3 quick tips to start your day off right

By Chris Cade:
Most of the time I'm writing about new mindset shifts. Ways we can look at the world differently.

Today I'm taking a slight departure from that to give you some very quick and actionable strategies to get each day started off on the right foot.  They don't take much time, and they really do support me in living an awesome life.

And since I'm all about supporting you in living an awesome life, that's why I want to share them with you :)

Here you go...
  
#1: Drink a glass of water FIRST thing in the morning

No, not 10 minutes or 20 minutes later. Before I go to sleep each night, I fill a glass of water and place it next to my bed. As soon as I wake up, I drink the whole thing. I started with a half-glass, and have worked my way up to anywhere between a full 12oz glass and my 27oz water bottle.

WHY?

Throughout the night we expel water with every breath and literally become dehydrated. The negative effects of dehydration on the brain are well documented and impair both short-term and long-term memory. When we're deh ydrated, our head feels foggy and we feel tired. In fact, it sometimes feels like a hangover even if we haven't been drinking at all.

Unfortunately, most people who feel tired when they wake up reach for a cup of coffee for the caffeine. This is actually the worst decision people can make first thing in the morning because the caffeine dehydrates them even MORE.  Then the vicious cycle is created of wanting more coffee to feel awake and dehydrating further.
  
My advice is simple...

Drink one glass of water first thing in the morning. Do this for 30 days, then try going a day without it. You'll feel the "hangover" instantly and truly understand what you've been doing to your body -your entire life- by not drinking water first thing in the morning.
  
And you don't have to give up your coffee, either. All I'm suggesting is *first* get that 6oz (or more) glass of water in you before doing anything else. Then if you still want that coffee with breakfast, drink it. At least then you'll be helping hydrate your brain and body while minimizing the dehydrating effects of the caffeine in your coffee.
  
#2: Do something that feels good

Each morning upon waking, my son comes in and we curl up for a few minutes before starting the day. Chemically, this causes each of our bodies to release good feeling endorphins - oxytocin and others, just like dark chocolate and exercise do.

For each of us, that "feel good" something can be different. Maybe for you it's writing down or thinking about a few things you're grateful for. What a great way to start the day!

For another, it might be watching the sunrise. Or a hug from a loved one. Or a meditation.

It doesn't matter what it is. Just each day for at least a few seconds...

(really, it doesn't have to be long, though longer is better!)

Do something that feels emotionally and physically good - that releases positive endorphin - and you'll instantly start your day off on the right food!

#3: Avoid TV & News in the morning

It's no mystery that most of our news and media is filled with negative stories. Unfortunately, many peoples' first inclination in the morning is to watch the news or read the paper (physical, online, or on the radio while driving to work) so they can know what's happening in the world.

While I personally avoid as much news as possible, at the very least *I beg you* to please grant yourself a morning break from the news. Starting your day off with negativity, even if you don't consciously notice it, it does impact your consciousness and the quality of your day.

And if you absolutely must "stay informed" then just wait an hour or two before you check it out. Give yourself a chance to actually wake up and enjoy your day before you expose yourself to the harshness of our world.

Or you can just subscribe to something like the "Good News Network" and make sure that if you're going to be reading news first thing in the morning, it's good news. ;)

(I love their newsletter!)

Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed these quick tips to start your day off right!

If you do these 3 simple things for just 30 days you will experience BIG shifts in how your days go. The way you wake up each day is what sets the momentum for the rest of your day. It's always your choice - my hope is that these 3 quick tips (that don't take almost any time) will help you kickstart your day right and create positive momentum that helps you live an optimal life.