A rushed, stressful morning is never a goal but is often a reality for many folks.
However, if there is ever a time of day when it’s important to prioritize your inner zen, it’s in the morning. “There’s this thing called cortisol awakening response. Our stress hormone — cortisol — actually spikes in the morning. It goes up by about 70%,” said Elizabeth (Birdie) Shirtcliff, a research professor in the center for translational neuroscience-psychology at the University of Oregon.
“Right off the bat, mornings are tough. And our body looks at every morning as a stressor,” Shirtcliff explained.
