Contents
How we start the day is how we look, work and feel. What mistakes do almost all of us make every morning without noticing it?
1. We “snooze” the alarm
Numerous studies confirm that the working day and school really start too early. As a result, millions of children and adults around the world are sleep deprived.
It seems to us that “five more minutes” can fix the situation. Alas, it is not. During these extra minutes, no matter how pleasant they are, our body does not rest.
Moreover: by setting the alarm clock “early” with the expectation that we can rearrange it several times, we violate the natural phases of REM sleep. And this can result in both mental problems (for example, provoke a depressive state or difficulties in the cognitive sphere), and physical ones (this slows down the metabolism).
2. We let our smartphone control us.
“Before you get out of bed, do you reach for your phone every morning to check your mail and messages, scroll through the social media feed? This means that you allow what is outside your control to rule your thoughts. You allow other people and events to “decide” what goes on in your head during the day. And you quickly become addicted to news, likes and messages, ”explains general practitioner Naomi Parrella.
Instead of grabbing your smartphone and diving into virtual reality, take a few deep breaths, stretch, say hello to your partner or kids, and drink some water.
3. We start the day with sugar.
“A sugar-laden breakfast kicks off a hormonal shift in the body and kicks off a cycle of hunger, bad mood, more sugar,” warns Parrella. We consume most of our daily sugar intake at breakfast: sweet coffee, sweetened corn flakes, sweet yogurt, smoothies, pancake jam, and more.
The expert advises to reduce the consumption of sweets in the morning to a minimum. And if it doesn’t work out, at least actively move after: walk, do yoga. Eating a chocolate bar for breakfast while driving a car is the worst option.
4. We don’t wash our faces properly and neglect sunscreen.
It may surprise you, but according to dermatologist Stacey Cimento, many of us only wash our face normally in the evening, not in the morning. And to do this, according to the expert, it is necessary, and with warm water. Our pillows are a real “warehouse” of dead cells, dust and microbes. After washing, the expert advises to apply a generous amount of SPF to the skin of the face and neck.
True, not everyone agrees with this point of view: some experts believe that it is not necessary to wash your face in the morning, and the additional use of soap and cleansers only dries the skin.
5. We don’t pay attention to our mental state.
In the morning, many of us have a hard time: we woke up already tired and now we are trying to do everything – get dressed, gather the children, cook breakfast, walk the dog. But it’s important to remember that how we start the day is how we’re likely to spend it—at least for the first few hours.
So it is worth taking at least a few minutes to regain a calm state. You can walk around the apartment and open the curtains, stretch, meditate, write something in a diary or hug with loved ones. Surprisingly, such simple actions can give the right charge for the whole day.