Mornings set the tone for the rest of your day, so make a morning routine that energizes you and prepares you to succeed
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Did you know that a healthy morning routine can set you up for success?
Most of us only have 25,000 mornings in our adult life, so it’s vital to make the most of this time. Here are what three successful people include in their morning routine to help them have a productive morning:
- Ex- President Obama starts his day with a cardio and weight-training workout at 6:45am and then takes breakfast with his family.
- Steve Jobs started his morning by asking himself the question: “If today was the last day in my life what would I do differently?”
- Jane Austin started her day playing the piano, preparing breakfast, then eating with her family before starting her writing.
- Richard Branson, the Virgin Group CEO, gets up at 5:45 am for some workouts before he takes breakfast.
- Tim Cook, the CEO for Apple, starts his day at 4:30 am by sending emails before he goes to the gym at 5 am.
- Jack Dorsey, the Square CEO, wakes up at 5:30 am to go for a six-mile jog.
Here are a few benefits of a Healthy Morning Routine
What do you do immediately after you get up from your bed? Do you just walk out of the door or do you engage yourself in some few exercises before you take breakfast? A healthy morning routine can make a huge difference between whether your will have a successful day or a monotonous one — whether or not you are famous. A healthy morning routine can reduce your stress levels, make you happy throughout the day, and increase your productivity at the workplace. Additional benefits of a healthy morning routine include:
Improves problem-solving capabilities
Having a morning routine helps you to set your priorities, make plans, and adhere to them. Or to learn when to be flexible and adjust to changing circumstances.
Mornings become stress-free
Having a set plan of what you are going to do once you wake up means there is no guesswork. You know that after going to work out, you’ll head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, then head to work.
Fulfills you emotionally and spiritually
To ensure your morning routine fulfills the whole of you, start by meditating. This puts your body at rest and mind at peace, devoid of negative thoughts. You can also start your morning by reviewing your goals for the day, month, or year – both personally and professionally – so that you’re on track with what you want to achieve in life.
Some steps to build a Healthy Morning Routine
Start your morning routine the night before. You need to get quality sleep — 7-9 hours — so that you can start your morning off right. To get the best sleep:
- Don’t use electronics before you go to bed
- Get a good mattress and pillow
- Minimize distractions (like your phone)
- Avoid eating right before heading to bed
Don’t make it complicated
You don’t need to go jogging, workout at home, and still go to the gym. If you plan to do a lot of things in your morning routine, you may end up doing nothing at all, paralyzed by overwhelm. You can start with one thing, then two, and gradually take on more in time.
Do some testing
Test drive the things you’ve decided to include in your morning routine to make sure they work for you. It is said that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so be patient.
Have a reminder
Write a note and place it somewhere that you will always see it, or try these tools to keep track of your habits.
What to include in your Morning Routine
1. Get up early
Go to bed earlier than usual to help you get up early to do for your morning routine. Getting up earlier can also boost your productivity and make you more creative.
2. Fix your bed
Shame on those who get up and leave the house without making their bed! Making your bed should be your first task of the day, because it provides order in your home, and therefore in your mind, and energizes you physically to tackle the next task and the next.
3. Say something positive
Speaking positive things about what you want your day to be will help you visualize things you want to achieve that day. The more you focus on your affirmations, the more you’ll begin to believe that you will accomplish your goals.
4. Don’t make decisions
The morning is best suited for creative pursuits when your mind is open and free. Making important decisions in the morning drains your brain and can bring stress or negativity to your whole day. Therefore, decision-making tasks should be handled later in the day so that you have a free morning with fewer tasks to accomplish.
5. Drink lemon water
When you wake up, your energy levels are always down. To give them a boost, drink some lemon water to nourish your body with the energy it needs to carry you through the day’s activities. It also helps to improve your digestion and absorption of nutrients in your body.
6. Get some exercise
Studies have also shown that getting exercise in the morning helps to increase blood circulation, makes you stronger, mentally sharper, and releases endorphins. Other studies have also shown that exercise can help to combat depression and anxiety. The good thing about morning exercise is that you do not have to hit the gym hard; you can just take a short walk, go for a 10-minute workout, or have a quick yoga session.
7. No screen time before breakfast
Opening emails or checking Facebook messages can ruin your morning because you will start to think about other peoples’ agendas before addressing your own. Instead of opening your computer first thing, start your morning by meditating, exercising or praying…then setting your intentions for the day.
8. Eat a hearty breakfast
Ever heard the saying “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper?” This is the right time to apply it. What you eat in the morning is what fuels you for the day’s work and can make or break your ongoing performance. So, eat a proper breakfast to avoid getting hungry during the day. Avoid high-sugar and high-carb breakfasts; instead eat smoothies (ideally with at least half vegetables), a low-sugar yogurt parfait, or high-fiber foods like oatmeal and whole grains. Also include healthy fats and lean protein to fuel your body and your brain and give you sustained energy for the day.
9. Take a cold-water bath
Unlike what happens with a warm or hot water shower, a cold-water shower can boost your blood circulation, help your body process unhealthy fat, and stimulate the creation of dopamine in your body.
10. Set your daily goals
Studies have linked having clear goals with a huge increase in confidence and feelings of control. Knowing what you are supposed to accomplish for the day puts you on the right motion and track, but it is important toset goals followed by the action steps you will take to accomplish those goals.
11. Clean your workspace
A tidy work environment removes distractions and can help improve your concentration which, in turn, can help you to be more productive.
12. Don’t multi-task
Multitasking can hurt your productivity, whereas doing one task at a time can improve your productivity. Since the brain is programmed to handle one task at a time, multitasking can reduce your performance tremendously.
>For a deep dive into tips for waking up, visit How to Wake Yourself Up: 19 Quick and Long-Term Ways.
You may also enjoy reading How To Improve Your Time Management Skills by Martha Jameson
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