1:00 AM 25th January 2025
lifestyle
One In Five Brits Stressed: Stress-Busting Morning Habits To Implement In 2025
Amid reports that one in five Brits say they feel stressed every day and with the new year being a time when many may feel the pressure to make changes into their everyday lives, the experts at Electric Tobacconist partnered with wellness coach Lisa Beckwith to reveal the best stress-free morning habits to implement in 2025.
![Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay]()
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Five stress-free morning habits you should implement in 2025
1. Begin your morning the night before
One of the best things you can do to ensure a stress-free morning is to prepare for it the night before. Simple daily rituals like laying out your clothes for the next day, preparing a lunch box or writing up a to-do list can go a long way to ensuring a hassle-free morning routine. Equally as important, though, is getting a good night’s sleep of at least seven hours.
Lisa adds: “A stress-free morning starts the night before - prepare what you need. If you want to read, or journal, set your book or journal out. If you want to exercise, plan what you are going to do and prepare what you need - weights, mat, workout clothes, etc. If you are going out, have your clothes and shoes picked out.”
2. Add creativity and fun to your morning
While doing something creative or fun might not be the first thing that comes to your mind on a Monday morning, it’s an amazing way to set the tone for a lovely day. Studies have proven that creative hobbies, such as drawing, listening to music, or writing can not only reduce, but prevent stress, as well.3 So, set aside some time in the morning to write in a journal, draw, or sing along to a favourite song and start your day on a positive note.
3. Ignore your phone
Early morning screen use can impact mental sharpness and emotional resilience throughout the day, ruining any chances of a stress-free morning. The immediate influx of information is thought to overload your cognitive capacity, reducing your ability to concentrate and make thoughtful decisions. Rather than scrolling through social media, or checking your email right after you’ve woken up - take the time to make yourself a nourishing breakfast or enjoy your coffee in some peace and quiet, instead.
Lisa adds: “Start your morning without your phone, it can be easy to get sucked into scrolling - you might see things that make you stressed either online, or if you check your emails. It's also very easy to lose track of time which can add to the stress. Instead, start your morning with some screen-free time to set yourself up for the day in a way that works for you. Set good boundaries with your phone, use things like focus mode so you don't have access to certain apps first thing in the morning.”
4. Do a quick stretch
Don’t have the time to do a full work out in the morning? That’s absolutely fine - a few minutes of stretching is a great way to get moving in the morning, warm up your muscles and prepare your body for the day. Not only that, but stretching has been shown to enhance focus, relieve stress and improve your mood, so prepare a quick morning stretch routine and enjoy a stress-free day.4
For an added boost, try stretching outside and soaking up some morning sunlight within the first couple of hours of waking up. Exposure to natural light in the morning helps regulate your circadian rhythm, boosting energy levels and focus. Combining this with light movement creates a powerful habit for a healthy and productive start to your day.
5. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself
Begin your journey to stress-free mornings by implementing small changes, rather than putting pressure on yourself to incorporate many healthy morning habits. The latter could actually lead to you feeling more stressed, instead of relaxed. Start by adding small aspects to your morning routine that help you feel relaxed, motivated and ready to start your day with a positive mindset, like journaling, meditating or stretching, and build up from there.
Lisa adds: “Start small, it can be very easy to want to try and implement a million things in the morning, instead choose one thing to add in and build from there when you feel the habit has stuck. Also, know that getting started is the hardest part so don't worry if you miss a day or things don't go to plan, start with the smallest version of the new habit, be flexible and just start again tomorrow if things don't go to plan.”