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Mornings are rushed, what with finding a suitable work outfit, eating breakfast, getting the kids to school and jumping through the bath – all before 8 a.m. There are things you can do to start the day off on the right foot.
Wake to soothing music. Set a radio alarm on Fine Music Radio. A screeching alarm gives you a nasty shock and who wants to start the day pumping with adrenalin?
Have breakfast. This sets the tone for your eating for the rest of the day. Without having had breakfast, you probably won't be able to resist the doughnut trolley at 11 a.m. and then you won't be hungry at lunchtime. Get the picture?
Eat something fresh. Have a banana or an apple or at least some fruit juice. Starting the day in a healthy way is good for body and soul. Eating fresh fruit is always better for you than drinking a multivitamin.
Put out your clothes the night before. Scurrying around at 7 a.m. frantically looking for the shirt that goes with the skirt you want to wear, is no fun. Especially if you find it in the unironed pile or in the bottom of the washing basket.
Drink water. Many people are slightly dehydrated in the mornings – after all, you have spent seven or eight hours without drinking any water.
Brush your teeth. Start the day with fresh breath and clean teeth. Encourage the rest of the family to do the same.
Go slow on the coffee. Many people say they need a cup of coffee to wake them up in the morning. So be it. But stick to one cup and remember to also drink water, as coffee actually dehydrates you.
Mornings shouldn't be battlegrounds. Try not to fight with anyone early in the morning. It can upset you for the rest of the day and often, because you are at work, you can't sort it out until the evening.
Get water on that body. It is always pleasant to start the day feeling fresh. Having a bath or shower is also good for the circulation.
Get moving. If possible, a short morning walk is an excellent way to start the day. This is not always possible, but try and make the effort.
Get up ten minutes early. This will avoid the crazy morning rush – who wants to arrive at work breathless and out of sorts, wearing different coloured socks? – (Susan Erasmus, Health24, updated August 2012)
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