If you ask any successful businessperson or entrepreneur for advice, you'll find that most, if not all, attribute their productivity to a solid morning routine. Setting the tone of your day in the morning can substantially enhance your morale, boost workplace motivation, and help you get more things done if your schedule is similar to the normal work week.
1. Plan and Prepare the Night Before
A successful day begins well before you go to bed. Invest 15 minutes each night to write down your goals and thoughts for the next day to avoid hazy thoughts and unrest. You'll find those notes to be a handy blueprint of the day's emphasis the next morning. Make a list of chores you want to finish before the end of the day, and make sure your goals are quantifiable and achievable.
Put down just 1-3 of the most important things you want to get done on a to-do list. By keeping the list very limited it becomes easier to actually get the most important thing(s) done.
2. Put a Small Note on your Side Table
What you see in the first few minutes after you get up can have a significant impact on your morning and, by extension, your entire day. So, on your bedside table, leave a short note with a reminder.
3. Change your Alarm Clock Tone
If the first sounds you hear when you wake up are blasting horns and alarming alerts, your day is likely to start with worry. Change your phone's harsh alarm sounds with more peaceful tones that gradually become louder. You could find that this helps you start your day in a more serene manner, placing you in a zen mindset.
4. Read Something Positive
It may be difficult to ignore those furious texts awaiting your review (or internet alerts from breaking news outlets eager to lower your morale before you are completely awake), but choose to read something that motivates or inspires you as you pour your morning hot drink. Make time for good content before facing the cold, cruel world, whether it's readings from your favourite author or quotes from a powerhouse in your field.
Exercise
A workout session is the best way to get your energy flowing and your mind concentrated. It's perfectly appropriate to do anything as simple as morning stretches or an unexpected dance session. If your 9-5 or side hustle keeps getting in the way of your physical fitness, consider getting your workout done first thing in the morning and you'll feel great the rest of the day.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet we still seem to ignore it (especially when pursuing new projects). Eating a healthy breakfast is essential to retaining energy and helps improve concentration and performance throughout the day. If you don't have time to cook breakfast, boil and refrigerate eggs and keep your kitchen stocked with fruits and veggies for a quick grab-n-go solution.
