Mornings can evoke strong emotions – happiness, irritation, annoyance, hope. Some people aren’t even really human until they have their first cup of coffee! Research points out some people are morning people. More women (48.4 percent) than men (39.7 percent) said they were morning people. And people over 60 (63.1 percent) were much more likely to prefer mornings than people under 30 (24.2 percent), which fits with previous research that found older people tend to rise earlier. No matter what, morning start your day and here are 5 morning activities to help you feel happier.
The Fresh Toast – A slight change in routine can make a difference, here are 5 morning activities to help you feel happier
There’s no way to trick yourself into being joyful and happy, but there are simple changes you can make to your morning routine that can change your outlook. Here are 5 morning activities that can help you feel happier:
Do something you love
Waking up is usually rushed, a moment where you quickly add in activities in order to get ready for your workday. Squeezing in something joyful can make a difference, whether that’s listening to your favorite podcast on your commute to work or listening to an audiobook as you prepare your coffee.
Checking your phone first thing in the morning or replying to emails before your work hours can be stressful and can quickly make you feel very grumpy. Delay these habits, adding in things that feel good to you before you commit to your work tasks. Keep your phone out of reach in order to avoid temptation and give yourself a few minutes to wake up.
Eat something
No matter if you’re a breakfast person or not, eating something in the morning can make you feel better and more energized, even if it’s just a snack. Having something in your stomach (preferably with some protein) will prevent overreactions to annoyances and will also prevent you from having embarrassing hangry episodes.
While it may be too much to ask to get up earlier than usual to sneak in a workout, the benefits are substantial. Even a 20 minute walk or bike ride can create some dopamine and make you feel accomplished, which will translate to your workday.
If exercising is too much, you can also try to meditate for a bit. The more consistent you are with your meditation, the more benefits you’ll reap. Meditation doesn’t ask for much of your time, you can do it straight from bed, and it will provide you with some much-needed silence and peace before you start your day.
Plan your day
If you’re a planner or someone who likes to make lists, planning your day can be fun and productive, giving you a semblance of control. Don’t overdo it with planning until the last detail, but a loose outline will help you stay on top of your duties and will make your day, especially the very busy ones, less intimidating.
Treat yourself to a nostalgic breakfast favorite with a little something extra!
Breakfast has changed significantly in the past 30 years. The classics cereals have somewhat fallen out of flavor and smoothies, protein bombs, and Starbuck sugary drinks have taken over. Whether on the go or a lazy morning lounging in bed, the stomach needs something. For a special mornings, try these marijuana Pop Tarts for the perfect weekend wake and bake.
While there are recipes for cannabis smoothies and others…why not really treat yourself with a childhood favorite? Additionally, depending the strain, marijuana has the benefit either chilling or energizing, so it can fit the mood of the day. These treats have a smear of cannabutter included inside of each and every pastry, topped with a favorite filling. Dressed up with icing and sprinkles, these potent pastries are bound to make you feel all warm and fuzzy, and not just because of the nostalgia factor.
This recipe is dosed with 1 teaspoon of cannabutter per serving. The strength of the pop tart multiple things, including the type of marijuana used and how cannabutter is made. For more tips on proper dosage, here are 5 ways to figure out your cannabutter’s potency.
Cannabis Pop Tarts
Makes 4 (recipe can be doubled)
For the pastries:
1 portion unbaked pie dough (the same amount you’d use for a single-crust pie)
Sprinkles, for garnish (I used a mix of green tinted edible glitter and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles)
1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
2. Roll out the dough into a rectangle, approximately 8 inches by 12 inches. Cut the dough into 4×3-inch portions (basically, divide the dough into 8 equal-sized rectangles).
3. Place four of the rectangles on your baking sheet. Smear the center of each one with a teaspoon of cannabutter.
4. Directly on top of the cannabutter, spoon your desired filling, leaving blank space along the perimeter of each pastry. Avoid fillings that are too thin, or they may leak out of your pastries. I used fairly thick caramel sauce, which was probably about the thinnest consistency that would work for these pastries.
