3 Brain-Healthy Habits To Do First Thing In The Morning, From A Neuroscientist

At any age and during any stage of life, you can enhance your brain health (it's never too late!). This transformation won't happen overnight, but you can certainly get there with daily, intentional practices.

Neuroscientist and author of The Source Tara Swart, M.D., Ph.D., certainly agrees: As she explains on the mindbodygreen podcast, small habits can alter your brain chemistry, and it starts first thing in the morning.

"When I wake up, the first thing I do, in my mind with my eyes still closed, is think, 'I love my silk pillowcase. I love my side-sleeping pillow. I love my mattress. I love my silk duvet. I love all my pets,'" Swart explains. 

Essentially, she says, start the day with gratitude: Remind yourself how much you love little or even larger aspects of your life. You could also write down a list of what you're grateful for (depending on how much energy you have in the early hours of the day). 

Or, you can even add a bit of structure to it if you know that will help you stay committed to the practice. Rather than simply listing off what comes to mind, you may designate specific categories: Write, for example, one thing you love about your home, one thing you love about your personality, one thing you love about your friends or family, one thing you love about your job, one thing you love about your daily routine, and so on. 

After the gratitude practice, Swart moves on to intentional breathing. "I always breathe into any areas of tension in my body," she explains. She does this practice while in bed, but you can certainly do it sitting up as well. 

This method can help trigger full-body mindfulness. Think of it like a morning check-in with your entire physical being—where are you sore? Breathe into those areas. Where do you feel tight or stiff? Breathe again. 

Not only can intentional breathwork help ease mental and physical tension, but the practice can also pave the way for better focus: A 2018 study published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition1 found that breath-focused yoga boosted the attention span in participants.

Finally, to increase your happiness, take a look at your vision board. If you already have one, great! If not, here's our full guide to making vision boards and how to use them.

Whether your goal is to boost focus, increase happiness, or just maintain a healthy mind, these brain exercises are a great place to start. In the morning, practice gratitude, connect with your breath, and glance at your vision board if you have it.