using their essential oils to help you feel more positive and productive.

You can purchase these scents as essential oils and put them in an oil burner, or add a couple of drops to a base oil such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or even avocado oil. Keep your oil in a brown glass vial (so the light doesn’t affect the oil) and store at room temperature. When using, dab the oil behind your ears, on your wrists, and on your chest. You’ll feel more alert and refreshed, and you’ll smell terrific!

Here’s to you enjoying more alert and energetic mornings!