This post is sponsored by Organic Stevia In The Raw® and SheKnows Media.
Feeling off when you wake up? Try resetting the start of your day with my 5 painless healthy morning habits.
Hi guys,
Depending on how you are wired, mornings can either be your favorite time of the day or something you loathe. This may come as a surprise, but I used to be a night person and disliked getting up before 9 or 10 o’clock. That was until I took a job at the TV station that required me to go to work at 2:30 in the morning. After eight years of that schedule, my whole body was forced into getting hard wired to be most productive at daybreak. And to my surprise I actually liked being a morning person after a while.
In the first year or so after leaving the job, I found myself still really sticking to that morning schedule and doing my best work in the first half of the day. After being a morning person, I loved the feeling of getting so much done before lunch. I felt empowered and in control of my life. However as time has passed those early wake-up calls have been harder and harder for me. I found myself feeling less like the early bird I want to be, and not feeling as ambitious and positive in the early AM. I recently decided to change a few things in my morning routine that has painlessly helped me reclaim the start of my day. I know I can’t be the only one who struggles sometimes with this, so I thought I’d share my favorite healthy morning habits that have helped me take the start of my day back.
5 Painless Healthy Morning Habits to Take Your Day Back
Wake Up 15-30 Minutes Early
I had to start with the hard one, right? Waking up a littler earlier will give you that flexibility back into your mornings. 15 extra minutes means you can stop rushing and 30 minutes means you can start adding some of my other healthy morning habits to your life. Time is a gift at daybreak and allows you to start your day with more peace and calmness.
Getting sleep is still uber important though, so try to ease yourself into an earlier bedtime as well… but I promise that after a few weeks you’ll think the transition was painless.
Wake Up Yoga or Stretches
Ease your body into being awake by doing some gentle stretches or yoga when you first get up. For me it’s surprisingly effective to do a child’s pose, couple sun salutations and then calf stretches. I find that I wake up pretty tight, especially on mornings after I’ve run the previous day and a few very simple moves help. It also get the blood flowing and leads to my body feeling lighter and more optimistic. Bonus points if you can get some fresh air while doing these.
During these few minutes, use the time to clear your head and set some positive intentions for the day. Or cuddle your puppy… whatever floats your boat. 🙂
Sweeten With Care
Rituals and routines are something I enjoy and bring a sense of calm into my life. I’d go so far to say that I thrive off of them. My favorite morning ritual is having a cup of tea each morning. For years I used a no calorie sweetener (that shall remain nameless) that was not the best choice for my long term health. In recent years I’ve wised up and switched to Stevia.
I’m now using Organic Stevia In The Raw® in my morning English breakfast tea or green tea.
I also do like the occasional flavored coffee, cold brew or iced coffee and these packets work great for that too… even in the chilled drinks. It’s the most recent edition to the In The Raw family of sweeteners and is available in convenient packets that make your morning easy.
The clean ingredient list includes organic cane sugar and organic stevia leaf extract. The blend of sweeteners gives me that perfect sweet taste I crave at only three calories, but is just as sweet as two teaspoons of sugar which contains 32 calories.
Organic Stevia In The Raw® tastes delicious which means my morning starts off better, but I can feel great about my choice because it is also USDA Organic Certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan Certified and naturally gluten-free.
Rethink Your Breakfast
It’s cliche, but breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Healthy morning habits really do start in the kitchen with good ingredients and well balanced meals. If you are in a rush, try hard boiled eggs that you cook ahead of time and fruit or an oatmeal with banana, chia seeds, nut butter and an Organic Stevia In The Raw® packet.
Count Your Blessings
Life isn’t always easy and we don’t always wake up happy. I’ve been there too.
One way I’ve taken my mornings back is to wake up and actually write down my blessings and prayers for the day. It only takes a few minutes, but the actual act of jotting them down leads to much more mindfulness.
Hopefully these painless healthy morning habits can help you get back on track to embrace daybreak!
Like this post about healthy morning habits? Pin this to your favorite healthy living pinterest board!
Organic Stevia In The Raw® is a great pick to start your day! You’ll love the taste and the ingredient list.
Want to try Organic Stevia In The Raw® yourself? Find a local retailer HERE or buy it online HERE using THIS coupon! For my local readers, you can find this product at Harris Teeter in Asheville!
Your turn!
Head to Organic Stevia In The Raw® and let me know what you’d put it on.
How do you take your mornings back? Let me know if the comments below for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!
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I enjoy a cup of coffee and yoga in the morning
Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/945058846153822209
I make sure I get up early to start my day.
https://twitter.com/ThatTuxedoCat/status/944841398586695680
I’d put this on oatmeal.
