Dr. Fliedner’s 5 Morning Habits to Boost Health and Success
Welcome to Dr. Fliedner’s “5 Morning Habits to Boost Health and Success.”
In our fast-paced world, starting your day on the right foot and setting yourself up for a productive and energized day ahead is essential. So, why not incorporate a morning routine with five simple habits that boost your health and enhance your chances of success in all areas of your life?
At North Texas Vitality, Dr. Fliedner and his staff are all about holistic medicine. His team realizes that many things, such as diet, habits, exercise, hormones, etc., contribute to the health of your beautiful body. That’s why we want to talk about five simple morning habits you can incorporate into your morning routine to improve your physical and mental health.
This article will take you through a step-by-step process of creating a morning routine that aligns with your goals and values. Whether you’re an early riser or struggling to get out of bed, we’ve got you covered. From exercise and meditation to nutrition and productivity hacks, we’ll explore the key elements that can transform your mornings and help you seize the day.
The Importance of a Morning Routine
Having a morning routine is crucial for setting the tone of your day and maximizing your potential for success. It provides structure and stability, allowing you to start your day with intention and purpose. A well-designed morning routine can help you cultivate healthy habits, reduce stress, and boost your overall well-being.
By dedicating time to yourself in the morning, you prioritize self-care and create a positive mindset that carries throughout the day. It allows you to focus on your goals, both short- and long-term, and take small steps toward achieving them. A morning routine is a powerful tool for self-improvement and personal growth.
Benefits of a Healthful Morning Routine
A healthful morning routine offers numerous benefits that can positively impact your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Firstly, it improves your energy levels, making you more alert and productive throughout the day. By incorporating exercise into your morning routine, you kickstart your metabolism, increase blood flow, and release endorphins, which boost your mood and energy.
Secondly, a healthful morning routine reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Practices such as stillness and meditation help calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and improve focus and clarity. Starting your day with a peaceful and calm state of mind allows you to approach challenges with a clearer perspective and make better decisions.
Lastly, a healthful morning routine enhances your overall health and well-being. By nourishing your body with a balanced breakfast and staying hydrated, you provide the necessary fuel for optimal performance. A consistent morning routine also helps regulate your sleep patterns, leading to better quality sleep and improved mental and physical recovery.
Creating a Morning Routine That Works for You
Dr. Fliedner recommends that you create a morning routine that aligns with your goals and values in order to achieve long-term success. Start with our guide as outlined in this article, and feel free to refine it as you go along to make it your own. Everyone’s ideal routine will vary, so it’s important to personalize it according to your preferences and lifestyle.
We’ve outlined some steps to help you begin thinking about how to create a morning routine that works for you:
- Assess your current morning habits: Take a moment to reflect on your current morning habits and identify areas that can be improved. Are you spending too much time on social media? Do you rush through breakfast or skip it altogether? Understanding your existing habits will help you identify areas for growth.
- Determine your goals: Think about what you want to achieve through your morning routine. It could be improving your fitness, increasing your focus, or reducing stress. Having clear goals in mind will guide you in selecting the activities and habits that will support your objectives.
- Identify your non-negotiables: Determine any activities that are non-negotiable for you. These are the essential components that you feel you must include in your morning routine, regardless of how busy or hectic your schedule may be. It could be breathing in nature (outside on your patio) for 5 minutes, exercise, watching the sunrise, or simply enjoying a quiet cup of tea or coffee – activities that make your morning routine yours.
- Create a schedule: Once you have identified your non-negotiables, create a schedule that allows enough time for each activity. Consider how much time you realistically have in the morning and adjust accordingly. Remember, it’s important to strike a balance between productivity and self-care. Also many coaches say the exercise or the mediation must be a certain length of time. Ignore that and work with your work schedule. The most important thing is to get started. Maybe you only have 10 minutes for a very brisk walk outside, or 5 minutes for silence and meditation. That’s okay! That works great!
