The Perfect Start to Your Day
Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, we all start our day at some point. Some of us hop online to check social media, others dive in to email, still others eat breakfast, exercise, or pack lunches for the kids. There’re a million different ways a morning could go, but the most important thing is that it “goes” in a way that serves you.
The MAJORITY of Americans find that many of the following apply on a regular basis:
Feeling rushed, late, or scrambling
Snoozing until the last minute and feeling sluggish most of the morning
Lacking motivation and intention for the day and the slow start didn’t help
Living off coffee to perk up
Skipping breakfast, sometimes lunch and dinner feels like a black hole
Doing just enough to keep your head above water
Wondering why each morning feels like such a production to get out the door
Why do we feel this way? The majority of mornings lack structure, consistency or any type of a routine. While there is not an ideal morning routine that fits everyone, we can learn a lot from the research and inspiration behind starting a morning on the right foot. The key to a solid morning routine is making sure it fits your day.
Here are 5 simple ways to maximize each morning by ending and starting each day with mindfulness and intention!
Lay your clothes out before bed the night before. Whether it is workout clothes, business casual or a full blown suit, making less decisions in the morning is key.
Have breakfast or morning snacks that work with your schedule. If you have a need for speed, thinking ahead about breakfast will make all the difference. You will need portable, effortless and INSTANT! Overnight oats or a smoothie that you can take in the car are good options. Yogurt & fruit can also be convenient and will give you the fuel to start your day on the right foot. If you have more time, plan to make yourself a meal before the day gets away from you.
DO NOT hit the snooze button. Research has proven that snoozing is the absolute worst thing you can do for your mind and body. Hitting the snooze button makes it harder for your body to wake up, encourages late starts and makes it nearly impossible to have a sleep schedule. You’re also giving your body mixed signals by simultaneously knowing you need to get up, not honoring that commitment and then going back to sleep! You will feel more tired, less organized and less motivated throughout your entire day when you snooze. Move your phone out of reach for the night, find a wake up time to which you can commit and get up on that first alarm. Little adjustments such as a new alert sound, having to get up out of bed and even allowing your body to get up at the same time consistently will do wonders for your day.
Identify your “Top 3” priorities. We are all famous for stacking a few too many things on our to do list. Somewhere along the way we were taught that busier is better and the more we can cram into a day is a direct reflection of our success. Be intentional with your energy by choosing the top three tasks you must accomplish and focus your attention there for the day. You will be more efficient, have more energy and be so much less stressed when you easily complete your task list without staying late, being overwhelmed or getting held up by errands that truly don’t need to happen that day.
Set a routine that works for you! I savor my morning time and have to be very intentional to make sure that my day starts on the right foot. My morning routine is fast, simple and makes the rest of my day 100% more productive, enjoyable and successful.
Here is an example of a morning routine to try! It can be completed in 10 minutes or an hour.
The important thing is that your morning routine is something you can commit to daily, works for your schedule and creates the structure needed to start each day feeling perfectly prepared for whatever life decides to throw your way.