Find Your Inner Peace First Thing in the Morning With These AM Hacks

By Stephen Rubino

We've all been guilty of a few bad nighttime habits, like doom scrolling right before the lights go out. But did you know that bad habits in the morning can impact your sleep as well? Not only that, but sloppy morning habits can cascade and throw off your day before it even starts.

Luckily, a few changes to your morning routine can help you de-stress, energize, and get you feeling productive without taking too long to get ready. With a little bit of science, a dash of self-care, and maybe a delicious breakfast of Wendy's New Homestyle French Toast Sticks*, you can have your best morning ever. Check out these tips to hone your AM routine.

Prep the Night Before

OK, so it might be a lot to get everything ready the night before. But some basic tidying will let you wake up to a not-messy space, which is crucial for starting your day on the right foot. Make sure you've got water to hydrate, and set out anything else you might need early: clothes, to-do lists, reminders, and fully charged electronics. The less scrambling you'll need to do before heading out the door, the more time you'll have to de-stress and gather your thoughts.

Don't Skip Breakfast

Remember "it's the most important meal of the day"? Well, that old saying wasn't wrong. If you're not normally a breakfast person, start with something cozy, like Wendy's New Homestyle French Toast Sticks. They're portable, and perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, so it's easier than ever to get into a good routine. What's the point of eating breakfast if you're not going to enjoy it?

Create a Plan For Your Day

A to-do list can seem daunting at first, especially if you're a worrier. But organizing your thoughts by putting them down on paper can help your day go from anxious to manageable in just a few minutes. Once you're ready, check the day's calendar to get a basic idea of your schedule and start going over what's most important. As an added benefit, you get to cross "make to-do list" off as your first item, so you're already being productive.

Make Your Bed

It's cliche advice, but making your bed can boost your day. Think of it as an investment in your future mood: when you come home after a long day, what kind of space would you like to return to? And after a long morning of getting ready and waking up, making the bed and tidying up your room will feel like the first step in a long day of killing it.

Get Moving Early

It's no surprise that exercising in the morning can have all kinds of benefits. Studies have shown that working out early can lead to better focus, alertness, and mood while positively affecting physiological systems like glucose levels and blood pressure. Even just starting off with focused stretching or a walk can go a long way. One more tip: get some sunlight. Vitamin D from sunlight fights fatigue, and those UV rays can help regulate your melatonin cycles, so getting an outdoor walk can go a long way in helping you wake up. Just don't forget to put on SPF before you head out.

No Electronics in Bed

Checking your phone first thing in the morning will only stress you out. And yes, that means no social media. Studies show that checking messages early on primes your brain for distraction and can put you on edge for the rest of the day. Plus, staring at a screen only a few inches from your face is a recipe for eye strain and headaches. Instead, start your day without distractions, and try to adjust your eyes early by taking a walk. Other options to prevent checking your phone first thing when you get up: get a dedicated alarm clock, or charge your phone in another room.

Create a Routine That Works

You know what your body needs best, whether that's early coffee, meditation, or a morning skin-care routine. Whatever your ideal routine is, sticking to it can train you to wake up and feel energized early. The hard part? Staying consistent. Make sure your morning steps are simple and repeatable (and be honest with yourself: are you going to do a 30-minute yoga practice every day?) Focus on building the routine with the most important steps first: think breakfast, stretching, and eliminating distractions before anything else. Once you have the basics down, repetition becomes key. The more you do it, the better your results will be, and the more intuitive it'll become.



*Available at participating U.S. Wendy's during breakfast hours.