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/944757832246812672
I take my mornings back by getting some good stretches in.
thank you
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/944750413747716097
I get up early so I have time to have coffee and think.
tweet: https://twitter.com/kjmaje/status/944575224066072576
I take back my morning by waking up about 1 hour earlier than the rest of the family for peace and tranqulity and to enjoy a cup of coffee or two!
tweet https://twitter.com/astonger/status/944519235853840385
to take my mornings back I get things ready the night before. I also get up 10 minutes before my kids so I can enjoy my cup of coffee in peace.
https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/944315446542700544
Plan ahead get stuff ready the night before and not feel rushed in the morning
My homemade grapejuice
i posted a tweet here: https://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/944262969059434496
I try to plan the evening ahead what i’m wearing to try to take my mornings back. Mornings are a bit of a challenge to me!
tweeted – https://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/944136196657000448
I do get up 15 minutes earlier than I “have” to – so I’m not rushed and stressed out before I even start the workday!
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/944007625280237570
After taking my boys to school I come back home for a leisurely breakfast and surf the web for a while to catch up on news.
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meditation helps me get my mornings back
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/942432568896405504
I always make time to grind fresh beans for a nice cup of coffee in the morning.
https://twitter.com/follower1888/status/941359607259254791
I wake up early so I have time to eat a healthy breakfast and catch up on the news.
https://twitter.com/Michael64263870/status/940749276359086080?s=17
I try to get my priorities for the day finished first thing in the morning. I find that my day goes so much better if I don’t put things off that need to be done.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/cheesylife1/status/940744225544646656
I make sure I take a moment to enjoy the morning, even if it’s just to sip my coffee in silence before the work day begins.
I shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/940321279068049408.
I’d like to try the Stevia in my morning cup! I take back my mornings by running, its my me time! Its a great way to start the day, releases a lot stress and makes me fell refreshed.
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Yoga, a run and coffee!https://twitter.com/linjumimom/status/939158591327567872
Yoga, a run and coffee!
I love starting my morning with prayer, and organic stevia in the raw in my favorite!!!
[…] $100 Visa Gift Card from Running in a Skirt – Ends 12/24/17 […]
I wake up super early for me time! Sometimes, there’s even a 4 on the clock!!
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/935990977646522368
About the only thing I add sugar to is my coffee. And Sugar in the Raw is my favorite “coffee sugar”.
https://twitter.com/lindilala/status/935512988022394881
I make it as relaxing as possible!
Love to spend a moment in bed just to wake up before the kids are running, and to start the day with a cup of coffee!
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
I love going for a run, grabbing breakfast and then head off to work!
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/934842239381098499
I like to wake up early and do my exercises and have a cup of hot tea.
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/934558780053897216
I would absolutely use this in my coffee. Stevia is great for a coffee sweetener, in my experience 🙂
tweeted https://twitter.com/cshell202/status/933510725057654784
cshell090869 at aol dot com
I wake up and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the peace and read my emails. I would use it in my coffee and tea.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
Tweeted at https://twitter.com/KDFF/status/932261277912764417
I take it slow and wake up with thesun
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/932042236115664898
Thanks again.
I wake about 45 min’s before my family. This gives me time to shower, have a cup of relaxing tea, check emails and then get my day going.
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/932037121417797639
amy [at] uTry [dot] it
I would add it on my favorite tea. To take my morning back, I started brisk walking. Feels so good afterwards.
amy [at] uTry [dot] it
I posted the following tweet as @1alwaysnyc1
https://twitter.com/1alwaysnyc1/status/931968931576930305
I am definitely not a morning person. I make sure that I have time for my bulletproof coffee and that gives me time to fully start my day.
I’m definitely not a morning person but there’s nothing better than a nice warm cup of coffee in the morning to wake you up and provide you with the energy you need to get through the day.
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/931316775676936193
I love to listen to upbeat music while getting ready in the morning!
I’ve been aiming for 10 minutes of exercise in the morning since it’s completely achievable and once I start I may do more. I’d put stevia in my morning coffee!
i would put it in my baking such as pies and muffins. i take my mornings back by choosing healthy alternatives to give me natural energy
https://twitter.com/annatmitchellx/status/930962044815261696
I like to go for morning walks. I can’t do anything too strenuous so walks do the trick for me and give me that energy I need to get through the day.
I shared on Twitter and on Pinterest. Does this enter me in both contests? I love your blog. I am going to buy some Stevia, I use honey I’m my green tea ☕and Stevia would make s nice change.
I do love mornings! Stevia works well in both my coffee and tea and I actually use all of the time! Your post today is so peppy and full of life–just like you!
Great post and good reminders!
I have started to Take my Mornings Back through a morning routine of an early wake up call and a simple sun salutation with warrior and twists included. It sets a good tone for my morning and clears my am grumpiness.
