We’re just over a month into the new year and many Londoners are already feeling the slump.
According to a new study commissioned by juice shot brand MOJU, one in five people in London say they have less energy now than they did at the start of the year, despite good intentions to overhaul their mornings.
The poll highlighted how unrealistic expectations are taking their toll, with two thirds (66%) already abandoning New Year resolutions aimed at building a better morning routine.
Rather than sticking to ambitious New Year overhauls, many people in London are finding themselves back on autopilot, struggling to start the day well and searching for a routine that actually works – and for many, mornings are where good intentions unravel first.
A third of Londoners delay getting up on a typical weekday morning, either hitting snooze more than once on their alarm or relying on multiple alarms to wake up.
Many are falling back on familiar quick fixes to feel more energised in the morning. According to the study, caffeine continues to dominate morning routines, with more than half (56%) saying they rely on coffee or tea to feel more awake and ready to take on the rest of the day.
To prevent further disconnect between intentions and actions, it appears that people in London are forgoing total transformations in favour of tiny morning tweaks.
Almost three quarters (69%) of those polled are opting for smaller adjustments, such as making one manageable change (24%), adding a few quick, easy steps (23%) or even simplifying the routine they already have (22%).
This is compared to just 13 percent who believe that making a significant lifestyle change feels most realistic to them when it comes to improving their morning routine.
At the same time, MOJU’s study uncovered a growing openness to more natural ways to feel awake, with many turning to exercise, music and functional products such as juice shots to kickstart their mornings.
Four in ten people in London reveal exercise or stretching helps them feel more energised and a quarter point to music or podcasts as a morning pick-me-up, finds the survey. Meanwhile, almost three quarters (72%) say they find natural ingredients like ginger an appealing way to support morning energy levels.
Commenting on the study, MOJU’s co-founder Rich Goldsmith said: “Big, sudden lifestyle changes are often harder to sustain, which is why so many people quickly fall back into old patterns.
“You don’t have to start over, or aim for a ‘new year, new you’ routine, to feel a difference. In reality, it’s the small, more realistic habits that can help build momentum towards healthier routines that are more likely to last.
“Take MOJU’s ginger shots, for example: a natural, caffeine-free kick to feel more energised – ideal for those moments when you’d usually reach for another coffee or a sugary snack.”
To help inspire people make one small, energising change to their morning routine and find a healthier beat, MOJU last week teamed up with supermarket giant Tesco and DJ Sara Cox to shake up the start of their day by hosting the UK’s first supermarket silent disco.
“Shoppers grabbed a pair of headphones, took a MOJU shot and stepped into a feel-good micro-moment during their supermarket shop,” explained Rich, “proving that sometimes a tiny shift – like a moment of movement, an uplifting track and one powerfully punchy shot – is all it takes to help change your day and form a healthier habit. After all, every little shot helps.”