Why I DON'T Check My Phone First Thing In The Morning – Anymore!
This is what my "normal" morning routine used to look like: I'd hear my alarm go off at 6 a.m., roll over, groan and snooze until 6:15 a.m. Then, I'd begrudgingly wake up and scroll through my Facebook feed and Instagram feed in the dark, filling my mind with a stream of comparison, doubt and (let's be honest) judgement...before I'd even left the bed.
But this year, I've decided that enough of that was enough!
Most nights I now leave my phone in my office, away from my bedroom, or shove my phone to the far side of my nightstand where it's not within reach. And y'know what? The quality of my mornings has improved immensely.
Don't believe me? Here's a few ways that my life has changed since going phone-free in the morning!
1. I enter into my workday with a more positive mindset
When I used to indulge myself in a.m. phone scrollfests, I'd pop into my inbox to read emails that came through overnight and immediately feel petrified and overwhelmed by my to-dos. And if I got a negative email or a quick turnaround deadline? Consider my day ruined. Now, I wake up and make myself wait until I'm officially in my office to check emails, and I almost always sit down excited to start the day with a positive mindset. Don't let your phone make you worry about issues that aren't even issues yet!
2. I use my mornings to enrich my workweek
Rather than reaching for my phone as soon as I wake up, I peel myself out of bed, make said bed and pop downstairs to get in a little downtime before the workday officially begins. I'm an early riser and typically like to be at my desk by 7:30 a.m., so that looks like joining my husband for breakfast, enjoying my coffee and partaking in a little yoga before getting down to business – all phone-free! Are you using your mornings to enrich your week? If you aren't, consider ditching your phone for 15 minutes in the morning and see how it affects your overall routine.
3. I'm an overall happier person
It's crazy how seeing a certain Instagram post or Facebook update can put a damper on our day. I remember my Monday scroll sessions on social media resulted in me seeing all of the fun weekend activities that everyone seemed to be having but me – and I'd get in a weird comparison-filled mood. Now, it's awesome not having to look at everyone's highlight reel at the start of the week!
Do you have a bad habit of checking your phone as soon as you wake up in the morning? If so, are you working on ways to break this habit? I'd love to hear about your morning routine in the comments!