5. Brush the “naked” portions of the pastry with your egg wash.
6. Place the second batch of pastry rectangles on top of each topped pastry portion. Press down on the edges to ensure that the egg wash helps form a seal. Gently press the tines of a fork into the edges of each pastry to further ensure a seal. Poke the top of each one once or twice with the tines of a fork to let steam out. If desired, you can use the remaining egg wash to brush the tops of the pastries.
8. Make the icing. In a large bowl, use a fork or whisk to whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, milk or cream, vanilla, and salt. Mix until no lumps remain and it’s a thick but still pourable icing. Spoon some on top of each pastry; directly after icing, apply sprinkles (they will stick best while it’s still wet and slightly sticky). Let the icing set, and enjoy!
Store leftovers in a single layer, well wrapped, at room temperature, for up to 3 days.
Another Monday, another day of memes about it being a rough day. But Monday start the traditional work week and sets a pace of productivity. Sometimes, after a fun weekend, your energy level can be low to really throw yourself into completion the big project before the deadline. By managing your energy effectively, you can optimize productivity and performance, and achieve more in less time. One of the key benefits of energy management is that it allows you to be more resilient and adaptable to change,
The Fresh Toast – Mondays get a bad rap, so increase your energy with these 4 daily habits
Do Something Creative
Gene Caballero, a personal trainer and small business owner, claims that the best way to wake up with energy is to do something creative that you enjoy, helping you be more productive through the day. Make some time in the morning, right after you wake up, to do something that fuels your creativity and that makes you feel good, which will reverberate through your day.
Have A Big Breakfast
This should come as no surprise since your parents have been telling you for forever that breakfast is the most important meal. It’s natural and necessary that your body wants to replenish the nutrients (and water) it lost during a night of sleep. Breakfast also gives you the energy you need to get things done and helps you focus at work or school.
Your meal should be balanced and healthy, giving you energy and stabilizing your blood sugar levels. To prevent a crash in energy later, pack up on carbohydrates.
Everyone knows you’re supposed to have eight glasses of water a day but a lot of people don’t do this. Drinking the right amount of water will leave you feeling energized, hydrated, and in a better mood. You should also moderate your drinking of sugary beverages, sodas and others, which might dehydrate you depending on your blood sugar levels.
It’s very important to sleep 7 or 8 hours a night, something that a lot of people struggle with. If you have trouble sleeping then power off devices before bedtime and avoid blue light, which is really rough on your eyes and sleep cycles.
Routines are key for successful mornings. While sometimes difficult to establish and easy to break, routines can help you create the time to do the things that you want to do and feel productive. When this is done in the mornings, it’s especially effective, since mornings tend to dictate the pace for the rest of the day.
While saying that you’re going to get up early and go for a run every morning is very easy, maintaining routines is tough. It demands consistency and not giving up. In order to establish a routine, it’s important to be patient with yourself and to set realistic and manageable goals. Here are 5 tips to help you develop a better morning routine:
Make natural light your friend
Natural light feels great and helps you wake up. The sun dictates your inner clock, which is why we get sleepy during the nighttime and more energized when the sun is on us. While your windows are a great tool, if you have the time, a morning stroll is a really good way of starting the day, reinvigorating your mood.
Morning showers are great because they wake you up. Washing your face does a similar thing, waking you up and clearing the gunk out of your eyes. If you incorporate this into a larger routine, like washing your face after you brush your teeth and then applying some moisturizer or sunscreen, your habit will become stronger and easier to remember.
Have a good breakfast
Breakfast has a lot of lovers and haters, but if you’re a person who tends to have a bad time in the mornings, eating something nutritious can be a solution to your problems. Breakfast is not only filling, it’s important for your energy, which is super necessary in the mornings. Choosing foods that are rich in protein like yogurt or eggs, and pairing them with veggies and whole grains will leave you energized and craving for healthy and filling meals for the remainder of your day.
Moving is very important in the mornings. This doesn’t mean that you have to go out for a run, although that is a great thing to do in the mornings. Moving can simply mean making your bed, doing some chores like the dishes or folding clothes. Any type of movement will help you feel awake and more productive, which is a great mood to have first thing in the day.
Do something you love
Make the time in your mornings to do something you love, like playing a video game, listening to a podcast, reading a book, or listening to music. While you’ll likely have to wake up a little earlier than usual, doing something early on that you love will help you have a better mood and outlook on your day.