Rewind back a few years and my morning routine was… well… non existent. I’d wake up to the forceful sound of my alarm, adrenaline pumping, before reluctantly slumping out of bed.

After half-heartedly brushing my teeth and throwing on whatever clean clothes were within close reach, I’d make my way downstairs and make some breakfast before heading off to work, still only half awake at best.

I’d fight hunger throughout the day, cravings galore, have persistent headaches and a general feeling of being ‘under the weather’ that never went away.

I’ve made a lot of changes to my mornings since then but one thing has stood out in terms of the benefits I feel and ease of incorporation into my day.

The trick is drinking a mug of warm water first thing.

If I’d have known the benefits of doing this way back when, I can’t help but feel that my mornings would have been less… traumatic. That sounds dramatic but let me tell you why this change has had such a profound effect.

I want to note early on that it is the consistency with this that has given me the most benefits. It is beyond easy to do seven days a week, especially when the habit is there and ingrained into your morning. But don’t take my word for it; this is a staple in Japanese culture which has some of the healthiest communities on the planet!

Here are the main benefits I’ve experienced from drinking a mug of warm water every morning:

Digestion. This one was a huge one for me. My digestion was sluggish at best but drinking warm water 30 minutes before breakfast starts my digestion up, makes me more regular and way less constipated. It’s an absolute winner.

Clear skin. My skin is normally spotty, especially around my jaw and mouth, but I experience way less spots, even around menstruation, than I did prior to adding this simple trick to my day.

Less hunger. Thirst and dehydration can masquerade as hunger signals. So when I was experiencing major hunger straight after breakfast, regardless of how much I’d eaten, I was actually experiencing thirst. Hydrating with warm water first thing has helped to completely eradicate this which has helped me to manage my weight.

I don’t look as tired. When we’re dehydrated, it can leave dark circles under our eyes, a bloated face and a general unwell look. Hydrating properly first thing can help reduce this and no money need be spent on face creams!

Exercise is easier. Trying to workout when dehydrated is tough. Really tough. Not drinking enough water first thing made me not want to move, probably as my body was trying to protect itself from losing more water through perspiration! Drinking warm water first thing has given me way more get-up-and-go to do things like walking and other forms of exercise that make me feel great.

Increased focus. I have always struggled to focus and this is something that has drastically changed through drinking warm water first thing. This increase in concentration is throughout the day too which is great for doing work and as capable as I should feel.

I sleep better. Because I’m hydrating more early on in the day, I’m less thirsty late on so am drinking less before bed, thus eradicating the mid-night I-need-a-wee wake ups. Or, even worse, the I’m-so-thirsty-I-feel-hungover wake ups. A better night sleep helps regulate energy and insulin levels the next day, no sleeping tablets required!

There are more benefits I feel from doing this but these are the clear stand-outs for me in terms of improving my quality of life. And it’s so easy to incorporate into your day too, I’d highly recommend it.

It’s as simple as drinking one 200ml-500ml cup of warm water (I use boiled which is cooled down with cold water to just above room temperature). It should feel warm but not hot.

Try it for a month and see how you get on!