Mornings can be tough. Maximizing those final minutes in bed each day is tempting for anyone. However, your morning habits can have life-changing effects both personally and professionally.
Starting the day off right comes with science-backed benefits, as reported by CNBC Make It. Whether you’re working from home or have daily commutes into the office, a consistent routine can help lower stress levels, increase energy, and improve your work productivity.
If you’re looking for mood-boosting ways to start your day, consider adding one or more of these healthy morning habits to your routine.
1. Avoid hitting snooze; get out of bed instead.
There’s something about repeatedly hitting snooze that makes finally getting out of bed less enjoyable. New York Times bestselling author Mel Robbins even goes as far as to say that snoozing can “ruin your brain” in a YouTube video. Robbins shares how the snooze button kills productivity by putting your brain in a sleep inertia state. The all-too-familiar groggy feeling can directly impact your productivity, alertness, and processing skills for the first 4 hours you’re awake.
Besides that, it’s your first task of the day beyond waking up. Instead of begrudgingly parting with your bed daily, greet your mornings with some zest.
2. Consider a slow start to your morning.
Slow mornings are as blissful as they sound and not as challenging to implement as one might think. The benefits of prioritizing yourself for the first 1-2 hours of the day, before the world’s demands begin, have unimaginable ripple effects on the rest of your life. Making space to slow your morning routine down is easier said than done, depending on your life and lifestyle. However, improving your morning habits starts with small acts of self-care that build into daily practice.
Simple ways to incorporate slowness into your morning habits include setting the vibe with your favorite playlist while enjoying your favorite coffee or tea. Morning yoga is always great for invigorating your brain, and consistently meditating can help set intentions for a positive, productive day.
3. Prioritize a healthy, balanced breakfast.
Concentration is key to productivity, and studies show that eating breakfast directly correlates with it. A balanced breakfast in the morning is like fuel for your body, so skipping breakfast is akin to starting a road trip with the tank on E. Making a full breakfast works for those who have time, but quick grab-n-go items such as probiotic drinks that are a delicious option for a readymade breakfast.
Similarly, snack cravings throughout the day can throw off your focus, diverting your attention from pressing assignments. If you’re prone to skipping breakfast or gazing at the vending machine snacks, plan with healthy snacks such as fruit, nuts, or low-fat fiber-based yogurt.
4. Avoid checking your phone.
While phones are designed to simplify life, they can be a major productivity killer in the morning. A well-meaning 5-minute scroll session can evolve into time lost following the latest viral TikTok story or anxiety from emails about a work project. Whether it’s social media or email notifications, the temptation to spend precious morning minutes scrolling through your phone is real.
Try to limit any morning screen time to absolute musts. Look at it as a less intense form of meditation and a more intentional way of focusing on the present. After all, you’ll likely spend the rest of your day fielding co-worker and client requests. Give yourself the productivity hack of morning ease… the world can wait.
5. Give yourself a ‘quick win’ by completing an important task early.
Maybe you’ve been meaning to finally book your annual vacation or schedule an important doctor’s appointment. Whatever the outstanding task, the number of to-do’s for many is a never-ending list that begs for attention in the back of your mind.
One way to feel productive early in the day is by tackling one or more of these ‘quick win’ tasks. Think of quick-win tasks as those responsibilities we put off for six months that only take fifteen minutes once we finally get around to them. Ideally, you’ll build the habit of no longer procrastinating while giving more meaning to your mornings.
6. Create a daily list of your top three tasks.
The feeling of being overwhelmed significantly impacts productivity, which is why a daily top-three list is such a game-changer. Your work commitments likely exceed three daily tasks, but you can’t do everything at once. Starting your work day with a priority list of the most important things that need your attention can increase focus and reduce the feeling of overwhelm. Plus, when inevitable distractions arise, you’ll already have a plan of action for your workday.
You don’t have to be a morning person to adopt better morning habits. Finding an ideal morning routine is about identifying what feels good and what doesn’t. Building a healthy morning pace is a marathon, not a sprint. So make sure you give yourself grace along the way.
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