According to experts
Tara Moore/Getty Images Having a stress-free morning often starts the night before. Tara Moore/Getty Images
You might rely on a morning routine you've had for years, or you might start each day differently. But whether you're an early bird or a night owl, how you spend your mornings can affect both your day and your overall mental health.
The first step to creating a morning routine that supports mental health is to cut out habits that increase stress levels.
Insider spoke to Dr. Roxanne Prichard, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, Dr. Tom Rifai, an assistant professor of medicine at Wayne State University in Michigan, and Dr. Cynthia Geyer, the medical director at Canyon Ranch Lenox in Massachusetts, to identify seven morning habits that might be stressing you out:
- Not preparing the night before
- Not getting enough sleep
- Checking social media and the news right away
- Drinking coffee right away
- Skipping breakfast - or eating an unhealthy one
- Not discussing morning routines with your family or roommates
- Not bringing moments of joy into the morning
