Daylight Savings and Your Morning Routine
As we all know the arrival of spring always comes right after daylight savings. This time change can be a difficult one for most of us since our sleep gets shortened and our day starts earlier. However, you can make the daylight savings switch much easier by simply establishing a fun and consistent morning routine.
Tips to create a long-lasting morning routine:
Some simple lifestyle changes can set you up for a fantastic morning. These changes mainly focus on preparation so that you have enough time to do your morning activities without feeling rushed or tired.
Stay consistent with the amount of sleep you get each night:
Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night, regardless of the day of the week (or daylight savings), allows you to feel rested every morning, while also keeping your internal clock aligned, leading to a deeper, more restful sleep.
Prepare your workout gear before going to bed:
By getting your clothes and equipment ready for your activity in the morning, you will give yourself more time to enjoy your activity, feel less pressed for time, and feel more motivated to follow through with your morning plans.
Make breakfast in advance:
Eating before your activity is extremely important since your body needs fuel in the morning to power itself. A good breakfast will also make you feel more energized and ready for the day. Always remember to have water available during your morning routine as well to start your day on a great note.
Have different clothing for your morning routine vs work:
This tip is especially important now that many of us work from home. A big part of your morning routine should be making sure your activities are separate from work. A good way to do this is by having different clothing for your morning routine, then changing into your work clothes.
Additional benefits of a morning routine:
A good morning routine will not only help you adjust to daylight savings smoothly, but it also has a myriad of other lifestyle and health benefits to help you with your overall goals. This list covers some benefits but there are many, many more.
Better food choices:
In a 2018 study published in the International Journal of Obesity, 2,680 college students completed a 15-week exercise program. Each week involved three 30-minute sessions of cardio. The students weren’t asked to change their eating patterns. Yet, those who stuck with the program made healthier food choices, like eating less red meat and fried foods.
Glucose control:
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology found that morning exercise lowers the risk of developing low blood glucose in individuals with Type 1 diabetes. In the study, 35 adults with Type 1 diabetes did two separate sessions of morning and afternoon treadmill workouts. Compared to the afternoon sessions, morning workouts presented a lower risk of hypoglycemic events after activity.
Blood pressure control:
According to a small 2014 study published in Vascular Health and Risk Management, exercising in the morning can improve blood pressure. Over three separate sessions, 20 prehypertensive adults exercised on a treadmill at 7 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m. The participants also wore a medical device to monitor their blood pressure response. The researchers found that the most favorable blood pressure changes happened on the 7 a.m. workout days.
Increased activity:
Exercising in the morning gives you a big boost in energy that you carry throughout the day. This reduction in lethargy contributes to more movement throughout the day increasing your activity minutes and helping you feel more motivated and alert.
Take some time to brainstorm what your ideal morning routine looks like. It’s ok to go through a few rounds of trial and error, but with these useful tips, you are bound to find the right combination that works for you!