I’ve never really been much of a morning eating person but I am trying to get in the habit some. Hope you have a wonderful day, love reading all about your healty tips
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Tweet is here!: https://twitter.com/fairyburger/status/927558037816176640
Waking up extra early is probably not in the cards for me, hahaha. I have been wanting to do morning stretches and exercises though! I don’t drink coffee, but yay for tea!
Yeah- your schedule is extra special!
[…] $100 Visa Gift Card from Running in a Skirt – Ends 12/24/17 […]
In my tea! 🙂
I like to sit, drink coffee and read my devotional book. Then I pray and start my day!!
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I take my mornings back by making time for myself. I enjoy my coffee without rushing and I watch the news.
This is a great post but so cool you are also having a fabulous sweepstakes..i hope I have done correctly and have an entry now!! Your blogs always make me smile and thank you Julie!!!
You did! Thanks Jeff! I appreciate your support.
https://twitter.com/gabrielle0225/status/925778669674680321
I love stevia too!
My husband and I like to get up before the baby just to chat 🙂
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/allisonrswain/status/925579860671696896
I don’t drink caffeine but I would probably put this in oatmeal.
Thank you for the chance to win!
allisonrsdswain(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I’d love this with my afternoon cup of lemon tea!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
[…] $100 Visa Gift Card from Running in a Skirt – Ends 12/24/17 […]
I try to always have a good breakfast, usually oatmeal or eggs.
Tweeted https://mobile.twitter.com/arress83/status/924369512652247041
I wake up to a hot cup of coffee waiting to be poured. I sit and look out the window and enjoy watching the sun come up.
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/924341784465039362
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I like to get up early before everyone is awake and make a cup of tea and read a book after taking a shower
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/924293388379344902
I like to wake up early and go on a nature walk in the morning.
tweet:
https://twitter.com/kjmaje/status/924221996623433728
I wake up about 1 hour before the rest of my family gets up. I enjoy the quiet time with a cup of coffee!
I always try to get up about 15 minutes before my kids to have a little time to really wake up. Stretching is really great for my mornings, too! AND I use stevia in my coffee! 🙂 Looks like I’m not doing too shabby!
Going for an early morning run gets my day on track. I love the feeling of accomplishment before everyone else even wakes up!
I stretch when I wake up. Then definitely coffee and turn on the computer to read your posts. Have also tried some of your recipes. Yum!
I try to stretch when I wake up. Definitely coffee first thing. Then on the computer to read your blog.
https://twitter.com/KEH8998/status/923356512629780481
I try to journal and meditate for 10 minutes to an hour while I drink coffee and have breakfast!
https://twitter.com/RachelGriesmer/status/923300416216952832
I take my mornings back by doing as much as I can the night before.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/923267868413890561
I take my mornings back by getting up early to get more done during the day. I also have a healthy breakfast.
Mornings are my favorite time of day. I wake up a little early and relax with a cup of coffee and spend some time playing with my cat. I will get organic stevia and use it in my coffee and baking. I’ve been using stevia for awhile but I’m happy for an organic version.
Great tips! I’m definitely not a morning person at all. But I do need to incorporate some stretching when I do wake up!
You have really great morning habits! I’m a night person but I have made an effort to wake up 30 minutes early too so I can have a little bit time for myself.
I don’t mind mornings at all and get up at 5:15 just about every day. I do like to take 15 minutes to myself for coffee before getting the day started.
I shared on Twitter
https://mobile.twitter.com/sally06301/status/923063864845094912
I use stevie in the raw mainly in your coffee and my mornings aren’t alive till after an have my second cup of coffee and to make my mornings easier I get everything set up the night before.
Great post! I have been trying to get in a better morning routine, this is just what I needed to inspire me 🙂
I take my mornings back by getting ready the night before.
I am totally not a morning person! Teaching my kids to turn the coffee maker on has totally helped though lol!
tweet – https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/922945002396938241
I wake up first thing in the morning and go to the gym to work out. It makes me feel better for the entire day!
Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/922933990679556096
I make sure to have a proper breakfast in the mornings and give myself enough time to do so.
I take my mornings back by prepping anything I can at night, we even bought a new coffee maker that allows us to schedule the auto brew so it’s ready when we get downstairs!
I wake up before my son so I can have some quiet time to watch the news and eat breakfast.
I do so much better when my mornings go well and waking up a little early helps a lot. Adding some stretches to the routine would be great.
my tweet – https://twitter.com/myway070/status/922897977764585472
I like to wake up shower and enjoy a cup of tea on the front porch each morning.
tweet – https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/922889030710132737
I wake up earlier and spend some time doing yoga and enjoy a cup of coffee.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
link to tweet
https://twitter.com/avrilsgranny/status/922850840184000512
I like to spend my mornings with a cup a tea and then sit and pray.
I’ve started to really embrace waking up an hour before everyone. Gives me a great time to get things done for me!
