Mistake #10: Allow external sources to influence your day

We often have lots to do in the morning, says Somia Zaman, a psychotherapist, from deciding what to wear, to making packed lunches, packing school bags, and making breakfast. “Many of us are guilty of leaving everything we need to do until the morning, when we could plan ahead and do some prepara...

Sorry, but this will probably make you feel foggy – and actually more tired, says Campus. “It throws you off your circadian rhythm, interfering with your body’s natural sleep-wake rhythms,” she explains. “Regularly relying on it to sneak in more sleep will mess with your body’s internal clock, wh...

Some say writing a to-do list, either literally or mentally, is a good way to start the day. But it doesn’t work for everyone. Dannielle Haig, a psychologist, says: “The most effective time to plan your day is the night before, because it enables you to park your work for the day enhancing a posi...

No surprise here. Most people reach straight for their phone when they wake in the morning. “This can have a negative impact on a person’s mood for the rest of the day because you aren’t allowing yourself to wake up naturally,” says Zaman. “You’re also likely to feel more anxious reaching for you...

For those who suffer with anxiety, it’s often much worse in the mornings. The stress hormone cortisol is released as a response to stress, and science shows cortisol is highest in the first hour of waking for those experiencing stress.

Often when stressed, people make the mistake of reachin...

“You’ve not drunk anything for six to nine hours straight, you are dehydrated,” says Laura Connor , a life coach. “Do not reach for the coffee first, it’s a diuretic and will dehydrate you further.

“Drink a large glass of water, at room temper...

We’ve all heard of those crazy long morning routines that start at 4.30am – that’s not the end goal, here. We have to be kind to ourselves and create our own morning routines that work for us.

“Everyone’s different: if you’re a morning person, maybe 7am sun salutations are a good thing. If ...

Many people identify with the experience of waking up already worrying about all the tasks and stressful things that are upcoming. All the things we worry about fall into one of three categories: unimportant, unlikely or uncontrollable.

When you start the day in a negative thought loop, the...