Getting the Most out of Your Mornings
Mornings can be hectic. Especially if it takes you a minute to wake up and get going. Not to worry though. There are things you can actively do—even if you are far from a morning person that can make the start of your day as productive as possible. Below we have a list of ideas to either help improve your morning routine or help you start one entirely.
Easy Ways to get the Most Out of Your Mornings
Do some prep. If you are one of those people who loves to sleep in till the very last second, this idea might be the most useful to you. Prepare for your tomorrow today! By prepping in the evening you avoid feeling rushed to get everything you need ready in the morning and that saves you time and stress. Make your to-do list, put your lunch together and choose out your outfit. You won’t believe how smooth this makes your mornings go.
Pick a morning ritual that officially starts your day. Whether it is reading the newspaper, drinking a cup of coffee or a cold glass of water, or perhaps meditation or yoga are more your speed—whatever you choose make sure it is something you can do consistently. From there pick a sequence of things that make sense to you. I.E. brushing your teeth, showering, getting dressed. That first ritual triggers your brain that it is time to “work” and makes the rest of your routine second nature.
Get moving. Our natural inclination in the morning is to sit and wake up, but you might find moving around a more affective choice even though it is a little more difficult to start. Your mind and body needs oxygen to function, when you sit hunched you inhibit your oxygen intake. Take a walk, do some jumping jacks, or simply stand up to get the first few things on your to-do list complete. You’ll be up and going in no time.
Turn hibernation mode off. While tempting to want to be warm and cozy (especially in the winter months) have you ever noticed how sleepy it makes you even in the middle of the day? Instead, try turning the temperature down and see how quickly you wake up and get productive.
Stop worrying about your time and focus more on your energy. Have you noticed that your attention span is better at certain times of the day than others? For instance, maybe you get a more effective workout in the morning or maybe you should be working out at night. Perhaps your creative energy comes alive in the afternoon. Pay attention to your energy levels and when you feel like you get certain tasks accomplished better through out your day. Once you have a feel for how you work best start purposely scheduling those things at those times. Trust us, it works much better than just squeezing things in willy-nilly as they come along.