September is AFib Awareness Month, and at Fitbit, we\u2019re helping you to learn more through content that focuses on all things heart health throughout the month. <\/em>Click here<\/em> for more blog posts in the series.<\/em><\/p>\n Did you know that a healthy morning routine can directly affect the trajectory of your day? It\u2019s true. Taking the time to slow down and welcome space and tranquility into your early mornings can not only help your mind and body set a tone of productivity for the day ahead, but it can eliminate stress, increase efficiency, and bring an overall sense of calm.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest benefit of having a slow morning is that your nervous system gets a chance to come online without triggering your fight or flight response, which is known as your sympathetic nervous system,\u201d says Dr. Patrick K. Porter, PhD, neuroscientist and creator of the meditation app BrainTap. \u201cWhen this happens, some people have a tendency to stay stuck in that stress response all day long, which brings about anxiety, fear, and depression.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, many of us start our day with a hectic array of events\u2014hitting the snooze button three times, getting up late, skipping breakfast, and scrolling on our phone screens. But imagine this: beginning your day in quiet solitude, free of interruptions, taking time to gather motivation for the day, and avoiding the rush. This may seem like a pipe dream, but it\u2019s not as far out of reach as you think it might be.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ready to reclaim your mornings? Try these six simple yet transformative habits for peak mind, body, and heart wellness first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n Tap into your ikigai. <\/strong>Your ikigai, also known as your purpose in life, is a Japanese concept that combines the words \u201ciki\u201d, meaning life, and \u201cgai\u201d, meaning benefit. When finding your ikigai, ask yourself: what do I love? What makes me happy? What makes me light up inside? This process can start with small habits like accepting yourself, connecting with others and the earth, and being present.\u00a0<\/p>\n Your ikigai is literally the reason you get up in the morning, which is why tuning into it when you first wake up can be extremely beneficial to your mood for the rest of the day. Taking steps towards your ikigai is easy, you can start by practicing any small feel-good habits such as meditation, stretching, walking outside, or offering a small kindness to someone.<\/p>\n Wake up mindfully. <\/strong>Dr. Porter suggests <\/strong>trying to wake up naturally, without an alarm, to the light of the sun. This way you\u2019re not waking up to a blaring alarm causing your body to go into fight or flight, which could cause anxiety for the rest of the day. If that\u2019s not possible, use pleasant-sounding soft music as an alarm. \u201cYou should also set your phone to \u2018do not disturb\u2019 while you\u2019re sleeping so your sleep isn\u2019t disturbed with notifications during the night.\u201d<\/p>\n You can also enable smart wake on your Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit Luxe, Fitbit Sense, Fitbit Ionic, and on the Fitbit Versa series, which finds the best time to wake you starting 30 minutes before your alarm on your device is set. It avoids waking you during deep sleep so you\u2019re more likely to wake up feeling refreshed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Get some sunshine. <\/strong>Before opening your computer or heading out on your morning commute, take a few minutes to go outside and get some natural light\u2014bonus points if you walk barefoot in the grass. \u201cThis is called grounding, and you will find that this sets your day towards a very positive mindset and mood and helps you to slow down,\u201d says Dr. Porter.<\/p>\n Recite a morning affirmation.<\/strong> One of the best actions you can take in the morning to start your day off on a good note is reciting a positive affirmation. \u201cReading a positive affirmation before you begin the bulk of your day helps give you the proper mindset to remain relaxed and focused throughout the day,\u201d says Dr. Porter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Drink water before having your morning cup of joe. <\/strong>Hydrating before having caffeine can be extremely beneficial as it\u2019s been found that your brain can shrink up to three quarters of an inch during the night, says Dr. Porter. \u201cEven better is to add some Celtic sea salt to the water. Celtic salt is not the same as table salt. It has all the minerals our bodies need to replenish our systems.\u201d<\/p>\n Listen to your body and move. <\/strong>If possible, wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual and fit in some time to either exercise, stretch, or do yoga. \u201cStretching and exercising are really good for the brain and engage a brain frequency called SMR, or sensory motor rhythm, that is used all day for cognitive thinking, problem solving, and more,\u201d says Dr. Porter.<\/p>\n This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\tA New Jersey native, Kelsey Maloney is an Associate Editor at Fitbit currently living out her California dream in San Francisco. After receiving her Bachelor of Art’s degree in Journalism, she backpacked for a year to several countries around the world, including to her favorite city \u2013 Cape Town, South Africa. She then made the leap to the West Coast to pursue her writing and editing career, formerly at Sunset Magazine. Kelsey is a travel and hot yoga enthusiast with an adoration for live music, snowboarding, Annie\u2019s macaroni and cheese and a good IPA.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\tKelsey Maloney\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n
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