There’s nothing like a good morning routine to set the tone for the rest of your day. Have you ever woken up late and rushed out the door just to find yourself scrambling the rest of the day? If you don’t have a good morning routine to set you up for success, then you’ll often find yourself playing catchup, feeling anxious, or just exhausted and running on fumes throughout the day. Mindset is everything, which is why it’s so important to have a few non-negotiables to start your day off on the right foot. So, here’s how to create a healthy morning routine that will help you reduce stress and improve your overall mental health:

Drink water

Before you even brush your teeth or have coffee in the morning, drink water – lots of it! Something as simple as drinking water will help you stay hydrated, especially if you have a long day ahead of you. It takes almost no time at all to drink a glass of water, and will help ensure you’re getting your daily dose of H20. You could even set a glass on your bedside table before so you don’t forget come morning.

Don’t check your phone

If your instinct is to check your phone first thing when you wake up, then I’m here to tell you to ignore it! Rather than replying to emails or putting out fires before you’ve even had a chance to wake up, allow yourself to be present and actually enjoy your morning. When you wake up, you’re in a relaxed state – don’t you want to prolong that as long as possible? Even if you have to set an alarm a half hour earlier than normal, don’t let that small device derail your entire morning routine or put you in a reactive state first thing.

Make your bed

It’s incredible how something as simple as making your bed could help you be more productive throughout the day. If you accomplish the first task of the day first thing in the morning (which takes less than five minutes) then you’ll be encouraged to take on more tasks as the day goes on. Plus, who likes getting into an unmade bed at the end of a long day’s work?

Set your intentions

Nobody likes to feel anxious or stressed out right when they wake up, which is why I like to take a few minutes to set my intentions for the day. Whether that’s writing down everything I want to accomplish that day – starting with the most important – journaling, practicing gratitude, or just meditating to calm my mind before I start my day, I find I’m much less stressed when I allow myself some time to set intentions for each day.

Eat a healthy breakfast

I don’t know about you, but when I eat a healthy breakfast I’m much more inclined to make healthier choices throughout the day. Have you ever made it past lunch to realize that you haven’t eaten anything yet and are so famished you grab the quickest thing possible – most likely not a healthy salad? Yeah, you’re not alone! So, whether it’s a smoothie, oatmeal, or a hard boiled egg, I like to fuel my body first thing with something that will give me energy for a few hours.

Move your body

If you’re not much of a morning workout kind of a person – and I totally get it – then I’d encourage you to just move your body in some way. Whether that’s going for a walk or stretching for five minutes, you’d be amazed at how much better you feel when you get your blood flowing in the morning.

What are some of your non-negotiables when it comes to your healthy morning routine?