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Morning habits to prepare you for the day

It can be hard to get out of bed some mornings, but these healthy morning habits, can help motivate you to start your day the right way. 

  • Stretch 
  • Take 5 minutes
  • Open your blinds and window 
  • Stay unplugged
  • Hydrate your body 
  • Make your bed
  • Exercise
  • Eat a healthy breakfast
  • Play some music
  • Make a to-do list

Stretch 

It may seem like the obvious thing to do, but every morning it is important to stretch as soon as you wake up. After being situated in a lying down position for 6+ hours, your body needs to be woken up and re-energised. Stretching out your body will awaken your bones and muscles, whilst getting your blood pumping. There is nothing quite like a nice big stretch in the morning. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Take 5 minutes 

Before you start your day it’s important to take some time to yourself, completely free of any distractions. Sit still and compose yourself, practising mindfulness and getting yourself prepared for the day to come. Your 5 minutes can be done before you get out of bed or whilst your enjoying your morning coffee. This time will allow you the space to collect your thoughts before the hecticness of everyday life begins. 

Open your blinds and windows

Natural light sends a signal to your brain that it is time to wake up and stop producing the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin. Opening your blinds to let in natural light is a great way to naturally make yourself feel more awake and ready for the day. Whilst opening your blinds, open your windows and let the fresh morning air into your room. Allowing fresh air into your room will help remove any stale air that has built up overnight, plus the briskness of the morning breeze will help re energise you. 

Stay unplugged 

It’s incredibly tempting to look through your phone first thing in the morning, however this is a bad habit to get into. Looking through your messages first thing in the morning will leave you with a reactive mindset all day, rather than a proactive mindset. Leave your phone for an hour after you’ve woken up to allow yourself time to check in with yourself. Practice some mindfulness as you go about your morning, making sure to evaluate how you are feeling first thing in the morning, rather than allowing social media to dictate your mood. It’s important to compose and ready yourself for the day before checking any technology.

Hydrate your body

After not drinking any water throughout the night your body needs re-hydrating. Drink a full glass of water first thing in the morning to re-hydrate and help wake your body and mind. For added effect, add a slice of lemon to your water to remove any toxins that may have built up in your digestive tract overnight and kick start your metabolism. 

Make your bed 

Some people see making their bed as a useless task as they will only be getting back into it later that day. That being said, making your bed every morning is a simple task that will give you an immediate sense of accomplishment. This feeling of accomplishment will set the tone of your day and prepare you for taking charge of tasks and seeing them through to completion. 

Exercise 

It’s important to loosen your body from sleep first thing in the morning. The easiest way to do that is to do some light exercise. Whether you go for a brisk walk, do a quick 15 minutes of circuit training or even some mindful yoga, exercising first thing in the morning energises your body and mind, preparing you for the rest of the day. 

Eat a healthy breakfast 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A balanced and healthy breakfast will give you the energy that you need to start your day in a positive way. Your breakfast should include at least 3 food groups. The most effective breakfast should include protein, fruit, and grains as these are the foods that will stimulate your body and brain.

Image by Marco Verch Professional Photographer and Speaker

Play some music 

Playing your favourite music first thing in the morning is a great way to boost your mood. What is more, you can listen to your favourite music whilst exercising to help release endorphins that will keep you feeling refreshed and happy throughout the day. Even if you wake up feeling down, blast your favourite music and you will immediately feel happier and ready to take on the day.

Make a to-do list 

Making a to-do list in the morning will make you aware of what tasks you have to complete that day. This will provide you with a sense of control as you can plan out how your day will unfold. In addition to this, a to-do list will provide you with a sense of accomplishment throughout the day as you check off each task you complete. 

Don’t let laundry affect your morning mood. Head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app to book your dry cleaning slot. Now available in Singapore.


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The benefits of cleaning whilst in self-isolation

Self-isolation is not as easy as it sounds. Currently, it is the safest option for everyone, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be mentally and physically straining. Spending all day working, relaxing, eating and sleeping in one household can be incredibly draining. Believe it or not, cleaning your home could be the most effective way to rid yourself of self-isolation slump.

  • The physical benefits 
  • The mental benefits 
  • The health benefits 
  • The working benefits 
  • How Laundryheap can help

The physical benefits 

It can be hard to establish an exercise routine when you are confined to the space in your home. Regular cleaning is an easy and productive way to stay active without venturing outside. In addition, vigorous cleaning, such as wiping down walls and cleaning the oven, is a great way to rid yourself of any negative energy you may be carrying, due to the energy that is burnt carrying out the task. 

The mental benefits

Although it may not be the most exciting activity to do, cleaning your home comes with an array of mental health benefits. For example, when people experience high levels of anxiety, they tend to gravitate towards repetitive behaviours, such as cleaning. Carrying out the repetitive task of cleaning makes them feel in control and, therefore, decreases their anxiety level. 

It is vital during this precarious time that we all remain as calm as we possibly can. On average, people who have messy homes have higher levels of cortisol, a stress induced hormone. Alternatively, researchers have found that cleaning your home can lead to feelings of accomplishment and subsequent calmness. If you are feeling irritated whilst stuck in self-isolation a quick 15-minute tidy of your surrounding area could help reduce that irritation and make you calmer. 

In addition to keeping your home clean, it is important to keep your linens clean. A study by The National Sleep Foundation found that 75% of people sleep better when their sheets are freshly washed due to feeling more comfortable. A good night’s sleep leaves people feeling well-rested and both physically and mentally ready for the day ahead. Despite being at home throughout the day, it is important whilst self-isolating to remain in a routine, which includes getting a good night’s sleep.

The health benefits  

It’s now more important than ever to clean our homes and eliminate harmful germs and bacteria. Germs can weaken our immune system and make us more susceptible to becoming ill. However, regularly cleaning our homes with disinfectant can kill up to 98% of the daily bacteria we could come into contact with.

As a result of increasing the amount of time we are spending indoors, it is vital to be aware of indoor air pollution. Dust, dirt and poor ventilation are all contributing factors to indoor air pollution and can result in increasing the severity of an individuals allergens. The longer you put off cleaning your home the more polluted the air will become. Fifteen minutes of cleaning a day can sufficiently decrease the air pollution in your home.

The working benefits 

When you are working from home it can be very easy to become distracted and forget about your work. In 2011 a Princeton University study found that clutter can increase the difficulty of focusing on a task. On a subconscious level, clutter is associated with negative emotions, such as confusion, tension, irritability and worry. Decluttering your home can not only make cleaning more efficient, but can also lead to a clearer mind and heightened sense of calm. This can make it easier to focus on your tasks. 

If you ever become mentally blocked whilst your working from home try washing the dishes. A study published in the journal, Mindfulness, found that people who engaged in mindfully washing the dishes- taking in the scent of the washing-up liquid and letting the water soak into their skin- experience a 25% improvement in mental inspiration.

Photo by: peapod labs

How Laundryheap can help

If you are running low on cleaning supplies, our Essentials Pack is available across London and includes cleaning supplies, as well as toilet paper and toothpaste. Additionally, our services are still fully operational in all cities we operate in. Book your delivery slot now