HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY MORNING
The way you begin your day can make all the difference to the rest of it. Make over your morning routine and start the day happy
Get organised
A great morning routine starts the night before. Check the weather forecast for the next day so you’re not surprised by rain, snow or sub-zero temperatures and prepare what you can: make a healthy breakfast, lay out gym kit and work clothes, and if you’re travelling into work, assemble a packed lunch and pack your work bag. If your morning routine usually involves you running around, yelling, “I can’t find my bag/keys/purse!” designate a home for your easily lost items and get into the habit of putting them there when you get in.
Get a good night’s sleep with our guide to the best bedding and failsafe sleep tips.
FLUFFY LOUNGEWEAR FOR COLD MORNINGS
Don’t hit snooze
Sleep experts advise against hitting the snooze button because it disrupts your sleep cycle and can leave you feeling groggy. Instead, set your alarm for when you actually need to get up and put it out of reach so you’re forced to get out of bed to switch it off. Hate waking up to the sound of an alarm? Try one that uses light to simulate sunrise for a gentler start to the day or swap yours for nature sounds or your favourite radio station.
SLEEP BRAS AND SLEEP-BRA TOPS
Stop scrolling
Wake up; reach for phone; check texts, group chats, socials, emails, news sites... Sound familiar? Stop! Put your phone on flight mode at night and don’t pick it up for the first half-hour of your morning. Use the time you would have spent scrolling on something more mindful, like a short guided meditation or a breathing exercise. Sip a cup of tea in your favourite chair or in the garden bundled up in a duvet coat. Read a couple of pages of a book or spend a few minutes writing a plan for the day.
COSY LOUNGEWEAR CO-ORDS
Get moving
Exercise is great for physical and mental health, making it a valuable addition to your morning routine. The good news? You don’t need to do an hour-long sweat session – just five minutes of gentle yoga stretches will ease you into the day. If you can combine your exercise with getting outside, like going for a walk or run, you’ll benefit from the exposure to daylight, too. New to running or out of practice? Try the brilliant NHS Couch to 5K app to get started.
PRETTY PASTEL LOUNGEWEAR CO-ORDS
Words: Miranda Eason