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/922812587024232448
I wake up before everyone else to enjoy my yogurt and check my emails.
Great post. My mornings have been off lately too. I know getting up at a regular time really works.. just need to get back to that.
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/922806182271598592
I love this Stevia in the Raw Sugar. It tastes so good on my cereal. I take my mornings back by eating a healthy breakfast and taking a walk with the dog. I have to be a morning person, I take care of my elderly Father and make him a healthy breakfast with me!
On days I don’t work I like to wake up before my husband to drink my coffee in quite with the dog
my tweet – https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/922793686789799938
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
I would use it in my coffee; I get up a bit earlier than the others in my house to get so quiet time with my coffee before the house wakes up.
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
our routine sounds very similar in the morning! waking up early + some stretches definitely helps.
I really need to get a morning routine down and I’ve been struggling since the girls went back to school. I use to get up early and get my workout in, quiet time with my coffee, and sometimes bake something. Lately I just can’t burn the candle at both ends staying up late, getting 3-5 hours of sleep, and I struggle so it’s a rush to get the girls to school, go to barre, home and shower and it’s already lunch and I rush to get a little work in before getting the girls picked up and their activities. Every morning is a coffee morning and if I sweeten it or make something else I always use stevia. Thanks for the tips.
Since becoming single, I’ve found myself naturally waking up 15-20 minutes earlier than I used to, which leads me to either get a few things done around the apartment in the morning, and/or get to work early, which means I’m more productive! It’s been a good habit for sure 🙂 Next step is to start doing some morning stretches to really get the blood flowing 🙂
I love this. So timely for me. I love my morning routine, but Summer and life got hectic and I need to get back to it.
My tweet! https://twitter.com/krisgan07/status/922642430280830977
I really need to add in some morning stretches. Yoga always sounds intimidating first thing in the morning, but stretching sounds more relaxing and zen 🙂 I used to have a no added sugars (of any kind) before noon rule, which really helped with cravings and total intake. I need to get back on that and stevia is a must to help with early morning sweet cravings!
Making sure I get up at least 10 minutes earlier to be able to sit down with a cup of coffee helps center me before a busy day 🙂 Love these tips!
I take my mornings back by getting up before my daughter wakes up so that I can take a few minutes to drink some coffee and get myself mentally ready for the day!
Getting up early is a tough one, but yes, such a great thing. I’m always so happy when I make it happen!
tweeted-https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/922581876908290048
thank you for the giveaway!
I like to wake up earlier and enjoy a cup of coffee on my porch
Love these ideas! I always start my day with a healthy breakfast and a good stretch! I like the idea of adding in some journaling 🙂
https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/922565280902950912
I would use it in my coffee.
I like to get up extra early and do my yoga, it is really helps me .
Tweet- https://twitter.com/mitadav/status/922546907498639360
I like to get up extra early before everyone else, it is a guilty pleasure. I’ve been doing balance exercises, it feels good to make progress. I would love to put Organic Stevia in the Raw in my breakfast “cereal,” which lately I’ve been into grinding whole almonds and having it with a little milk and stevia. It’s good!
I have always written my prayers in a journal. Not only does it help me focus, but now I have volumes of answered prayers to look back on when I feel discouraged. I love that I get to leave a testimony of God’s faithfulness to my kids too!
I’ve been trying to wake up earlier (I wake up early as it is) and it’s starting to get easier now that my kids are somewhat sleeping through the night. (I just have to remember to go to bed earlier.) 🙂
And I tweeted. 😉 https://twitter.com/jaimemckee/status/922522849188941824
I find that waking up just 10 minutes earlier makes my morning so much better and stress-free!
I LOVE Stevia in the Raw 🙂
Love all of these tips! I am a HUGE morning person, and I find a routine really helps me stay on track and sets the pace for the day!
Counting your blessings is such a sure fire way to really reset my whole perspective for the day; I love getting up and thinking about God’s incredible mercies. And I love a good walk out in the fresh air too!
yes starting my day off with a good breakfast and a good cup of coffee sets me up for a better start to the day
My absolute no compromise morning habit is to start with a tall glass of water to hydrate from the inside out. I do this before I do anything else. Then it’s a quick yoga flow and some core work to get my body ready for the day.
I have always been a morning person but I have recently tried to take a few moments for meditation and/or stretching in the morning. I find that it really helps me to start the day on a positive note.
Love this post! Stevia in the Raw is so tasty.
To take my mornings back if I’m feeling unproductive or lazy, I’ll make a delicious breakfast to look forward to. If I need even more prep, I’ll throw some good music on and dance around the apartment to wake myself up and get me excited for my morning.
I never used to be a morning person either until I had a job that forced me to do so. Since then, I have been enjoying the mornings. You really can do so much more getting up early. I feel like I definitely have more of the day.