Thursday, December 10, 2015

By Barbara Pronin It’s a sad truth that having a bad morning often means you’ll have a bad day.  But while we can’t avoid the unpredictability of life, doctors and psychologists agree that that breaking some commonplace morning habits can give us a better chance of starting out the day on the right foot.
If you see yourself in these scenarios, aim for breaking these five bad habits and you may be happier and healthier:

• Hitting the snooze button – When you hit the snooze button, you are a little drowsy when you finally get out of bed because those last10 minutes of snoozing have none of the benefits of deep sleep. Try going to bed a few minutes earlier to give yourself a bit more beneficial sleep time, or keep your alarm clock far enough away that you have to get out of bed to turn it off.
• Checking your email as soon as you wake up – Checking your inbox before you’ve tossed off the covers can send you into panic or worry mode before the day has even begun. Not only can it get your day off to a negative start, but if you respond to an email when you’re still half asleep, you’re more likely to make mistakes or bad decisions.
• Steaming up the shower – A hot shower can be very relaxing – maybe too relaxing when you need to be revving up for the day. A quick, cold shower releases adrenaline to give you energy, but if you’re not up for a cold shower, at least keep it cool, not hot.
• Having a carb-heavy breakfast – It’s easy to grab a bagel or a muffin on your way out the door, but a carb-laden breakfast can leave you bogging down and craving carbs for the rest of the day. Choosing a protein-packed breakfast will keep you fuller longer, and more energetic as well.
• Brushing your teeth after breakfast – Dentists say brushing your teeth after breakfast, especially if you’ve had acidic stuff like coffee or fruit, pushes the sugars to the surface of your teeth and eventually erodes your enamel. Brush before breakfast and drink a glass of water afterward to help your mouth feel clean.

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