- Start with small habits and build momentum: We cannot emphasize this point enough. If you’re new to a morning routine or have struggled with consistency in the past, begin by incorporating one or two activities and gradually build on them as you achieve success with your first steps and become more confident in your routine. Dr. Fliedner recommends the best-selling book Tiny Habits by behavioral scientist B.J. Fogg, whose work has helped many start lasting habits.
- Track your progress: Keep a journal or use a habit-tracking app to monitor your progress and hold yourself accountable. Seeing your progress on paper or on your screen can be incredibly motivating and help you stay committed to your routine. Below are some of the great phone apps to help you with building healthful habits:
- Streaks for iPhone users
- HabitNow for Android users
- Way of Life for gathering lots of data about your habits
- Habitify for planning your day around your habits
- Habitica for people who want to turn building habits into a game
Remember, creating a morning routine is a process that requires patience and experimentation. Finding the balance of activities that work for you may take some trial and error, but the key is to remain flexible and open to adjustments along the way. In our office, we like to remind each other that we are not pursuing perfection, but progress.
The 5 Morning Habits
Starting the Day with Hydration and Nourishment
One of the most important aspects of a healthful morning routine is starting your day with hydration and nourishment. After a night of rest, your body needs to replenish its water supply and refuel with nutrients to kickstart your metabolism and provide energy for the day ahead.
Begin your morning by drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up. This helps hydrate your body and jumpstart your metabolism. You can add a squeeze of lemon for an extra boost of vitamin C and to aid digestion. Wait at least 30 minutes before consuming your breakfast to allow your body to absorb the water fully.
When it comes to breakfast, opt for a balanced meal that includes a mix of protein, healthy fats, and whole grains. This combination provides sustained energy and keeps you full until your next meal. Some nutritious breakfast options include oatmeal topped with fruits and nuts, Greek yogurt with granola, or a vegetable omelet with whole-grain toast. Avoid sugary cereals or pastries that can lead to a mid-morning energy crash.
If eating breakfast is new to you and you can’t think of anything to serve yourself besides the Cap’n Crunch you ate as a child, check out this large variety of breakfast recipes courtesy of Food Network.
Avoid skipping breakfast as it can lead to decreased energy levels, poor concentration, and overeating later in the day. You set the foundation for a productive and focused day by nourishing your body with a wholesome breakfast.
Incorporate Exercise into Your Morning Routine
Exercise is a powerful way to boost your energy levels, enhance your mood, and improve your overall health. By incorporating exercise into your morning routine, you ensure that it becomes a non-negotiable part of your day, setting the stage for a more active and healthy lifestyle.
When it comes to choosing the type of exercise, select activities that you enjoy and that align with your fitness goals. It could be a brisk walk or jog, a yoga session, or a home workout routine. The key is to find activities that you look forward to and that are sustainable in the long run.
Consider incorporating both cardiovascular exercise and strength training into your routine. Cardio exercises, such as running or cycling, help improve cardiovascular health and burn calories, while strength training exercises, such as lifting weights or bodyweight exercises, help build muscle and increase metabolism.
To make it easier to stick to your exercise routine, lay out your workout clothes the night before and have a plan in mind. You can also invite a friend to join you or listen to your favorite podcast or audiobook while you exercise to make it more enjoyable.
Remember, consistency is key when it comes to exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise in the morning, but if that seems overwhelming, start with shorter sessions and gradually increase the duration as you build stamina and strength.
The Mayo Clinic says regular exercise is important to combat weight, improve sleep and sex life, boost your energy and mood, and combat health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Practice Silence and Meditation for a Positive Mindset
Silence isn’t merely the absence of noise and distractions; it’s about creating a space for personal growth, reflection, and calm. Build silence into your daily routine to experience the profound benefits it offers. The benefits are many:
- Silence can help reduce stress.
- Silence can help improve mental clarity.
- Silence can help enhance creativity.
- Silence can help regulate emotions.
- Silence can help increase self-awareness.
