You may replace morning scrolling with a more positive relationship with technology, ranging from thoughtful walks and writing to energising workouts.
Your fingers are aching to swipe, scroll, and tap about on the screen of your smartphone as soon as you wake up, even before your feet touch the floor. Does this sound like you? Many people have a habit of plunging deeply into the never-ending, emotionally charged world of smartphones when they get up.
Let’s look at some different digital applications that can make your daily practice of thumbing through your phone into something useful and wellness-enhancing. Recalibrating your connection with technology is ultimately more important than completely giving up on it.
Guided Morning Meditation
There are numerous apps available on smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch Series 9, that are especially made for mindfulness and meditation. Not only are they timers with chimes, though. Numerous applications provide guided meditation sessions in which you follow seasoned meditation instructors directly in your bedroom.
If you’re anything like me, the best time to meditate is just after you wake up since it helps you establish a positive mindset for the rest of the day. Thus, use one of the top meditation applications for your Apple Watch rather than clicking on a link to an enticing social media site and going down a rabbit hole. Calm is one of the simplest and most user-friendly, with a 10-minute Daily Practice.
You can also access Calm’s library of breathing exercises and follow along with morning and evening stretch routines by using the app on your Apple Watch.
Bedside Yoga and Stretching
There are numerous strategies to avoid waking up feeling overburdened, and doing some easy yoga to start your day can really make a big difference. Similar to meditation, it helps you become more grounded, increases your flexibility, and helps you start the day with a positive outlook.
The nicest thing about YouTube videos is that they offer visual cues, so you can follow along and make sure your positions are correct without difficulty. Try this: turn on your smart TV and navigate to the Yoga With Adriene YouTube channel first thing tomorrow morning, rather of reaching for your smartphone and browsing aimlessly. Your spirit, mind, and body will all appreciate it.
Living Room Workouts
Smart yoga mats and cardio machines are only two examples of the many types of smart fitness equipment available. You can improve your life by putting down your smartphone and working out vigorously first thing in the morning.
With the Peloton Bike, for instance, you may utilise the Auto-Resistance feature to modify the machine in real-time in response to the instructor’s instructions, ensuring that your workout is dynamic and always changing. You can even attend live sessions with this bike. Moreover, it features a revolving screen that allows you to alternate between floor exercises and riding.
Other smart home gym equipment to consider are Mirror, a full-length mirror that transforms into a high-tech workout studio with classes in anything from boxing to ballet, and Tonal, which employs electromagnetic resistance and provides real-time feedback on your form.
The next time you’re reluctant to get out of the cosy comforts of your bed, keep in mind that your living room is just a short stroll away from a cutting-edge workout. Imagine how much better it will feel to start your day with a sweat from physical activity rather than from the mental tension brought on by social media.
Interactive Journaling
One of the finest ways to start the day is to write in your journal. It’s also far better for your mental health than waking up to clickbait headlines. It is simple to get started and keep up a self-care journal by journaling. Fortunately, you have access to a plethora of internet resources and tools.
For people who find it difficult to come up with topics to write about, Tell Molly is a mood and thought notebook that is perfect. The simple UI prioritises your ability to swiftly track your emotions or state of mind without requiring you to write a lengthy entry.
Five mood-based emoticons are available in the app to select how your day went. To record your daily mood, you may create new tags or select from a list of existing ones. Writing a note like, “I had a good workout today,” is far more labor-intensive than clicking a tag like “gym” to record your exercise and logging it straight into a calendar.
Additionally, the app provides thought-provoking ideas so that you always have somewhere to start, even on days when you’re not sure where to begin.
Turning to sources like Daily Stoic is a game-changer if you’re the sort that needs structured, philosophical suggestions to get your daily meditations started (any other philosophers out there?). By subscribing to the daily email prompt, you foster a daily routine of philosophical reflection and personal development, as well as improving your reflection process. This is the most recent morning routine addition I’ve made, and I can attest to its quantifiable advantages.
Go for a Walk
Walking is a calming, satisfying kind of exercise that can be made even more delightful first thing in the morning with the help of applications and websites.
For instance, consider using podcasts like Freakonomics Radio to transform your daily stroll into a masterclass. As an alternative, improve your mental health by listening to one of the many trauma recovery podcasts. Ultimately, taking a morning stroll is a far more beneficial use of your time than allowing yourself to be distressed by the most recent news.
Using Technology to Replace Morning Scrolling
Do you want to begin your day in a way that makes you feel happy and at ease? First things first: put down your scroll! Alternatively, think about incorporating focused moments of meditation in the morning, working out, journaling, or simply waking up and going for a stroll.
In the digital age, fostering well-being doesn’t mean becoming a slave to your screen; rather, it means learning how technology may enhance your mental state, physical state, and ability to reflect. When the temptation of mindless browsing strikes tomorrow morning, try switching to one of these useful digital solutions.
