Old habits die hard, that’s why we do some things without even thinking about how harmful they are – especially in the morning when we don’t have time to spare. Do you drink a cup of coffee every morning or have cereal with milk for breakfast? These may not be the best ways to start your morning.

Bright Side wants to talk about eight things many of us do every morning that are actually harmful to us. After reading this article, you’ll learn how to make your morning and the day that follows better than they ever were before.

1. Not starting the day with a shower

Every day we face a series of questions (both work-related and others) we’re forced to answer throughout the day. According to a doctor from Harvard, a morning shower makes it easier for us to look for solutions because it helps the brain become active and less likely to become distracted by outside factors. A shower allows the brain to generate new and unusual ideas. This is why you should never miss the chance to have a shower when you wake up.

2. Hot showers

© depositphotos
Since hot water has a relaxing effect, taking a hot shower in the morning will make you want to crawl back into bed. Taking cold morning showers has a few advantages. It helps you feel refreshed, it stimulates brain activity and makes your immune system work harder. Cold water, unlike hot water, doesn’t make the skin dry, and according to scientists, people who take a cold showers regularly can lose about 9 lb a year.

3. Checking your phone for a long time

© depositphotos, © depositphotos
Social media is the main reason why so many people log onto their phones first thing in the morning. The way we spend the day depends on how we spend our morning. That being said, stop wasting your time checking in on others’ lives, reading their comments and opinions, and instead, spend this time on yourself! The same goes for checking your business e-mail inbox, as this can make your work day longer. You’re better off turning on your favorite music, spending time with the people you love, or cooking a tasty and healthy breakfast.

4. Wasting time on your outfit

© depositphotos
Have you ever spent hours in the morning asking yourself, “What on earth should I wear?” There is enough chaos in the morning that you don’t have time for, so don’t make the situation worse by looking for clothes. To make your choice simpler, decrease the variety of clothes you have in your closet. Steve Jobs of Apple wore the legendary jeans and black shirt combo, not because he was saving money, but because he knew that his time was precious.

Make a special area in your closet where you put only the clothes you wear to work in. If you have a dress code that makes you wear a black jacket and a white shirt, keep only black jackets and white shirts in this area. Check your wardrobe regularly and get rid of the things that you don’t wear anymore. Keep any clothes that are off-season in a different place as well.

5. Eat cereal

© Brian/flickr, © PublicDomainImages/pixabay
A usual portion of cereal (50 grams) contains about 4 tbsp. of sugar. A lot of sugar in the morning causes an infusion of insulin into the blood, and when the effect wears off, you get tired and become lathargic. Milk, yogurt and fresh fruit when added to cereals are also unhealthy to eat in the morning, so it’s best to stay away from them.

A famous dietitian, Chelsey Amer, recently said that it’s healthier to eat a slice of pizza in the morning than a bowl of cereal. Pizza contains proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, making it a balanced breakfast. However, it’s important to remember not to eat more than one slice.

Aside from pizza, you can eat scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, or a meat that doesn’t contain too much much fat.

6. Brush your teeth after food

© pixabay, © pixabay
After eating food, the enamel on your teeth becomes vulnerable, especially if you ate fruit, citrus, or drank soda thanks to the fact that they contain citric acid and phosphoric acid. What you should do instead, is wash your mouth out with water and remove the leftovers of the food with dental floss. Try to brush your teeth only 30 minutes after eating any food.

7. Drink black coffee

© depositphotos, © depositphotos
Black coffee right after waking up makes your cortisol levels high which leads to anxiety. And if you drink coffee when you’re hungry, you can get gastritis. Research shows that the best time for drinking your first cup of coffee is three or four hours after waking up. However, if you can’t resist drinking coffee in the morning, add a little milk or cream to it. This way you will decrease the harsh effects of the drink on the stomach.

8. Make the bed right away

© depositphotos, © depositphotos
When you make your bed right after you get up, you create a good environment for dust mites, because the moisture that your body left on the sheets during the night doesn’t have a chance to evaporate. Scientists recommend completely moving the blanket from the mattress after you wake up to let the sheets dry.

We know that it’s extremely difficult to give up your bad habits all at once. That’s why it’s better to give them up one at a time. We decided to start with giving up checking our phones first thing in the morning. How about you?