Have you ever realized that when we wake up late our whole day feels frazzles and frantic! Don’t let this be you. We all wake up with a blank slate every morning, a chance to have an awesome, productive, successful day. A morning routine will help set the path for an awesome day to follow. So let’s figure out how to begin each day in an action-oriented and managed-stress state of mind.
- Manage your energy, not your time. If you take a moment to think about it, you’ll probably realize that you are better at doing certain tasks at certain times. For example, my creative energy is highest in the morning, so that’s when I like to meet with all of you! Use the morning to do what’s important rather than responding to what is “urgent.”
Set your to-do list with your most productive time of day! - Wake up serenely Being jarred out of bed by an alarm clock can raise your pulse from a resting to an alarmed state. Instead, awaken peacefully with an alarm clock that simulates nature or your favorite kind of music…something that will make you smile. I am really enjoying the newer alarm tones our phones have, they are no longer the annoying beeps!
wake up serenely next to or hearing something that makes you smile! - Do one thing for yourself before you look at your phone and start doing things for others. This may be stretching, drinking a cold glass of water, 10 min. of journaling, reading, meditating, etc. Set your mind in a happy, healthy, present state.
Journal is a therapeutic way to set the mind! - Eat Breakfast A healthy meal to your day gets your brain and body focused for what is to come. According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom with better concentration, problem-solving skills, and eye-hand coordination. Also, a healthy breakfast can reduce hunger throughout the day, and help people make better food choices at other meals. Click here for lots of breakfast ideas.
Overnight Yogurt & Oats for a grab and go breakfast! - Move Try stretching, yoga, or walking even if it is for 10-15 min. Morning exercisers are found to be more consistent in this area. Plus, other conflicts don’t get in the way. Exercising increases your productivity. Also, it can increase your mental clarity for four to 10 hours post-exercise. Focus on beginning your day with just 1 healthy thing to provide a long lasting blissful day. Remember, this is your routine so find one that you will look forward to getting out of bed for & then stick to it!
Stretching is a great way to energize and warm your muscles for the day!
On my most stressful and long days, I ensure I wake up enough to read a meditation/devotion. I have been creating a gratitude list each morning and this has made me realize I have so much to be thankful for. This sets my mind to stay focused for the long run. What do you ensure you do each morning to have a happy and productive day?