Morning Routines You Can Try

Anyone with a busy life knows just how hectic a morning can be. Between waking up and heading out the door to get to work or school there’s a whirlwind of activity in between that often feels like a blur. But if you’re looking for a different approach to the morning, one that could leave you feeling more calm and centered, here are three morning routines you can try.

Morning meditation. Each morning before starting your day, try taking 15-30 minutes to meditate. It can be in the form of guided meditation, silent meditation, mindfulness meditation, or any other practice you’re curious about. Guided meditations can be found online or through apps, often free of cost or at affordable monthly or yearly rates.

Daily affirmations. Daily affirmation can often be little more than an accounting of al the things you’re grateful for, or even just a statement of your goals, be it your goals for the day or your goals over a longer stretch of time.

Reading. Starting every morning by reading for 20-30 minutes can leave you feeling calmer and more focused, especially if you’re accustomed to checking your phone and notifications first thing in the morning. Reading can help put you in an active state, as opposed to a reactive state where you rush to address each new notification as it pops up.

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Learning From Those Who Came Before Us

We all find ourselves short on experience once in a while, be it when we move out on our own for the first time, when buying a house, or even later on in life. Taking the reigns and making the tough decisions is a scary process, but it can certainly be a lot easier when we ask for advice, especially from those who came before us. Here are three questions worth asking to people who have been there, done that, and are happy to share their experience.

What do you wish you would have done at my age? Any age can be a pivotal moment in your life, but no matter your age knowing what someone more experienced would have done at your present moment in life can reveal a wealth of valuable wisdom to guide you through the present day and the future to come.

What decisions would you have changed? Life is about choices, and you’ll make many before your days are done. Some may not have a clear right or wrong, but asking more experienced people about the choices they wish they’d changed could give you valuable insights on the decisions ahead.

What decisions are you happy with? Not every bit of advice has to do with regret or a desire to make a different choice. Sometimes the best decision someone made in their lives are some you may never have thought of making, and it could inspire you to look in directions you may never have dreamed of.

Looking for some inspiring content? Visit our online library at www.vibant.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from all your favorite devices, and sure to inspire.

Preserving Your Brain Power

As we age we tend to experience a certain amount of cognitive decline: We think slower, our memories are less reliable, and while this is a natural part of aging, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do about it. While cognitive decline isn’t entirely avoidable, there are certainly ways to slow down and minimize the effects of the process. Here are three ways to preserve your brain power as you get older.

Exercise regularly. Exercise has a tremendous effect on neurogenesis, the process by which our brains produce new neurons. Aerobic exercise in particular has been shown to have the most drastic effect, and 2-3 hours per week are recommended, but any amount is better than none and a small start can be worked up gradually.

Eat less, or at least eat smarter. Studies have shown that caloric restriction and intermittent fasting also have a positive effect on neurogenesis. While a restriction on eating should never be taken to an extreme, the benefits come into play when it comes to heart health and general fitness as well. At the very least, foods like refined sugars should be limited.

Get more sleep. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone who tells you to get less sleep, and that’s for good reason. In addition to the host of benefits that come with adequate sleep, sleep helps flush away the buildup of brain toxins that contribute to cognitive decline.

Looking for more inspirational content? Visit our online library at www.vibant.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.