“How you start your day is how you live your day. And how you live your day is how you live your life.”

This simple quote I found in internet pretty much summarizes everything I wanted to write in the intro. I believe that it’s truly important to start your day with right motivation and some energy that will help you out throughout the day.

Some people think that it requires lots of additional time and effort, but honestly it’s much easier than it sounds. You don’t necessarily need to do meditation practices or anything extraordinary. In this post I want to talk about a few simple activities that you can acquire as new habits, which will make your mornings more pleasant and fun and will fill you with positivity for the rest of the day.

1. Use your phone with benefits. Okay, let’s be honest here and don’t pretend that we don’t spend at least 10 minutes looking through our social media first thing in the morning. But recently I realized that even this bad habit can be turned into a useful one. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through others feeds, start watching anything that will lift your sprits. For me the biggest source of motivation is Pinterest where I get my daily dose of inspiration right in the morning. Just search for whatever brings joy to you and enjoy. Or you can watch some motivational or comedy videos instead.

2. Make your bed and change. Sometimes it’s so enjoyable to lie around in your bed in your comfy jammies, especially on a weekend, but that should not happen every single day. Even if you work from home or don’t have anywhere to go, make the effort to quickly make your bed and change into proper clothes. Believe me, you’ll instantly feel like you get your things together and are ready to conquer the world. You can even tidy up your bedroom a little bit if you have some extra time.

3. Do some sports. No, you don’t have to do 50 squats or pushups, but you can do a couple of stretching exercises, which will “activate” your blood and wake up your organism, so you’ll feel more energetic. Or you can dance around for a few minutes and it will increase your serotonin level.

4. Listen to music. You can’t really dance without some music, can you? But even if you’re not in the mood of dancing or doing any exercises, it doesn’t mean you can’t listen to some upbeat songs while you’re making your breakfast, brushing your teeth or making your bed. I realized this many-many times that music has a magical ability to change our mood. Even when you feel really down and depressed and suddenly hear your favorite song, you instantly feel at least a little better. So, music is definitely one of the best tools for emotional and psychological well-being.

5. Do some journaling. Whether it’ll be planning on your day or week, writing a grocery list, things to be thankful for, some daily affirmations or just anything that comes to your mind at the moment. Writing down your thoughts helps you feel grounded and balanced. You can make some art as well, for instance, some simple doodles that will help you relax. It doesn’t have to take a long time, even 5 minutes for this activity will be enough.

6. Breathe some fresh air. Last, but definitely not least, don’t forget to open all the windows to refresh your place while doing your morning routine. Yes, even in the cold season. If you have a small garden or a balcony, I’d highly recommend to go out for a few minutes, enjoy the chill morning air, get some vitamin D and just be alone in nature. Looking out of the window will work as well, especially if you love watching people come and go, as it will help your brain fully wake up and feel fresh.

These are some plain things that can help you start your day right. You don’t have to do them all, especially if you have to leave early for work, but they can become your new beneficial habits that will improve the quality of your life. As they say, everything genius is very simple, so don’t ever underestimate the power of such small steps that will lead to big results.