Diabetic Living Australia – May-June 2019

Implement a

morning makeover

so getting out of

bed will be a little

less rough

YO U R

Do you dread getting out

of bed every morning

because of what lies ahead:

finger pricks, medicine dosing

and other diabetes-care tasks...

Try these relaxing habits to

transform your mornings

from stressful to soothing.

Awake to

soothing sounds

Does your alarm sound like an

air-raid siren? No wonder you

hate mornings. “That type of

alarm will engage your fight-or-

flight adrenaline system,” says

Darria Long Gillespie, author of

Mom Hacks. Translation? Stress.

Instead, replace that annoying

alarm with something more

pleasant, such as nature sounds

or soothing music.

Stretch it out

Doing a stretch first thing can

put your body – and mind – in

a good place. Try a wide-kneed

child’s pose, suggests Jessica

Bellofatto, founder and director

of JBYoga and SUP in New

York. Start by kneeling on the

floor with your knees wide

and big toes together.

Slowly sit back onto

your heels. As you

walk your arms

forward, lower your

torso between your

legs. Extend your

arms as far as you

comfortably can while

keeping your hips back

and down. Stay here as

long as you’d like.

Set a mantra

Whether it’s a phrase of

gratitude or something like

‘I’m excited for what the day

will bring,’ a mantra can help

set a positive mood for your

whole day. “Your brain is

wired to notice the negative first

• it’s an evolutionary holdover
  from when our ancestors had to
  wake up and watch out for bears
  and tigers,” says Long Gillespie.
  Write your mantra on a Post-it
  note and put it somewhere
  you’ll see it first thing,
  like your bathroom
  mirror, fridge door
  or next to your key
  bowl.

Look outside

Bright daylight

resets your body

clock and shuts down

the release of melatonin. Bonus?

“Not only does it make you more

energised in the moment, you’ll

also have an easier time falling

asleep at night,” says Long

Gillespie. While it’s best to step

outside, opening the blinds

works, too, especially when

it’s cold out. ■

morning

Top (^) Tip
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soothin o^
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routine
living well
126 MAY/JUNE 2019 diabetic living
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