It has become pretty obvious that it is extremely important to put in the effort to establish a productive morning routine. By doing so, you will start to see that your personal and professional life will start to benefit from this greatly. You will notice things like increased energy levels, a greater sense of time, and a better overall mood, all of which help set the tone for a fruitful and successful day.
Your mornings serve as the foundation on which everything else is built. With a powerful morning routine in place, you’ll feel like you will be able to take on the world.
Now for those of you that have no idea where to start with your morning routine, I made it easy by listing some important steps you should include in your morning routine. You can add or take away any of these steps as you like.
Everyone is different. One person’s routine will be different from the next, so don’t be afraid to tweak this to your lifestyle.
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WAKE UP EARLY TO KICK-START YOUR MORNING ROUTINE
Everyone should consider waking up early as the first step in their morning routine. By waking up early you have the opportunity to start your day with purpose, giving yourself enough time to focus on your goals and prioritizing self-care to set a positive tone for the rest of your day.
Use the early hours of quiet time to set intentions, plan for success, and grow as an individual.
I was one of those that would constantly wake up late because I wanted to sleep in. Unfortunately, almost always I soon found myself rushing in the morning and the rest of the day.
What you need to understand about starting your day off in a rushing mode, is that you will be left drained and stressed.
If you didn’t know – stress is a hormone your body produces when it perceives a threat putting you in a fight or flight mode. For example, if you wake up late for work – your mind understands that being late is a “threat” to your job – so then the brain creates the stress hormone cortisol and sends it to the rest of your body like your heart to get it pumping. You will then feel an immense surge of energy and fear that sends you flying out of your bed and rushing to get ready.
We have all felt what is like being late – that sense of urgency your body gets out of nowhere- that is cortisol working in your body to force it into adrenaline mode in order to get to work on time.
Usually, the flight or fight response is amazing when you are in real trouble or when you need to save yourself. It’s your body’s natural response to danger. But, staying in an extended state of stress is extremely detrimental to the body.
Instead, do not automatically start your day with stress, wake up early. We already have enough on our plates to worry about, so let’s be a little easier on ourselves by waking up early.
If you feel like you’re in a constant state of stress, I highly suggest you check out this book.
Related Post: 5 Books To Read In Order To Start Having A Better Life
THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP, DRINK WATER
The next vital part of your morning is to drink water. Our bodies are made mostly of water and when we sleep we are already depriving our bodies of water for a couple of hours. Believe it or not, while you’re sleeping your body goes into recovery mode. In this mode, your body will use water to recover its cells.
Drinking water in the morning helps restart your body from your brain to your digestive system down to your blood vessels.
I usually grab a bottle of water the night before and have it next to me ready to go in the morning. I prefer room temperature water instead of cold water due to the effects it has on my body. To me, it makes more sense to drink room temp than cold water in the morning due to my body already being hot once I wake up.
Cold water tends to constrict blood vessels so I often found myself having headaches. Once I switched to room temperature I was able to quench my thirst quicker and no more headaches.
Tip: You can add a boost of vitamin C to your water for an extra dose of energy.
EAT A HEATLHY BREAKFAST
Eating a healthy and balanced breakfast is essential for starting your day off on the right foot. Consuming foods that are high in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates will provide your body with the fuel it needs to keep you going throughout the day.
Much like a car needing gasoline to keep it running, keeping yourself properly fed and hydrated, especially in the beginning hours of the day, keeps you feeling energized and focused. A nutritious breakfast can also enhance your metabolism and sustain you throughout the long day ahead. A healthy breakfast can come in many forms, from a nutritious smoothie, whole-grain toast with avocado and eggs, to even a bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit and nuts. Make sure you prioritize giving your body the proper nutrients through a healthy breakfast to provide the proper fuel for your mind and body to work properly.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION
Allow your mind and body to re-adjust itself in the morning by focusing on your breathing through mindfulness exercises or meditation. This will help start you off in a relaxed state.
Usually, I have the habit of immediately jumping into the chaotic mess of racing thoughts in my head trying, to think of everything I need to get done. Just like waking up late, I found out by doing this, I was in a toxic mental holding pattern with myself that started to show up in physical symptoms like exhaustion and headaches.
In other words, I found out not taking the time to practice mindfulness or meditation, would have me feeling stressed and extremely overwhelmed minutes after getting out of bed.
I learned from my therapist, practicing mindfulness and meditation, especially in the morning, allows you to get a hold of your thoughts so you’re not mentally fogged up. Take the time to do breathing exercises, clear your mind, and set positive affirmations for the day. You will see this will help reduce stress and enhance mental clarity.
EXERCISE AND/OR STRETCH AS SOON AS YOU GET OUT OF BED
Incorporating some form of exercise or stretching in your morning routine can really set you up for a great day ahead. It could be something as simple as a few stretches or a brisk walk around the block, but having some form of physical activity in your morning routine has numerous benefits that have a good impact on your overall well-being.
Physical activity is known to produce endorphins, which are those feel-good chemicals in your brain that can help you feel more relaxed, focused, and energized. Not only that, but stretching or exercises can also help improve circulation, reduce stress, and increase overall energy levels throughout the day. Take advantage of all these benefits, especially in the morning to keep you going throughout the day. It’s a great way to start the day off on the right foot and set the tone for a positive day ahead.
LIMIT YOUR SCREEN TIME
Starting your day with email or social media updates may cause you to feel automatically overwhelmed right from the start. Believe it or not, this will impact your ability to be productive throughout the day. The constant flow of notifications, emails, and messages can increase your stress levels before you’ve even had a chance to properly wake up.
Instead of immediately checking your phone, take the opportunity to engage in activities that promote relaxation and self-care. It’s really important to prioritize your well-being by following some of the steps mentioned above first to relax and prepare yourself for the day ahead. This will help you physically and psychologically set a positive tone for the rest of your day, allowing you to approach tasks with a clearer mind and decreased stress.
SET YOUR GOALS
The importance of taking the time to evaluate the goals that you set for the day helps keep you on track in order to meet them. This will also help you clarify what you need to prioritize to stay on track and not feel overwhelmed.
Breaking down your tasks into achievable steps will not only make them easier to carry out, but it will also give you the momentum to take on more challenging tasks. This is the biggest reason why it’s important to take the time to identify your goals and prioritize them based on their importance or urgency. You will give yourself a clearer perspective and set realistic expectations, which will ultimately help keep you focused throughout the day. This way you can ensure that you are making the most effective use of your time. Remember, by taking this approach, you are setting yourself up for success and increasing your chances of completing everything you set out to do.
PLAN YOUR DAY
Once you have laid out your goals it’s time to start planning out your day efficiently. Planning is an integral part of the day to take your goals to the next level by putting them into action. Once again this will maximize productivity and drastically decrease your stress.
I usually spend about 30 minutes in the morning planning out my tasks or appointments beforehand. I use a notebook and my digital Kanban planner Click-Up as my daily planner, but you can use any method or other digital tools that make the process easier and more manageable.
Structure your day in a way that you can take account of all the necessary components that will help you stay on schedule and enable you to make the most out of your time. A well-organized daily plan relieves you from the pressure of missing out on important tasks and helps you focus more effectively on each task as it appears. By following these simple steps, you can increase your overall productivity and ensure that each day is meaningful and successful. So, take a step towards productivity and plan out your day effectively.
