When that alarm clock goes off first thing in the morning what’s the first thing you do?  If you’re anything like me it includes looking at your phone to hit that oh so comfy ‘snooze’ button.  Depending on how the night went I might be hitting snooze 2-3 times before actually getting up.  From there, I usually peel myself out of bed to go downstairs, empty the dishwasher and prepare my morning drink.  Since your body has been in hibernation mode for anywhere from 6-8 hours, it is imperative to rehydrate to get your engine and metabolism going.  After experimenting with a few different drinks (warm lemon water, 2 tablespoon of chlorella with 3/4 hot water and 1/4 coconut water) I’ve found the one that gets the job done for me is a little concoction that includes the following:

-a slice of lemon

-1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

-1.5 tablespoons of turmeric powder

-3/4 hot water

-1/4 coconut water

-*optional* .5 tablespoon of cayenne pepper if you like spicy

The lemon helps alkalize the body, detoxify the liver and gets those bowels going, sorry if that’s TMI but hey we all gotta poop right?  The apple cider vinegar tastes awful but has a myriad of health benefits you can read here.  The turmeric (which I’ve recently added) is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that can help with any aches or pains your body may have.  After combining everything in a coffee mug, I add hot water along with some coconut water for a pinch of sugar and electrolytes.  It took me a few weeks to get used to the taste but I feel it helps get my body ready for the day ahead.

Since I’m pretty sensitive to caffeine and not a coffee drinker, this drink helps me wake up and get the healthy habits going from the start.  After sipping on the drink and eventually finishing it, I start to get ready for the day.  This typically includes getting dressed in my workout clothes, foam rolling for 5 minutes then getting breakfast ready.  Breakfast usually consists of tuna and avocado on wheat toast, one hard boiled egg and a bag of fruits (strawberries, blackberries and melon).  From there it’s onto my workout where it can vary from a swim, bike, run or weights.  Since I’m currently training for a race in a few months, it’s pretty regimented according to what I’m working on for that day.  I’ve been working out in the morning before work for as long as I can remember and have no intentions of stopping.  I like to think of it as my sweat therapy and “me” time where I can focus on getting myself in the right mindset for the day.  One the rare occasion I’m either too exhausted from the day before or just can’t pull myself out of bed I can feel the effects throughout the morning.  I feel like a zombie till about noon even with my morning green tea and am very reactive compared to being proactive when I get in my workout.

Here are a few things I do NOT include in the first 30 minutes of getting up:

-Checking email – Is that work email THAT important that it needs a reply right away? Is it worth stressing over first thing when you get up?  I usually wait till I get into work to check email.

-Leave my bed unmade – This one simple task can be the first thing off your “to-do” list and even though a small feat, can set the tone for getting sh*t done for the day.

-Drinking Coffee – Since I’m more of a green tea drinker than coffee, I wait till I get into the office to get my caffeine in.  Plus green tea has been proven to be a natural fat burner – sounds like a winner to me.

-Watch the morning news – If you see something negative or disturbing, how is that going to set you up for the rest of your day?  I’d rather wait till I’m “connected” to the world before I find out what is going on.

Like anything else in life, there’s always room for improvement.  A few ideas/aspirations I’ve been trying to incorporate include taking 5 minutes to meditate, writing in a gratitude journal and doing a quick stretch routine to get the joints and muscles ready for the day.  I also want to start relying on my alarm clock to wake me up so I can put my phone in another room or out of arm’s distance.

So how does your day start?  Do you feel energized and ready to conquer the day or do you struggle to get started?  It’s never too late to start a new routine to see what works best for you.  I’m a firm believer that the way you start the day sets the tone for the rest of your day and is something that you can control with a little bit of dedication and discipline.

QOTP: “Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.” –unknown