As A Neuroscientist, I Quit These 5 Morning Habits As Soon As I Learned What They Did To My Brain
Your mornings offer a unique opportunity to maximize brain function for the rest of the day. What you do (or don’t do) during the first 60–90 minutes after waking will influence your mood and cognitive performance over the following hours. But the painful truth is: most people unknowingly sabotage their brains before 9 am and wonder why they’re unable to concentrate or feel stressed all the time. The following five morning habits are common, and I engaged in them myself in the past. Let’s examine them from a neuroscience perspective and explore better alternatives for each. I quit these 5 morning habits as soon as I learned what they did to my brain: 1. Checking your phone first thing in the morning This habit is extremely common. 84% of the US population checks their phones within the first 10 minutes of waking up: Why it’s problematic: Within the first 30–45 minutes after waking, the Cortisol Awakening Response occurs. It’s a strong increase in your cortisol levels in the morning. A healthy Cortisol Awakening Response prepares you for the …

