These common mistakes you make in the morning may be damaging your health

As January continues to drag on, you may have felt the effects of Blue Monday - otherwise known as the "most depressing day of the year". This takes place on the third Monday in January and it is when you may experience a low mood due to dreary weather, unmet new year's resolutions and financial strain.

Starting your week on the wrong foot will only set you up for a sluggish week to follow, so in order to combat this a wellness expert has highlighted changes we can make in the morning that will set us on the right foot and improve our health.

Miracle Leaf Wellness owner Agnieszka Kozlowska has revealed what the most common errors people are making in their morning routine. She shared: "Most people use a harsh alarm because they believe it helps them wake up quickly and feel alert, but this can actually trigger a sudden spike in cortisol and can set the tone for anxiety and heightened stress throughout the day."

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Surrey Live reported that in order to change this, she recommends switching to a more gentle alarm sound or waking up to natural light, if possible. She explains: "If sunlight isn't an option, consider using a sunlight lamp during the dark winter months. This smoother transition from sleep helps avoid a stressful start and allows for a more calm and focused morning."

Other common mistakes Brits make in their morning routines

Looking at your phone straight away

It is very easy to start scrolling through social media first thing in the morning - most of us do it without even thinking. However, this could be doing your body more harm than good.

Agnieszka explained: "Checking your phone immediately after waking up can have several negative impacts on your mental and physical wellbeing. It disrupts the natural sleep-wake cycle, forcing your brain into a state of heightened alertness."

The constant ambush of notifications and social media updates can cause an instant surge of anxiety and stress to your body. She adds: "This habit can also scatter your focus, making it harder to concentrate as the day progresses.

"Going on your phone first thing can elevate your brain's dopamine baseline, which is disruptive as it makes you crave those instant hits throughout the day." She recommends avoiding screens for at least the first hour after waking up. This will allow the brain to focus in a calm and balanced state.

Rushing in the morning

Agnieszka says that rushing in the morning can lead to forgetfulness and will ultimately leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed as the day continues. She said: "The main cause of this rush is usually not getting enough sleep, as many people wake up late to squeeze in extra rest."

She advises that people should be getting between 7.5-8 hours of sleep a night, which allows the body to complete five full 90-minute sleep cycles. If you are able to schedule this amount of sleep then you will not need to rush in the morning.

She also said: "Timing your sleep so that you wake up during light sleep can also help you feel more refreshed and less likely to hit the snooze button."

Drinking coffee over water

Many of us claim to need coffee in the morning to help us wake up and start the day. However, for those dealing with headaches, fatigue or dizziness - most likely due to dehydration - in the morning, drinking coffee may be causing more harm than being the cure.

Agnieszka explained: "While many people reach for coffee first thing, it doesn’t help to rehydrate after a night's sleep. In fact, it can set you up for dehydration later in the day.

"It's important to drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up. This simple step helps replenish your fluids and prevents dehydration, giving you better focus and energy throughout the day."

Skipping breakfast

The final red flag that Agnieszka shares is skipping breakfast. According to the wellness expert, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so skipping it can be a hazard to your health.

She shared: "Without a healthy breakfast your blood sugar levels remain low, leading to fatigue, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating. Skipping this meal can disrupt hormone balance, especially your cortisol, which affects your stress levels and mood as elevated cortisol levels can make you feel more anxious or irritable."

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