Need a few tips for motivation in the morning and feel healthier throughout the day? Try integrating these tips into your normal day.
Set your alarm 5-10 minutes earlier and start stretching in bed! Get out of bed, get on the floor and learn a few yoga poses that you can easily fall into to get your blood pumping and energy started. Look out your window as you do these and calm your mind for a few minutes before the day begins! Even if you are not a morning person, you can surely spare 5 minutes to start your day this way.
Take time to get protein into your breakfast before you leave the house. Studies show that children score better in the classroom if their days begin with a protein rich breakfast at home, so big kids, (like the parents), can learn from this and get to work ready to go.
If you spend time at a computer or desk at work, rest your eyes and shoulders. Take frequent, some studies suggest every 20 minutes, breaks from your computer screen to rest your eyes and brain. Turn away from the screen or stand up and away and reach for your elbows behind your back to simultaneously get into perfect posture by rearranging your shoulders and tilting your chin down. Talk about multi-tasking, your neck and back will thank you over time.
Take time to read something unrelated to your work for a short while, even 10-15 minutes. Then, share this information with a co-worker or friend. The ability to relay what you read to someone else will test your memory and we can all use some memory boosting as we age. The fact that it is unrelated to something you do daily will also help “fertilize” your brain.
Workout during commercials, get your family involved. Who doesn’t like to watch a favorite sitcom or reality TV show at night? Make it more “healthy” by challenging yourself or others in the room to a push up contest, or hold a plank for the entire 3-minute break. Jumping jacks and racers (in a straight arm plank, you alternate bringing each knee to your chest then extending it straight behind you in a quick pace, start with 16 then add increments of 8 as you go) are great cardio boosters too.
Stay healthy and change up that “average” work day tomorrow!