Practicing a morning routine can be a great way to start your day off well. It is also great for your physical and mental well-being. With the right steps, creating a productive morning routine greatly improves the rest of your day’s productivity.
Don’t press that snooze button
Steps to take:
- Step 1: Setting an alarm and sticking to waking up at a realistic time every morning is the first step to developing a productive morning routine.
- Step 2: Once you’ve decided on a wake-up time, being consistent is key. It will help you regulate your circadian rhythm, as mentioned in this article on the Sleep Foundation website.
- Step 3: Preparing the night before can help for a smoother morning routine. Things such as taking your clothes out or any items you will have for breakfast.
Add a beneficial activity
Steps to take:
- Step 1: Plan on adding some energizing activities, such as exercise, yoga, or meditation, to your morning routine.
- Step 2: Set a few minutes aside for each activity, for instance, 10 minutes for meditation, 15 minutes for stretching exercises, or listening to a podcast.
- Step 3: Being flexible is key, as you may have different things to do on different days and won’t have time for everything. That’s okay. Go with the flow.
Having an effective planning session
Steps to take:
- Step 1: Take a few minutes to review your day’s plans and schedule them in your diary. Prioritize the important things first and then the secondary things later, and get those over and done with.
- Step 2: Allocate enough time for each task throughout the day, and include time for breaks in between.
- Step 3: Keeping your long-term goals at the forefront can help ensure your efforts don’t go to waste.
- Step 4: Tracking your progress throughout the day can help motivate you. There is a belief that not just creating a ‘to-do’ list but crossing things off your list frees your mind. According to this Medium article, it can help “organize the internal chaos.”
Breakfast of champions
Having breakfast every morning is important to your body as it replenishes the glucose levels in your body and can help to improve both your energy levels as well as keep you alert for the rest of your day. What you eat matters, so plan wisely.
Tips on smart breakfast choices:
- Tip 1: Foods that provide a source of protein are great for our health. Yogurt, soya, chicken, pulses, beans, tempeh, and tofu are a few suggestions.
- Tip 2: Healthy fats and fiber like avocados, fruits, eggs, and mixed seeds can be added to your cereals and on your toast.
- Tip 3: Make your own homemade granola for a healthier option than the store-bought versions; there are tons of recipes online. Additionally, oats, porridge, oat thin, banana bread, breakfast burritos, omelets, and more can be great ways to start the day on a productive path.
- Tip 4: Don’t forget your liquid options too. Many people have the habit of drinking copious amounts of coffee first thing in the morning. Drinking coffee as soon as you wake up hinders your cortisol levels. The suggestion from health experts is to first drink a glass or two of water.
At the end of the day, evaluate, rinse, and repeat!