Start your morning right and you can have a brilliant day – here’s how

Mums Tips

Parenting Skills

Published on Thursday, 08 July 2021 11:04

Last Updated on 07 July 2021

sid_madge

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I don’t know about you but, these days there are some mornings where I’m not even sure of how far into the week I am. Like so many, I’m working from home. The old routines of getting up, getting the kids ready, breakfast and getting off to work have all but gone and like everyone else I am not sure if this will have changed by the end of June.

But regardless of restrictions that are still in place and the changes that will eventually come it important to manage our mornings. And the best way to do that is by embracing the ‘micro-moment’ – tiny little manageable interventions that can make a huge difference.

I’ve written three books on ‘micro-moments’ for life, work and family. Each ‘Meee in a Minute’ book, offers 60 one-minute micro-ideas and insights that offer us quick, practical ways to recalibrate how we feel and nudge ourselves into a more helpful and constructive mindset.

Here are a few micro-moment ideas to help you start your morning ready for a brilliant day.

How does it feel?

Do you recall hearing the story about the King who asked a group of blind men to describe an elephant to him? Of course, everyone was using their sense of touch. So one person, feeling the elephant’s side said it was a kind of wrinkly wall. Another thought the elephant’s leg was a tree trunk. You get the idea.

When you wake up in the morning, what does the day ahead feel like? Do you get a sense of opportunity or obligation? It’s likely that the day will include some of both. We all have things we need to do and not all of them are enjoyable. However, we can make our days much more pleasurable if we redirect and/or expand our perspective. Take a minute as your morning starts to map out what you need to do and what you want to do. Then give equal positive energy to both. And remember, each day provides a fresh opportunity to reset if necessary.

The Extraordinary Effect of Kindness

We share things all the time, anything from cash to sandwiches – and when we share something, that act of sharing reduces the amount we have. But kindness is different. Kindness is the one and only thing that increases when we share it. And that’s not just a beautiful idea, it has been borne out by research. When we undertake just one act of random kindness a day, we experience less anxiety, depression and stress.

In addition, our bodies are flooded with the same hormones that make both parties involved calmer, happier and healthier! Which hormones are these? They include: the feel-good hormone, serotonin; endorphins which reduce pain; and oxytocin, the bonding hormone, which helps to reduce blood pressure.
Furthermore, there is yet another winner in all of this. People who witness kindness are also more likely to pay if forward. Each morning – take a moment and make a commitment to performing a random act of kindness. Let’s see if we can trigger a pandemic of kindness to help us deal with the effects of the other one.

Get Moving

One of the best ways to start your morning is to move. Even a quick 10-minute power walk around the block can make a massive difference to how you feel. If you have the good fortune to live near parks or other green space/nature, even better. Being near trees is always good.

If you can’t get outside easily, then there are plenty of apps and online videos offering, for example, quick 7-minute HIT programmes or 10-minute yoga stretching. Take a minute to think through what you could do in the morning and build it into your daily routine.

You are where you need to be

These are challenging times. Don’t add to how tough it is by beating yourself up about poor choices or worrying about the stuff you can’t change or control. Take a minute to think about your life right now. Perhaps you find yourself in a situation you didn’t expect or want. That’s something most of us can relate to! What have you learned/what insights have you gained about yourself as a result? Always remember, you have the power to turn a negative feeling into a positive one.

a) The easiest and fastest way to turn a negative feeling into a positive feeling is to put on your favourite song and sing along at the top of your voice. Or dance around the living room for 5 minutes. Just try it. It works. It literally changes the chemistry in your body.
b) If you want a quieter alternative. Stand in the superman pose for two minutes. Legs hips distance apart. Hands on hips, shoulders back. You’ve just landed to save the world. This is called a high power-pose and it will increase your confidence hormone and decrease your stress hormone. It might feel silly – but try it.


Get Rid

It is time to dump the negative thoughts. What most important is where we put our focus. In life we tend to get what we focus on. A focus on negative thoughts can effectively pollute our entire day. Take one positive aspect of your life, focus on it and allow yourself revel in its warmth.