5 Ways I Put the “Good” in my Mornings

This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and Tropicana.

You’ve heard about “waking up on the wrong side of the bed,” right? Some days, that happens. But often, you can get out of that morning funk if you make a conscious effort to start the day off with GOOD. Here are some little things I do to make sure my day gets off to the right start:

1. Stay in bed.

   No, not all day. But I love waking up and snuggling with my little girl for a while before we start the day. Tickling her, singing songs and reciting nursery rhymes, snuggling and nursing… it’s hard to be in a bad mood with a giggling baby in your bed. Even if you have no baby in your bed, spend 10 or 20 minutes in bed before rising. Stretch really well. Read a chapter in your book. Turn on your iPod and listen to your new favorite song. Relish the softness of your bed.
   

2. Shower and get dressed ASAP.

   Many days lately, Anneliese is in a GREAT mood in the early morning, which means she’s able to entertain herself for a little while without needing me. If I can hop in the shower, wash my hair, shave my legs, and get dressed in REAL clothes (You know what I’m talking about, mamas. Pants that zip. No elastic.), I tend to feel better about myself for the rest of the day and accomplish more, too.

3. Start with a great breakfast.

   I’m not typically a breakfast person. Don’t get me wrong – I love breakfast foods. It’s just that I don’t wake up ravenous, and often get sidetracked doing other things until I get hungry, look at the clock, and realize it’s already 11:30. HOWEVER, I’ve found that if I eat a really good breakfast within an hour or so of waking, I’m more likely to stay on track nutritionally the rest of the day. I’m less tempted to have (grain free) cookies and coffee for lunch, and more likely to have a big salad with veggies and meat in it. What’s a great breakfast, to me? A few strips of bacon and an egg or two cooked in the bacon grease is a classic. Tons of protein and good, energy-dense fats, which serves to provide lots of fuel for my day and keeps me full for a long time.

   

4. Have a plan for the day.

   I don’t mean a super-ambitious plan with 15 must-dos. I just mean having a couple of overreaching goals for the day. That might mean seeing a friend in person (any friend, any activity, just to get adult face-time), working on a craft (crocheting half a hat, or cutting out pieces for a baby dress), improving the house (hanging up 4 pictures on the wall, doing a load of laundry, or dusting the shelves), or even just making sure to recharge (going for a walk, or watching a favorite movie). Having a realistic goal for the day early on makes it much more likely that I’ll accomplish that goal. Then, at the end of the day, I’m not left to wonder “Where did the day go?”

   

5. Get some sun.

   Early in the morning, stepping outside for 10 minutes or even throwing open the curtains to brighten the room is a great way to start the day. Not only does real sunlight welcome a cheerful feeling, but it also re-sets your circadian rhythm, making it easier to FEEL awake, and easier to go to sleep later.
   

Tropicana can help put the good in your mornings, if you’re a fan of juice. Each 8 ounce glass has lots of vitamin C, and a good amount of Potassium and Folic Acid. Also, it tastes good if you don’t drink it right after brushing your teeth (toothpaste and orange juice are a deadly combination).

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You could win a $100 Visa gift card! Tell me how YOU put the “Good” in your mornings! Is there something special you do each morning, to ensure an awesome day?

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I wrote this post while participating in the Tropicana Pure Premium/BlogHer program on behalf of Tropicana Pure Premium. I received product information to facilitate my post and monetary compensation for the time to write my post.