I Woke Up Like This

Often, the first thought we have in the morning determines our mood for the remainder of the day. So, waking up feeling positive can have a huge impact on how we approach situations and interact with people, and ultimately, who we become as a person. Stress hormones such as cortisol, however, can negatively affect our ability to be rational, calm and positive.

THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

The biological effects of elevated cortisol levels in the brain, caused in part by digital overstimulation and stress, are plentiful. One of the most common symptoms is the negative impact it has on our immune system. You may have noticed the people who are busy and stressed are often sick– this correlation has been confirmed by doctors who have studied how cortisol affects our immune system by interfering with T-cell production and function (i.e. our immune cells), thus making us more susceptible to invading pathogens. This was outlined in a longitudinal study that compiled over 30 years of research to find correlations between acute stressors, increased cortisol and lowered immune response. 

THE BIOLOGICAL PHENOMENON

Elevated cortisol levels can also cause intense hunger cravings, due to the metabolic changes that arise. Historically, our species has benefited from this biological phenomenon, as stress used to indicate a threat to our survival, therefore cortisol would signal to our bodies that we needed to hunt and store more food in preparation for further stressful times. Today however, our living circumstances don't require such biological responses, so typically, we get stressed at work and our bodies retain additional food stores (i.e. fat).

Possibly the most noteworthy symptom of elevated cortisol is its impact on memory recall. A recent study showed that the ability to store new memories and recall old ones was significantly limited in participants who had higher levels of cortisol in their brain (e.g. students who have trouble recalling information during exams due to stress - a common trend noted by numerous psychologists). 

Since our team at VINAYA works at a fast pace on a multitude of projects simultaneously, we continuously experiment with ways of managing the sometimes stressful environment we work in.  As a team, we’ve synthesised this research and created a morning ritual that not only helps reduce stress, but also sets the body up for more rational thought, increased memory recall and balanced blood sugar levels.   

As an experiment, our team, along with a group of lifestyle advisors, created our daily “VINAYA Morning Ritual”. This is a practice that follows principles of Keystone Habit forming - i.e. a dedication to one target habit - which is proven to have a ripple effect in other aspects of life (eg: exercise, diet and productivity).  This technique is further explained in the bestselling book ‘The Power Of Habit’. Author Charles Duhigg details how Keystone Habits “encourage change by creating structures that help other habits to flourish”.  He outlines research showing that simply by dedicating a small amount of time to exercising, for example, most people also see positive changes in their eating and sleeping habit, as well as improvements in general mood and physical health.