You wake up, and before your feet hit the ground, your fingers are itching to swipe, scroll, and tap around on the screen of your smartphone. Does this sound familiar? It’s a routine many are guilty of—starting the day diving headfirst into the endless, and emotionally triggering, abyss of a smartphone.
Let’s explore some alternative uses of tech that’ll transform your phone-scrolling ritual into a productive, wellness-boosting experience. After all, it’s not about ditching technology, it’s about recalibrating your relationship to it.
Guided Morning Meditation
Smartwatches like theApple Watch Series 9come equipped with an array of apps designed specifically for meditation and mindfulness. And they’re not just timers with chimes. Many of these apps offer guided sessions, where you’re led by seasoned meditation experts right in your bedroom.
If you’re like me, the best time to meditate is immediately after you wake up, since it helps set the tone of the entire day. So, instead of opening an addictive social platform and diving into a rabbit hole, open one of thebest meditation apps for your Apple Watch. One of the simplest and easiest to use isCalm, which features a 10-minute Daily Practice.
By using the app on your Apple Watch, you may also access Calm’s library of breathing exercises and follow along with morning and evening stretch routines.
Download:Calm foriOS(Free, subscription available)
Bedside Yoga and Stretching
There are many ways toprevent feeling overwhelmed when you wake up, and starting your day with some gentle yoga can be a game-changer. It helps ground you, improve flexibility and, like meditation, puts you in a positive mindset to start your day.
You don’t need a dedicated studio space or an in-person instructor to embrace yoga. In fact, withthe right yoga apps, you can practice yoga anywhere.YouTubeis also a goldmine of yoga content, each channel catering to different levels and styles.
The best part about using YouTube is that the videos provide visual guidance, making it easy to follow along and ensure your poses are on point. Try this: tomorrow morning, instead of picking up your smartphone and doom-scrolling, fire up your smart TV and head to theYoga With Adriene YouTube channel. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you for it.
Living Room Workouts
There are all kinds ofsmart fitness equipment, from smart cardio machines to smart yoga mats, and sidestepping your smartphone to jump into a brisk morning workout can change your life for the better.
For example, thePeloton Bikenot only lets you attend live classes, but you’re able to use the Auto-Resistance functionality to adjust the machine in real-time according to the instructor’s prompts, making sure your workout is dynamic and ever-changing. It also has a rotating screen that lets you switch between cycling and floor workouts.
Other smart home gym equipment worth checking out includeTonal, which uses electromagnetic resistance and offers real-time feedback on your form, andMirror, a full-length mirror that turns into a high-tech fitness studio offering classes in everything from ballet to boxing.
The next time you’re hesitating to leave the warm confines of your bed, remember: a high-tech workout awaits, and it’s steps away in your living room. Just think about how much better you’ll feel starting your day by breaking a sweat induced by physical exertion and not from the mental anxiety caused by social media.
Interactive Journaling
Journaling is one of the best ways to start the day, and it’s far better for your mental health than reading clickbait headlines first thing in the morning. By journaling, it’s easy to start and maintain a self-care diary. Thankfully, there are many apps and online platforms to help you out.
For example,Tell Mollyis a mood and thought journal that is ideal for those who struggle to think of what to write about. The interface is simple and focuses more on helping you quickly log your feelings or mental status without forcing you to write a long entry.
The app has five mood-based emojis to choose how your day went. You can also choose from a set of tags or create new tags to capture how you’re feeling each day. It’s far easier to click a tag like “gym” to note that you exercised and log it directly into a calendar than to write a note like, “I had a good workout today.”
The app also offers thought-provoking prompts, ensuring that even on days when you’re not sure where to start, you’ll find a starting point to jump from.
If you’re the type craving structured, philosophical prompts to kickstart your morning reflections (any fellow philosophers out there?), turning to sources likeDaily Stoicis a game-changer. By signing up for the daily email prompt, you not only enrich your reflection process but also cultivate a daily habit of philosophical reflection and personal growth. This is the latest morning habit I’ve added to my morning routine and I can confirm that it has measurable benefits.
Go for a Walk
Walking is a rewarding, peaceful form of exercise, and you can use apps and websites to make it even more enjoyable first thing in the morning.
For example, try turning your morning stroll into a masterclass with podcasts like Freakonomics Radio. Alternatively, boost your mental well-being by checking out one of the manypodcasts focused on healing trauma. After all, going for a walk first thing in the morning is a much better use of your time than being traumatized by the latest headlines.
Using Technology to Replace Morning Scrolling
Looking to start your day in a way that sets you up for happiness and ease of mind? First things first—stop scrolling! Instead, consider adding meditative moments of morning mindfulness, getting in a workout, organizing your thoughts through journaling, or getting up and going for a walk.
Cultivating well-being in a digital age is not about being a slave to the screen but mastering the myriad ways tech can amplify your health, mood, and introspection. So, tomorrow morning, when the allure of aimless browsing hits you, try pivoting to one of these purposeful digital options.