Start by creating a quiet space in your home where you can be alone without distractions. Set boundaries with others. Let people you live with know this is your time and space to be alone – undisturbed. Set boundaries with yourself. Forbid yourself to be active on social media and silence your phone. Only refer to your phone for any apps you may be using to encourage meditation.
Incorporate silence into your meditation sessions. Examples of quiet-time meditations may include spiritual readings and prayers. Guided meditation apps or videos are great resources that provide step-by-step instructions and can be particularly helpful for beginners or those who struggle with staying focused.
Beyond your time in silence and meditation, Dr. Fliedner encourages his patients to practice mindfulness throughout their morning routine. “Staying present and fully engaged within each activity enhances your overall experience and teaches you gratitude – whether it’s savoring your breakfast by eating mindfully or paying attention to the sensations during your morning exercise,” says Dr. Fliedner.
By dedicating even just a few minutes to silence and meditation, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your ability to manage stress, cultivate gratitude, and approach challenges with a sense of calm and clarity.
Set Goals and Intentions for the Day Ahead
Setting goals and intentions for the day ahead is a powerful way to stay focused and motivated. By identifying what you want to achieve and setting a clear intention, you create a roadmap for success and increase your chances of accomplishing your goals. This practice can also prevent you from feeling overwhelmed by the day’s demands.
Start by writing down your goals for the day, whether it’s completing a work project, scheduling an important and hard conversation with a loved one or work associate, or practicing a new skill. Alongside your goals, set positive intentions for the day. These intentions act as guiding principles that shape your actions and mindset. For example, you can set an intention to be present, grateful, or focused. By starting your day with these intentions, you create a positive mindset that carries you through your activities and interactions.
Review your goals and intentions regularly throughout your day to stay on track and make adjustments as needed. We recommend you keep a journal of your daily goals and activities and refer back to the journal throughout the day to track your success and to stay on point. Using colorful highlighters to cross out work accomplished brings some fun to this process. Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small, and use any setbacks as learning opportunities for growth. By setting goals and intentions, you take control of your day and increase your chances of success in all areas of your life.
Take Time for Personal Growth
This is the self-care “cherry-on-the-top” step. Spend some time each morning doing that task you’ve put aside so many times. Maybe it’s reading the stack of books at your bedside, or practicing a musical instrument you have been wanting to learn to play. It could be listening to an educational podcast, or writing your first book.
Spending a little time each day on your personal growth will allow you to accomplish that personal goal. Leadership speaker and author John Maxwell talks about this principle in his talk, ”The 5 Swings of the Axe.” He describes the task of chopping down a tree with an axe. “You can’t possibly chop it down in a day’s work, but if you give a few swings on the trunk every day, the tree will eventually fall.” The same with your personal goals.
Engaging in activities that stimulate your mind and expand your knowledge can boost your creativity and motivation, setting a positive tone for the rest of the day.
The Transformative Power of a Healthful Morning Routine
In conclusion, a healthful morning routine can improve your overall well-being and increase your chances of success. Incorporate the five healthy habits into your morning routine – hydrating, exercising, eating a nutritious breakfast, practicing silence and meditation, planning your day, and engaging in personal growth activities.
Some final thoughts to remember:
Creating a morning routine is a personal journey that requires experimentation, flexibility, and consistency. It’s about finding what works for you and aligning your routine with your goals and values. Be patient with yourself as you navigate the process and make adjustments along the way.
Consistency is more important than perfection. Don’t get discouraged by occasional slip-ups or setbacks. Embrace the journey of self-improvement and enjoy the process of creating a morning routine that enhances your well-being and sets you up for success.
So, starting tomorrow, rise and shine and embrace a healthful morning routine. Seize the opportunity to prioritize self-care, set intentions, and cultivate a positive mindset. Let your mornings be the foundation for a productive, energized, and successful day ahead.
To learn more about Dr. Fliedner and North Texas Vitality, call our office at (469) 300-0986 to schedule an appointment, or fill out the form below.