3 Things To Do Before 9am (For a Healthy Day)

---

3 THINGS TO DO BEFORE 9AM

3 easy morning routine habits that I swear by for a healthier day

How you start your day defines how your day will go. Having a regular morning routine will not only help launch your day the right way, but it will also help you form healthy habits that will become like second nature to you.

But who has time for a lengthy routine every morning? Sure weekend mornings are sometimes less hectic, but most often weekday mornings are busy. I do these 3 quick morning routine habits to get my day started right (and I never skip on number 1, no matter what happens).

3 EASY MORNING ROUTINE HABITS

There are three things that I do every morning, and they help me to feel focused, calm and energized throughout the day.

I have noticed that when I skip any one of these (or all) in a day, my day feels chaotic and stressful, and I struggle to concentrate (I feel all over the place). If you incorporate these three things into your early morning routine, you might start to feel a significant difference in your overall wellbeing.

1. Drink water when you wake up (first thing)

Each morning, I drink at least 1 to 2 tall glasses of water. This has been proven to have many benefits – including helping to boost your metabolism, and promote clear skin. It also happens to be an ancient Japanese method believed to aid in healthy digestion – and you know what? The Japanese really knew what they were talking about! More recent studies have shown that drinking water when you wake up has more benefits than we ever realized – and does in fact help with digestion. (Try to use mineral water if you can.) I always feel so much more awake and energized after drinking water in the morning, so this is a quick morning habit that I never skip (and yes, you can still have your morning coffee, just drink a glass of water first).

2. Eat a healthy balanced breakfast (even if you just spend 5 minutes)

The first meal of your day is the most important because not only is it the first thing you put into your system, but it sets the tone for your day. I love nothing more than a big bowl of oats with some berries and almond butter to start my day off with, or some avocado on 100% whole rye bread. If you don’t like to eat breakfast, then make sure you have a healthy meal packed or planned for later in the morning or for your first meal – as the first meal of the day sets tone for entire day of eating! (Try to include whole carbs, healthy fats and protein with breakfast if possible.)

3. Do 5-20 minutes exercise (it’s not what you think, just get up and get your blood flow moving!)

 We all know that exercise releases endorphins – and endorphins make you happy! But wait, there’s more. It can also increase your energy levels, reduce your risk of chronic disease, help your skin look amazing, and can help your brain health and memory. What’s more, if you exercise first thing in the morning it also helps you to better focus throughout the day. Now, I don’t mean that you have to have an intense work out first thing in the morning – just something to get the blood flowing. Something light like my 16 minute HIIT workout, 20 minutes of stretching or yoga, or even just 5 minutes running on the spot. Anything to get the blood flowing.

DO SOMETHING FOR YOU

If you do these three things before 9am every morning, you may notice that your days start to feel more productive, and you might start to feel a bit more balanced in the rush of life. Remember, you don’t have to dedicate a huge amount of time to each activity, just enough time to drink that water, get the blood flowing and eat a balanced and healthy breakfast!

Try to take a few minutes each morning to do something for you (something to start your day off in a healthier way – you could try one of the things on my list).

LIEZL JAYNE XO

PS. FREE 3 DAY EATING PLAN

To give you an example of what a balanced weight-loss diet can look like, I’m currently giving my 3 day eating plan away for FREE – But won’t always be. Make sure you grab a copy!

Photos by Liezl Jayne Strydom – for liezljayne.com / Additional photos by Unsplash