Tips for Starting Each Day in a Better Mood

Even if you’re generally a morning person, you might at least occasionally wake up in an inexplicably bad mood. And if the first few hours of your morning are miserable, that bad mood might follow you throughout the rest of your day.

Conversely, if you make a concentrated effort to start each day in a better mood, your mood across days and weeks will be much more consistent. The question is, what steps do you need to take to start each day in a better mood?

Do Some Work the Night Before

You can start by doing more work the night before. If you take care of daily morning tasks before you even go to bed, you’ll have less to do in the morning. This could include selecting an outfit, creating a to-do list, and even filling up your coffee pot. Everything you take off your morning plate is going to help.

Wake Up Earlier (and Consistently)

Next, work on waking up earlier and more consistently. This may seem counterintuitive, especially if your bad moods are sometimes due to sleep deprivation. But if you make a concentrated effort to wake up even slightly earlier, you’ll have more time in the morning and less stress to deal with. The trick is to also go to bed earlier, so you can manage a consistently earlier wake-up time.

Upgrade Your Bathroom Experience

Most people spend time in the bathroom as part of their morning routine, so everything you do to upgrade the overall bathroom experience can help boost your mood.

•  A heated bidet toilet seat. A heated bidet toilet seat is a device attached directly to your existing toilet, with no plumbing changes necessary. The heated seat will make it much more comfortable in winter, and the bidet attachment will give you a much more thorough, more comfortable clean.
•  A comfy robe. After your shower, wrap yourself in a luxury robe. It can keep you warm and cozy even in the most frigid mornings.
•  High-quality speakers. Whether you prefer listening to an energetic playlist or a thought-provoking podcast, speakers can make your bathroom routine much more enjoyable. Take your time and work on enjoying the overall experience, rather than rushing through it.
•  Aromatherapy. Similarly, you can make the bathroom environment more soothing and inviting by introducing fresh scents like lavender or peppermint.

Avoid Your Phone

Many people are tempted to immediately start using their phone the moment they wake up, before they even get out of bed. That might mean checking your email, reading the news, or scrolling through social media. But if you want to start the day in a better mood, avoid your phone entirely. Focus on more tangible experiences.

Get Some Exercise

Physical exercise is a great way to invigorate yourself, feel more energized, and improve your health. Make time to squeeze in a quick exercise session in the morning, even if it’s just a brief stretching routine. Every minute of exercise counts.

Meditate

Mindfulness meditation, when practiced regularly, is proven to reduce stress. It’s even more helpful in the morning, when you can clear your mind for the day ahead. Even a 10-minute session can be valuable, so don’t neglect this impressive mental tool.

Spend Some Time Doing Something You Like

Even if you only have a few minutes, spend some time in the morning doing something you genuinely like. Doing a crossword puzzle, playing a quick video game, or reading a chapter of a book you’ve recently picked up are all great options. But what’s most important is that this activity is meaningful to you. It’s a little treat that can make even hard days palatable.

Make a Nutritious Breakfast

While the claim that breakfast is the most important meal of the day is admittedly dubious, there’s no question that starting your day with a nutritious meal can make many people feel better throughout the day. Try to make a healthy meal, complete with lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. An example of this would be scrambled eggs with whole wheat toast and avocado.

Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to boost your mood and overall sense of well-being. Even if you’re feeling grumpy and detached, a quick gratitude session can make you feel warmer and more inspired. List all the things you’re grateful for in your own life, or focus on recent events that you have appreciated; either way, your mood will improve.

Simple changes to your morning routine can have a pronounced effect on how you think and feel the rest of the day. And if you cement these changes into consistent habits, you may notice your entire worldview and disposition transform before your eyes.