We’ve all heard the stats about the percentage of successful people who get up at 5:00 a.m. every day.
For many of us, however, the beginning of each day starts with several slams on the snooze button. But what could this actually be doing for our productivity? What is the best way to start your day?
Having a morning routine doesn’t mean you must get up at the crack of dawn and exercise for an hour each day. It simply means developing a consistent routine that works for you. Getting into a regular rhythm every day primes your body and your brain to work at their best.
In an age where many of us are working from home, morning routines are even more critical. Sticking to a consistent schedule will help you keep your sanity in check and establish clear boundaries between working and non-working hours.
Here are four tips for developing a morning routine that you will actually be able to stick to. Building something that works for you, instead of following someone else’s schedule, makes it far more likely to be successful
Listen to your body. Our bodies are smarter than we often give them credit for. If you can rarely fall asleep before midnight, there’s no point forcing yourself to get up at 5:00 a.m. every day. Five hours is just not enough sleep for your body. Or… maybe it is! Check-in with the natural cycle of your body and make sure you get the number of hours that you need to feel rested and at your best. As much as possible, slot those hours for when your body naturally wants them.
Plan your morning carefully. Decide what tasks you want to do in advance, ideally the night before. That means you’re not scrambling in the morning and already have a clear idea of what’s on the agenda. Our brains are not set up to make important decisions early on, so try to plan activities that encourage your brain to focus, rather than evaluate.
Give yourself enough time. It’s important to stay hydrated and get moving as early as possible, so leave enough time for that. Even if you’re not a breakfast person, make sure you at least hydrate yourself! If you’re not a workout junkie, try light yoga or even a walk outside to help refresh you at the start of the day. If you need to, begin working later to leave enough time for water and exercise. Remember, it’s all about listening to your body.
Keep your motivation within sight. Think about why you’re working each day. Maybe you have a big career goal you want to achieve. Or perhaps you’re working hard to put food on the table for your family, or saving up so your children can go to college. Everyone has their own reasons for doing the work they do. Write yours down and put it up somewhere visible where you’ll see it at the start of the day. Having a clear motivation within sight will help you focus and get energized for the day.
Let me know what you thought of these tips! How do you structure your morning routine? Has it changed since you began working from home?