Generally speaking there are two kinds of people: the morning types who joyfully spring out of bed the second the sun rises to greet the day; and then there’s the rest of us who take a bit longer (and a few prods) to get going. If you fall into the latter group, it can be a challenge to get moving but we’ve got a rundown on some moves you can easily incorporate into every morning to get you going and boost your health and wellness.
Seek sunlight
When you wake up, open the blinds and let the morning light in. When daylight hits the back of your eye, it naturally signals your brain to wake up. If you wake up before sunrise, turn on a light to activate the same response.
Move that body
Keeping our bodies moving is one of the most important things we can do for our health, especially as we age. We’re not suggesting you take up running at 5am (unless that takes your fancy), instead opt for a more active start to the day than, say, shuffling to the kitchen bench. Gentle stretching after you wake gets your circulation moving, warms up muscles and joints and clears sleep fuzz from your brain. Gentle stretching is easy, feels good, can be done almost anywhere and as an added bonus, you don’t even have to get out of your PJs to do it!
Fuel to feel good
Kick start your metabolism with a good breakfast. If your morning is usually rushed, try prepping your breaky the night before so you can grab it and go. If you can take it to work, you might find it’s a great time saver to have a container of cereal ready to go with some sliced banana while you’re checking your emails.
For the days when you find yourself on the go and feel like you’re running out of steam or you just can’t make up your mind, there’s an easy way to grab something with low GI energy* to kick start your day. UP&GO™ Blends are a source of protein and fibre, and contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives – just the delicious taste of milk, fruit, nuts and oats. In three fulfilling, flavourful blends: Banana+Cinnamon, Cocoa+Almond and Mango+Coconut, it’s on-the-go-goodness you can feel happy about. You can pick them up in packs of three in the cereal aisle, and they’re compact and convenient enough to keep in your bag or desk drawer when your tummy starts growling.
Brush your pearly whites
Some of us can’t live without a morning shower, others prefer night. But one thing that should always be non-negotiable is brushing your teeth, morning AND night. Apart from freshening your breath, good oral hygiene prevents illness by removing build ups of bacteria that can cluster around your teeth and gums, causing irritation, odour and even infection in some cases.
Practise positivity
Many of us have a lot on our plate, and a recent study of 10,000 women^ revealed that most classify themselves as feeling overwhelmed or super busy. Stress can breed negativity, so try taking minute to start each day by trying to make a conscious effort to think of something positive. What are you looking forward to today? What’s something you hope to get done? You might find this habit becomes addictive and it’s a great way to set a good mindset each day. It’s a good one to do while you’re stretching, too – think of it as wellness multitasking!
*Glycaemic Index (GI) value = 33 ^Source: The Health Check-up. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health Survey, 2017.
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