After a week spent eating delicious meals, spending time with family and exchanging gifts with friends, it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. Don’t worry though — using these simple morning hacks can make it a whole lot easier.
While working at a desk might not seem like the most exciting thing right now, it’s important to start your year off strong, and make it a habit too. For starters, try adding some lemon to your water and have a glass right when you wake up — before your morning coffee. Lemon water has been proven to boost energy and focus. Another quick tip? Listen to some upbeat music to jumpstart your day and get you in the right mindset.
From taking a cold shower to even looking at pictures of puppies, here are five simple morning hacks to keep you energized and focused all day long.
1. Drink lemon water.
Before you have your first morning cup of joe, opt for a more natural and healthy beverage to kick off your day like lemon water. After a full night of sleep, our bodies can often experience some dehydration and lemon water, which is full of vitamin C, potassium, fiber and antioxidants, can both hydrate and oxygenate the body, which make you more energized and clear-headed. In fact, research has shown that just the smell of lemon can decrease a person’s stress levels and lift their mood.
2. Don’t skip breakfast.
While you often hear people say, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” it might be time to start listening to them. In fact, breakfast is one of the best ways to power up your morning and set the tone for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean indulging in bacon, sausage or waffles. Instead, eat foods with healthy proteins, whole grains and vitamins.
“If you miss the day’s first meal, you may start off with an energy deficit and have to tap into your energy reserves,” explained nutrition expert Dr. David S. Ludwig in an article published on Harvard Health. Some options that Dr. Ludwig suggests are high-fiber whole-grain cereals, whole-grain toast, greek yogurt, eggs (only one a day though), fruit and walnuts.
3. Take a cold shower.
While it might not sound like the most appealing thing to do right when you wake up, it can substantially increase your energy and alertness throughout a day. According to Medical Daily, “The deep breathing in response to our body’s shock helps us keep warm, as it increases our overall oxygen intake. Thus, our heart rate will also increase, releasing a rush of blood through our entire body. This gives us a natural dose of energy for the day.”
4. Listen to upbeat music.
Whether you’re in a bad mood or didn’t get much sleep the night before, a quick and easy way to get out of a funk and get energized is to listen to some uplifting music. In fact, research has proven that music can positively affect a person’s mood, increase their productivity and overall, get them energized. According to an article published on Fast Company, “Listening to music competes for our brain’s attention, and can help us to override those signals of fatigue.” Of course, that doesn’t mean any song will do the trick — it has to be something positive and uplifting, usually with a fast and upbeat tempo like pop or hip hop.
5. Look at pictures of puppies.
It might sound like a joke, but it’s not. A 2015 study by researchers at Hiroshima University in Japan discovered that when people view an image of a cute baby animal like a kitten or a puppy, their concentration and productivity levels increase. By conducting three experiments on a group of 132 university students, researchers found a boost in attention and focus when the students were presented with these cute pictures.
Rose Leadem
Rose is a writer and artist living in New York City. She writes for magazines, startups and websites, including Entrepreneur Magazine, Frontrunner Magazine, Homepolish and more.