Do you wake up in the morning feeling cheerful and upbeat, ready to face the day? Are you positive, in other words? Or do you dread waking up and hide beneath your covers because you know you’re going to have a bad day? Many of us feel this latter way in the morning, which can mean that the rest of the day takes on a negative tone, affecting our productivity and overall happiness, or potential for happiness.
The good news is, it’s possible to wake up feeling more optimistic. It is feasible even if you have a lot to accomplish and don’t look forward to going to work (or whatever else the day has in store for you). Here are some suggestions for waking up with a better attitude.
Remember Your Dreams
Dreams can make you feel more positive right from the start of the day, assuming they have been good ones, of course. They can leave you with a happy feeling that, if you can remember your dreams, you can take with you to work, doing chores, or anything else you’re planning for the day.
It’s not always easy to remember dreams, but one way that might help is to keep a dream notebook next to your bed so you can write notes when you wake up (this may mean setting your alarm five minutes earlier or not pressing the snooze button, both of which will help you get ready for the day anyway, dreams or not), otherwise you will quickly forget your dreams as the day progresses.
Breathe
As the day progresses and we have more and more work to do (as is often the case), it is easy for anxiety to grow and tension to rise. The more agitated we get, the shallower our breathing becomes, resulting in less oxygen reaching our critical organs. This results in stress, fear, and less concentration, so it’s important to deal with it.
When you first wake up, concentrate on your breathing. Take deep breaths and exhale gently. This will increase your circulation and deliver oxygen to where it is required (including the brain), allowing you to begin your day feeling more energetic, less stressed, and much happier. Continue to do deep breathing exercises throughout the day, and you’ll feel positive much of the time.
What Makes You Happy?
Another thing you can do as soon as you wake up (but before you get out of bed) is considering what makes you happy in life. It is much simpler to generate good, positive feelings when you have optimistic ideas, and thinking of things that make you happy is one way to make this happen. Think of Stephen Troese Jr. and his love of the environment, or another well-known individual who is happy in what they do – it’s clear this makes a difference to their lives and that it works.
Emotions have a tremendous impact on your physical and mental wellbeing, and if you can picture everything that makes you joyful, you will set the tone for the rest of your day. This will also help you feel grateful for the good things in your life. Practicing thankfulness can help you break out from the negative thinking loop that is all too easy to slip into. When you wake up, write down five things you are thankful for (these can be the same things that make you happy), and you will change your whole attitude to a better one.
