Are you feeling stressed? Many people do, but the ones who are happy have a very simple and common habit: walking every morning. By doing this, you can make a huge positive impact on your life, physically and mentally. Apart from walking, there are some other activities you can add every morning to have more energy, clear your mind and change your mood for good.
I know it’s very difficult to start a new habit, but it will be worth it once you stop feeling that stress little by little. So, let’s see more in detail how you can deal with stress and be happier!
How to be less stressed?
It might seem silly, but walking a short amount of time, around 10 or 15 minutes, every morning has some benefits that will change your lifestyle and your life vision. These are some of those benefits:
- Clear your mind: being active once you wake up will help you with you organize your thoughts and see your day clearer. No more screens or noises in the morning!
- Stimulate your brain: walking activates bilateral stimulation, which makes you feel calmer and it will help you with stress, thinking and creativity.
- Connect with yourself: every time you are experiencing a moment of calmness, you will be focusing on you, nothing and none else. This will make you start your day more focused and positive.
Apart from walking, which you have seen has important benefits, there are some other simple activities we can incorporate in our daily routine. Let’s see which ones!
Natural light
Make the most of natural light! Once you wake up, go to a window or outside if you can and feel the sunlight on your skin because this will help you with your heart rate, have a better mood thanks to serotonin, and you will sleep like a baby at night.
Drink water!
This is the most common thing everybody recommends, but it’s true. Our bodies need to hydrate and a glass of water right after waking up is good for your metabolism, eliminates accumulated toxins and activates your brain. As a result, your concentration and energy will improve, so no more caffeine for those moments or study or work.
Being grateful
Thinking just a few seconds about what you feel grateful for can change your mood too. This simple thing can make you reduce the cortisol level (stress hormone) and start your day focused on what really matters.
Showering
Everybody showers everyday, but we are not talking about a simple shower. Try not to shower in a hurry, be conscious about every detail of the shower moment: the sound of the water, the temperature, the smell of the gel, etc. This is a small exercise of mindfulness to help you be more present, thinking about now.
Priorities
Before starting with your day, it’s good that you establish what is the most important thing you want to achieve today. By doing this, you won’t be so overwhelmed, therefore stressed, and you could organize your time and energy.
Coffee
Most people have a coffee for breakfast, and that’s okay, but you should wait around 60 or 90 minutes before having your first cup of coffee. The reason behind this is because when you wake up your body produces cortisol to help you stay alert. So, if you drink coffee at that moment, you could increase that active mood, which can make you feel nervous.
Never underestimate the little things we can do every morning, these simple activities are way more beneficial than you might think. The good thing about it? You can do all of these things at home, there’s no need to go anywhere. So, what’s stopping you from feeling less stressed?