Motivational Morning Practices to Boost Your Mood (and Your Productivity)

Let’s face it, despite our best efforts, we don’t always wake in a good mood. If we want to live a productive, fulfilling and happy life then we need to learn a few tricks to give us a jump start to “make it a great day”.

What is this thing we call mood? Essentially the mood can be defined as a state of mind or simply a feeling. The good news is that we can shift a feeling or state of mind in an instant.

So here’s a quick list of my favorite mood boosters to add to your morning ritual:

1. Breathe Deeply! Take three deep breaths, exhaling, consciously releasing any tension and anxiety. If you follow our 12 Baby Steps Foundation Formula Coaching program, you’ll recognize this as Baby Step #2. This simple morning practice has the power to single-handedly change the way you feel each and every day. Really. [Curious about Baby Step #1? It is “Commit to Change”. ]

2. Savor your morning shower or maybe even take a bath, a bubble bath! Instead of rushing through this standard morning process, take a moment to enjoy this cleansing ritual. Add music or that favorite scented bath gel hiding in your cabinet for an extra mood boost.

3. Make a mug of hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate. If you usually have coffee, make tea or cocoa. Add something a little different. How ’bout a dose of cinnamon? Use a mug or teacup that is pretty and feels good in your hands.

4. Grab your journal and write quickly – 5 things I love! I’m a huge fan of Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages ritual, but if you can’t spend that much time, take just a few minutes to express your gratitude and you’ll begin your day with a renewed sense of purpose.

5. Soak up some sun.  Did you know that adequate doses of sunlight are essential for sound mental health? Sunlight increases serotonin levels and serotonin is our brain’s natural anti-depressant. If you can squeeze in 30 minutes outside in the sun you will shift your mood.

6. Take a walk.  I like to call this my Wisdom Walk. In addition to the exercise you’re getting, when you see, hear and smell the beauty all around you can’t help but smile. Whether you are in the city or the countryside, there is always something to see. And if you listen, you might even hear your Inner Wisdom talking to you.

7. Eat some walnuts.  Did you know that walnuts are an exceptional source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a type of fat that’s needed for brain cells and mood-lifting neurotransmitters to function properly? Other foods having omega-3 fatty acids contents include salmon, sardines, tuna, and flaxseeds. I’m not a fan of sardines in the morning, so I grab a handful of walnuts to go or add them to my oatmeal.

8. Turn on the music.  Do you have a favorite uplifting tune — one that makes you want to get up and dance or makes you feel like your floating on air? Play it, play it, and play it again! Dance for a minute if you like. Then set your playlist, or even the radio to “on” and enjoy working to music for the day. Classical music is often cited as a great enhancer of productivity. The “Mozart Effect” as it’s called, is known to stimulate creativity. Look for music you would describe as bright and breezy.

So the next time you find yourself in that gloomy, “I don’t feel like doing anything today” mood, take a deep breath, grab a handle full of walnuts, turn on some music and get going! Use these mood-boosting tips and you will naturally improve your productivity as well.

Share your experience in the comments here, or over on the Wise Well Women Facebook page. And if you have a favorite mood-boosting trick to add to the list — please share it here, too!

Still finding yourself stressed and overwhelmed, read this next: The Big O: Secrets of a Stress Junkie Revealed.

I wish you well,

P.S. There is one more of my favorite mood boosters I almost didn’t add — chocolate! I know, it’s not the best breakfast food, but chocolate contains phenylethylamine considered as a mood booster according to many researchers and it does stimulate the production of serotonin, too. Enjoy!