5 ways to make your mornings more blissful

Feeling the stress first thing? Our 5 ways to make your mornings more blissful could help give you the best start to your day.

You’re woken by an incessant buzzing on your phone. This is the alarm we’ve become accustomed to. You peer bleary-eyed at your Facebook feed in the hope that the jarring light will make you leap out of bed. Stop. Is this really the best start to your morning?

Our constant need to be connected to our devices is now affecting not only our lives, but our use of time, too. It’s been estimated that the average mobile phone user checks a device 150 times a day. Could your morning be better spent? We think so.

This Sunday is National Unplugging Day, so we’re urging you to take a detox from technology and make the most of your morning. Gadget insurance provider Endsleigh has put together the following suggestions to make your morning more blissful.

1. Yoga

The thought of yoga first thing in the morning can seem daunting. A great mantra to start the day with is just to concentrate on a simple child’s pose to open your hips, groin, quads and lower back, which is easy for most of us. You’ll find other moves naturally flow from this. You can choose to either head outside or simply place a mat by your bed and stretch in your pyjamas. You’ll find the morning stillness can really help focus your mind on your breath and create a sense of calm that you’ll carry with you throughout your day.

2. Hot water and lemon

A great alternative to coffee, you’ll find this immediately combats ‘morning mouth’ without the post-caffeine crash if you’re sensitive to the strong stuff. Your digestive system will also thank you as it’s a natural liver tonic and reduces bloating – a sure-fire way to curb early morning sluggishness. And for those who want healthier skin that has a certain glow about it (who doesn’t?) its alkaline properties are known to rid the blood of the bacteria that causes blemishes. The additional pectin found in lemons can also reduce hunger cravings and the scent alone is an instant mood boost.

3. Get some vitamin D

Our precious sunshine vitamin that wards off depression and the common cold and promotes bone health. Upping your intake of oily fish is a great way to inject some vitamin D into your diet but nothing beats getting outside and lapping up the sunshine. It’s been found that early mornings plus sunlight lowers body fat percentage and curbs your appetite. You can use your yoga mind-game here and begin with a slow zombie-like walk and work up to a run or even complete your brisk walk with some yoga-inspired stretches to give those quads some love.

4. Be mindful

Recently, mindfulness has become quite the buzzword. We’re not suggesting joss sticks and chanting but simply taking some time in the morning for inner thought. This means clearing your mind of your never-ending to-do list or daily bugbears and taking a couple of minutes to focus on your breathing. Relax your face here too, quite often we’ll clench our jaws when we’re upright. Don’t underestimate how tricky this one can be – our minds have the tendency to wander. Be aware of this and try and bring your thought back to your breath. Try and imagine a never-ending grassy field or an ocean – wherever your happy place may be.

5. A hearty breakfast

If you’ve completed steps 1-4 then you’re definitely ready for brunch – it’s what Sundays are for after all! Now’s a great time to replenish – you’ll certainly be burning additional calories for the next few hours if you’ve exercised. It’s important to think of this meal as fuel, something with protein to help with muscle repair and a perhaps a complex carbohydrate such as sweet potato to keep your energy levels up. This sweet potato and cabbage hash from Waitrose is healthy comfort food at its finest. Alternatively why not dust off those cookery books you haven’t looked at in a while?