Do you ever have those days when you go right to work without much time to mentally prepare for the day? Maybe that’s how you start every day. Maybe it only happens every now and then. Personally, days like these really throw me and my work off track.
I’ve always been the kind of person to wake up early to enjoy a good breakfast and some personal time to “charge” for the day. Maybe it’s an introvert or a creative thing or maybe I just really like breakfast. However, this sort of routine always sets me on the right path for a productive day.
Scrambled eggs and a fresh bowl of berries isn’t the only method of starting the day off right. What are some other ways of seizing the day before you head off to work? Let’s talk about that now.
1. READ FIVE PAGES OF A BOOK
The average reading speed amounts to roughly 2 minutes per page. This means it’ll take you 10 minutes to read 5 pages of a book. Reading boosts your creativity and puts you in an ideal place to start writing.
This method of reading intrigues me as a lot of people I’ve talked to tell me they don’t enjoy reading. Reading five pages of a book allows for bite-sized content which makes it a lot easier to absorb any book.
2. DEVELOP A HABIT OF JUMPING OUT OF BED RIGHT AS THE ALARM GOES OFF
I have a really bad habit of scrolling through my phone after hitting snooze multiple times every morning. Not only is this counterproductive, but it’s also detrimental to your mental well-being. Hitting snooze on your alarm sets you up for procrastination throughout the day, as you’re literally procrastinating starting the day. Scrolling through your phone and social media clutters your mind and distracts you from what actually needs focus.
3. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SET YOUR ALARM AN HOUR EARLIER
Whenever you generally set your alarm for, set it an hour earlier. Try it for a day, a week, or make a habit out of it. Having an extra hour in the morning before the workday allows you to get any and all of the suggestions in this post done in the same hour.
4. LISTEN TO AN INSIGHTFUL PODCAST
Podcasts are great for having on in the background while you’re getting ready for the day or doing chores. Start the day with current news, educational, or industry-specific podcasts for thought-provoking ideas for the workday.
5. WRITE 500 WORDS
Do you ever have a crazy dream that has you waking up hoping you remember every detail? Maybe you’re anxious or an overthinker like me and have 5 million thoughts the second the alarm goes off. What if you put that energy into writing 500 words? Write down every single idea that comes to mind until your word count reaches 500 words. Write the first thing(s) that you think about, including a to-do list for the day.
6. GO FOR A WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Imagine you wake up right as the sun is coming up. The morning light is perfect, it’s a cooler temperature, and there isn’t any rush hour traffic just yet. Imagine throwing on some sneakers, a comfy sweater, and some headphones and stepping out your front door for a walk around your neighborhood. You could even curate the perfect “morning walk” playlist. Imagine starting every morning like this and how it could benefit you mentally and physically.
7. GET A WORKOUT IN, EVEN IF IT’S A SIMPLE 15-MINUTE ROUTIN
A lot of people I know aren’t into fitness or physical exertion. It’s understandable: you don’t like to be uncomfortable or sweaty or sore. But what if you dedicated 15 minutes every morning to a simple home workout. You don’t need to go to the gym. You can do yoga, HIIT, or a quick core workout for 15 minutes, or even just go for a walk as we listed above.
8. MOST IMPORTANTLY, GIVE YOURSELF SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY MORNING
Something that changed my life in the last 10 years was finding a reason to be excited to get out of bed every morning. When I was in my early 20s, something as simple as eating a hearty breakfast out on my balcony could make me spring out of bed. Now that I’m almost 30, I find joy in hitting the gym or doing yard work first thing in the morning. Even going for a drive and enjoying the morning sun is exciting and inspiring. Find a “why” for every morning and create less of a monotonous routine during your work week.
Bonus: I really wanted to write “meditate” but as someone who has the attention span of a teaspoon, I left it off the list. If meditating and practicing mindfulness is something you’re capable of, try incorporating this into your morning motivation routine.
Do you think creating an active and inspired morning routine could help your productivity? What does your ideal morning look like?
