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Wakey wakey rise and shine! Starting the day feeling refreshed and ready to go is something we strive to achieve everyday here at Hip & Healthy. Creating a good morning routine and getting a sufficient amount of sleep each night not only makes you feel fabulous, but it always, without fail, sets you up with a positive mindset for the whole day ahead. Read on for our top 5 tips to add to your morning routine, so you can enjoy waking up feeling your very best every single day!

Practise gratitude

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love…’ We love this quote from Marcus Aurelius, as it really embodies a positive and appreciative outlook on life. Being grateful for what you have goes hand in hand with happiness and positivity. The benefits of practising gratitude are endless! It is proven that people who regularly reflect on things that they are thankful for, will generate more positivity, feel more alive, and show more compassion and kindness. When you wake up, list five things in your head that you are grateful for; from the bed you are sleeping in to the food that you will eat for breakfast. It is so easy to forget how lucky we truly are!

Add some stretching

Exercising in the morning can be a challenge for many of us, but incorporating some simple stretches into our daily routine reaps many different benefits from easing out any nasty muscle tension or stiffness to increasing blood flow to all parts of the body, especially the brain. If you don’t already, try to practise a few stretches as soon as you get out of bed. Not only will this leave you feeling energised and limber, but will increase your concentration levels for the days work ahead! Stretching also improve ones posture, which is vital to the majority of us who sit in front of our computer screens all day long. Stretching will help loosen muscles up and increase flexibility, not to mention improving our posture and making us look both longer and leaner – yes please!

Dish up a hearty but healthy breakfast

Hydration is incredibly important first thing upon waking. After a full nights sleep, your body is craving rehydration! Sipping on a large glass of water as soon as you wake up will instantly give you that much-needed energy boost you need. We love to throw in a slice or two of lemon as this amazing citrus fruit will aid in the detoxification process of your body as well as kick-start your digestion in preparation for breakfast.

Ensuring a good breakfast not long after you wake up (we try to eat within half an hour of waking) will break the fast that your body experiences as you sleep and kick start your metabolism, so you’ll be torching calories all day through! Choosing high quality protein such as poached eggs on sourdough or porridge with lashings of almond butter will give you lots of energy and keep you full until lunchtime.

Try an alkalising green juice

One of our favourite morning pick-me-ups is a green juice. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, it will alkalize and nourish your body from within, reducing sugar cravings as leave you bursting with energy! Having a green juice as a mid-morning snack or alongside your breakfast is also a brilliant way to get one of your five a day in first thing. Starting the day with healthy choices means that you are far more likely to continue making great choices all day long!

Breathe deeply

Don’t forget to breathe properly! Focusing on the rise and fall of your breath for a few minutes in the morning can restore our sense of calm and settle any nerves we might have about the day ahead. Too often in our hectic lifestyles, we forget to breathe properly, however making sure we’re doing so properly releases tension as well as that all important carbon dioxide, a natural waste product of your bodies metabolism.

Words by Flora Crichton 


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