6 Things To Avoid In The Morning

Do you have a regular morning routine? I’m not talking about one of those intense schedules where you wake up at 4:30 am, hit the gym, and every 15 minutes has a task assigned. Just one that helps you get energized for the day ahead. Today I’m sharing 6 things to avoid in the morning to get your day started on the right track.

A morning routine doesn’t have to be daunting or overly planned. Morning routines are beneficial, but they also have to be realistic and work for you.

Just the same, there are many things to avoid first thing in the morning to have a great start to the day, feeling refreshed and ready to go!☀️

Here are 6 Things to Avoid in the Morning

1. Checking Your E-mails.

Starting your day scrolling through e-mails, many of them with things you need to do is a guaranteed anxiety inducer. Since e-mails are on our phones, they are accessible, and it’s easy to be tempted to look at them first thing when waking up.

But that can take away from focusing on yourself, what you want to accomplish for the day, and the things you value most.

Constantly checking e-mails has become an unhealthy habit, for myself included. It’s a time-waster and a distraction from other priorities throughout the day.

TIPS:

• Set aside specific time(s) during the day for e-mails instead of checking as soon as you hear a notification.
• You can also turn your notifications off.
• Do your best not to have your phone with you at all times.
• If you are at work, set aside some time in the morning to respond to more urgent emails and leave the rest for later in the day or whenever you have time.

2. Scrolling Through Social Media. 📱

I think we are all guilty of checking social media first thing in the morning, even while we are still in bed. The problem is we can get sucked into a rabbit hole that keeps us scrolling much longer than planned. So this is definitely one of the things to try to avoid in the morning.

Limiting your time on social media is always a good thing to do, and if you can try a social media detox for a day, weekend, or more!

Many studies, such as this one, point to the negative impacts social media has on people, including depression.

TIPS:

• Resist the urge to check social media when you first wake up by getting into healthier habits instead, such as reading something inspirational, stretching, waking up to music that makes you feel good, or doing some light exercise.
• Put time limits on your phone for each social media app.
• Delete social media apps from your phone altogether.

3. Hitting the Snooze Button.

No matter how tempting it is, those extra few minutes won’t help; they do the opposite. You’ll still feel tired, and then you’re more likely to hit snooze again.

This can lead to those chaotic mornings where you get up late, your heart racing, forget important things, and still being late—boo to that!👎

Hitting snooze can take a toll on your body as it messes up your sleep cycle and can lead to higher stress levels, more irritability, and lowered immunity.

TIP:

• Place your phone or alarm clock on the other side of the bed or further. It may not be fun, but once you’re out of bed, it’s easier to stay up.

4. Skipping Breakfast. 🍳🥞

Cooking up a storm first thing in the morning isn’t practical, but don’t pass on giving your body healthy fuel to start your day.

Not eating in the morning can also cause you to have lower energy levels.

I love this article with so many ideas that you can prepare the night before to make your morning a bit easier. Then you’ll be less tempted to eat the sugary snacks at work or have that extra-large coffee for a boost.

TIPS:

• Prepare a yummy shake the night before or some overnight oatmeal.
• For something quick and easy, grab some fruit or get yogurt and sprinkle some granola.
• Coffee can be dehydrating; it’s beneficial to start with some water or a shake and then have that coffee a bit later.

5. Making Important Decisions.

Making decisions can be draining and cause fatigue, so try to avoid making any major decisions first thing in the morning.

Try to plan the night prior and leave mornings to enjoy a healthy breakfast, snuggles with your kids or pet, or read something inspiring that encourages you for the day ahead.

TIP:

• Let your loved ones know that mornings are not the best time to bring up serious issues or on-the-spot decision-making.
• Also, do the same at work, so co-workers know not to approach you the second you walk into the office. I used to have a co-worker who would often do that, and letting her know helped solve the problem.

6. Stressing Over Your Outfit. 👗👠

Obsessing over what outfit to wear is a time waster and a total drag; take it from me, a recovering high-maintenance fashionista–haha, kidding. It wasn’t that bad, but some mornings I spent too much time picking what to wear and sometimes being late because of it.

TIP:

• Establish a nighttime routine and prepare outfits the night before or even a week in advance if you’re super organized.

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