Are you getting enough sleep? Do you exercise? Is your morning routine making a difference? Good questions! We’ve all been there: wanting to start the day off on the right foot but having a hard time settling into that first cup of coffee. Maybe it’s not just that our mornings are busy—maybe it’s because there are a lot of other things competing for our attention in those crucial hours prior to sunrise. If so, then we need some help in order to find out what else could be affecting our ability to fall asleep at night or stay alert during the day.
Table of Contents
Does your morning routine include time to exercise?
Yes, you can still get your heart rate up and burn calories while you’re sleeping. And yes, you can even do it without an alarm clock!
If you’re not feeling like exercising at the moment (or are just waking up in the middle of the night), consider using an app to track your sleep pattern. There are several apps that work with Fitbit or Apple Watch to help track how long you’ve slept each night and how much time you spent in bed. When it’s time for morning workouts, use these apps as a guide on how long they should last before getting out of bed:
- 10 minutes = 1 mile run
- 20 minutes = 2 miles run/walk on a treadmill or outside running trail
- 30 minutes = 3 miles run/walk on a treadmill or outside running trail
Are you getting enough sleep?
A good night’s sleep is crucial to your physical and mental health. In fact, a lack of sleep can lead to weight gain and other health problems.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night (and there are some exceptions). The problem is that most people don’t get enough sleep. Some studies have shown that up to 70% of us suffer from insomnia at least occasionally—meaning we struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep during the night because our minds won’t stop racing or our bodies keep sleeping during the day even though they’re awake!
Are you adding the right supplements to your diet?
If you’re not getting enough nutrients, it can be easy to feel worn out and sluggish. This can have a negative impact on your mood, energy levels, and ability to focus. And if you’re not feeling well physically or mentally, then there’s a good chance that other people will notice too! This is where you will feel the need for supplements.
Do you have time in your morning schedule to check those things off your list?
Do you have time in your morning schedule to check those things off your list?
If so, then congratulations! But if not, then it’s time to start making an effort.
I know that some of the things on my list seem like small changes—buying more protein powder, for example—but all of them are important and will make a difference in how I feel and perform as an athlete.
Conclusion
In the end, it’s worth asking yourself these questions. If you find yourself getting into a bad habit, are you willing to make some changes? Because if not, and your morning routine isn’t helping you achieve your goals, then there’s no time like now to start changing things up!