5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Mornings
According to O2E Brands CEO and Founder - Brian Scudamore, “Being a morning person doesn’t mean you have to be disgustingly cheerful from the moment you pop out from under the covers. It simply means that you start your day on purpose, as opposed to only waking up because you have to be somewhere”.
To make the most out of your mornings it’s best to start out early. Many top executives including those at Twitter and Disney start their days at 6 a.m. or earlier. Here are 5 simple hacks to make sure you start your day off with purpose whilst boosting your mood and increasing your productivity.
1. Get a good night’s sleep and plan for the next day.
Starting your morning off right begins the night before and a good night’s sleep is essential to how you mentally handle the following day. Resting well not only gives you more energy, productivity and clarity, but also can reduce your level of stress.
Make sure to unwind before bed and set aside time for relaxation and positive reflection before you settle to sleep. Scudamore recommends writing a list of 10 things we’re grateful for before bed to help remind us of our progress, end the day well and start the following day on the right foot.
Plan for the following day to avoid unnecessary stress in the mornings. Leave your clothes folded and ready for wear next to your bed, pack your bag and arrange what your going to have for breakfast.
We should get into the habit of turning off electronics 90 mins before bed as the blue light on our devices can disrupt sleep patterns and stop our brains from ‘switching-off’. If it isn’t essential to your job, put down the phone and read a book instead.
2. Don’t hit the snooze button.
Hitting the snooze button can affect our sleep patterns and leave us feeling more groggy throughout the day. Try an alarm that wakes you with a pleasant sound rather than a jarring noise to avoid waking up stressed and grumpy. If you find it impossible not to reach over and hit snooze, have your alarm on the other side of the room so you have to get up in order to turn it off.
Open your blinds up as soon as you rise to let in the natural light and ignite your mind and body for the day. Turn on some uplifting music rather than disruptive talk back radio and stay offline as long as possible.
3. Plan and prioritise.
Create a plan for your day and prioritise the most important tasks for the morning when you are most alert and switched on. Lists are great for mapping out and prioritising daily tasks. For many, if it isn’t written down, it usually won’t get done.
Alongside your list, write down one goal that you want to achieve whether it’s going to the gym, or cooking a healthy dinner. No matter what else you get done in the day, make sure you complete that one goal. You will feel great once you’ve ticked it off and the small wins mean you will end the day with success.
4. Eat well
We’ve heard it before, but a healthy breakfast really is essential to enhancing our mental and physical health. Confidence and energy throughout the day starts with nurturing our bodies with the right foods.
Being intentional about our first morning meal sets us up for good habits throughout the day and can provide us with essential vitamins and minerals for healthy brain function and alertness.
Avoid sugary foods and instead plan breakfasts filled with protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. These will help to boost productivity, prevent mood swings, energy crashed and help balance your appetite.
Hydration is also very important in the mornings and a warm water with lemon is a great way to kickstart your metabolism and flush your body of toxins.
A caffeine boost in the mornings is essential for many but try switching up your morning coffee for a Shine instead and reap the benefits of brain boosting ginkgo biloba, ginseng, turmeric and green tea.
5. Get moving
According to studies, people who regularly exercise are calmer, happier and better equipped to deal with stress.
Set a positive tone for the day by starting out the morning with some light exercise. Whether going for a walk around the block, yoga or cycling, get moving and boost your mood and productivity for the day ahead.
By waking up early and incorporating these simple tips into your lifestyle, see what you can achieve and how much better you function throughout the day.
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/10-things-you-can-make-the-most-your-morning.html
