ELI(A)lignment Day 1
“Good Morning! It’s a beautiful day - a wonderful day to be ALIVE.” This mantra can make a world of difference. The days I wake up happy and grateful are the days where I feel unstoppable. But, more often than not, it’s about making a conscious decision to start your day with a happy thought and with gratitude, versus just waking up expecting happiness.
It’s really all about choice. Waking up happy, anxious, or annoyed was because I chose that particular mindset. It is also a lot easier to wake up happy when I put the work in to do my best the day before. It’s not always easy to choose to be happy, but putting in the effort is absolutely worth it!
Although it may seem insignificant, getting up and making my bed was something that also made a meaningful change. I fought my mother on this practice constantly growing up, and it wasn’t until this year that I actually saw the benefits of doing it. I read somewhere that people who make their bed after they wake up are statistically more productive and successful. Starting a business and, obviously, wanting to be more productive and successful was enough incentive for me! It turns out my mom was right (per usual). Making my bed gave me a sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning. It may seem like a small thing, but trust me when I say the small things make all the difference.
After I make my bed, I have a glass of warm water with lemon. I like to drink my water before coffee, breakfast, or brushing my teeth. The benefits of drinking lemon water first thing in the morning have drastically helped my hydration, digestion, and overall skin quality. Drinking water throughout the day is something I’ve struggled with, but now I’ve committed to carrying a water bottle around with me. Starting my day with water means that I now have noticeably less brain fog, more energy, and glowing skin.
These habits are small but mighty. Choosing to practice these little things each morning really helps set my day up for success. I’d like to challenge you to start one (or all) of these habits and let me know if you notice a difference in the choices you make as you move through each day and how these choices impact your overall mood and wellbeing. For me, these little choices help set the foundation for the day and inspire me to make better decisions like picking a healthier lunch option or take that extra 10 minutes to organize some part of my life. All in all, these steps lead to a feeling of general ease that comes when you make the decision to live your best life.