We all have the ability to make our mornings more productive and enjoyable— all it takes is a bit of planning! By implementing these simple morning routine hacks, you can be well on your way to reaping the benefits and getting the most out of each day.
Wake up early.
Waking up early is one of the best things you can do for your productivity and overall well-being.
It will help you to achieve more throughout your day by giving you additional time to get things done, while also allowing you to avoid a stressful morning rush.
Studies have shown that people who wake up earlier tend to be more productive than those who sleep in later. In fact, many successful people have been known to wake up before the sun rises! There’s something about starting your day with a productive early rise that sets a positive tone for everything else that follows.
Rehydrate right away.
Sleeping for a minimum of 7 hours is important, but it can also be a long period to go without any water consumption. So drinking a big glass of water is a must for first thing in the morning, especially if you're feeling tired or sluggish upon waking. Your body needs water to function properly, (and to help clear your head for a productive day).
If plain H2O sounds boring, try adding cucumber or lemon slices, chia seeds or mint leaves to make infused waters with additional hydrating and nourishing qualities.
Listen to music, an audiobook, or a podcast while you get ready.
Did you know that listening to music is one of the best ways to boost your productivity? According to research, the right music can reduce stress, increase focus and help you get things done.
If you're not usually an early riser, then having a motivational, upbeat playlist ready to listen to as you wake up and get ready for the day can definitely make this process easier (and is sure to put you in a good mood!)
If music isn't your thing, then try listening instead to an audiobook or podcast about something that interests or inspires you.
Prepare the night before.
Take the hassle out of early mornings by getting things like your lunch and clothing ready the night before.
You don't have to be rushing around in a frenzy at 6:30 AM trying to find matching socks or worrying about what outfit to put together. Have everything ready for your day ahead so that when you wake up, all you need to do is put on your clothes and go!
Preparing your lunch in advance will also save you some much-needed morning time (and headspace). It doesn't have to be elaborate, but having it ready will help you to avoid wasting time trying to decide what you want, while you’re in a rush. Instead, you can focus on your priorities for the day instead.
Pack a healthy lunch, as the nutrition will help you to think clearly throughout the day without having to endure a refined carbohydrate overload or sugar crash affecting your productivity (don't forget to pack a healthy treat like a Raw Rev bar!)
Get enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep is not only essential to your health and well-being, but also for your productivity! Sleep is when your body and mind repair themselves, so if you don't get enough sleep, then you're not getting the rest that you need to power you through the following day.
In fact, chronic lack of sleep has been linked to a variety of health problems including obesity and heart disease, and it can also affect your mental health. Even if you think that eight hours sounds like too much for one night (it's not!), all adults should aim for at least seven hours per night in order to stay healthy and get the most out of each day.
Turn off distractions.
Starting your day by checking social media notifications and emails not only takes your concentration away from more mindful morning activities but can also raise your stress levels (especially if you’re looking through urgent business emails before you’ve even arrived at work!) Instead, turn off all digital distractions for the morning (or put them on airplane mode) so that you can focus on your top priorities first without feeling overwhelmed.
Exercise.
Exercise is one of the most powerful tools for improving your mental sharpness and brain function.
It doesn’t have to be anything intense. You could start by simply doing some gentle stretching such as a chest stretch, shoulder rolls, side bends, and downward dog. You could also take a brisk five-minute walk outside (or more, if you’re able to!). Aside from enjoying some fresh air first thing in the morning, a brisk walk will help you break up your day and get your blood flowing.
This not only helps to improve your mental clarity for the day, but also benefits your overall physical health in the long term.
Meditate for just five minutes.
Meditation is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress and anxiety, improve your mental health and bring clarity for the day ahead, and it doesn't take as much time as you think. With improved focus comes improved productivity and research shows that just five minutes of meditation a day can make a big difference in how you feel throughout the rest of your day. If you want to reap all of these benefits, then try these simple meditation tips:
- Choose a calm and distraction-free room to do your meditation. You can make it cozy by lighting some candles or incense sticks or diffusing a relaxing essential oil.
- Wear comfortable clothes (your PJs will do just fine!) and sit comfortably with both feet on the floor and close your eyes.
- Focus your attention on your breath, then inhale and exhale with long and slow deep breaths.
- Focus your mind on an object. It could simply be your breathing, a candle flame, or repeating a mantra like “I am enough”.
- You can meditate with music, relaxing background noise such as rain or nature sounds, or simply enjoy five minutes of silence.
If you’re not a fan of meditation, then make sure to at least take some quiet time for yourself in the morning to create a positive and calm mindset for the day ahead.
Write down your top three priorities for the day.
It can be easy to feel like we have too much on our plates, but prioritizing helps us to get more done and organize our headspace. When we prioritize our tasks, we are able to avoid feeling overwhelmed and focus on what is most important throughout the day.
Tackle the hardest thing first.
If there's something on your to-do list that overwhelms or intimidates you, then do it first thing in the morning so that by lunchtime, at least one thing on your list has been checked off! Not only will you feel relieved to get the task done, but after accomplishing this so early, you’ll feel empowered to take on easier tasks throughout the day.
Jot down your wins from yesterday.
This exercise will help you to focus on the positive, and it’s a great way to start the day feeling optimistic and happy. To do this, write down three things that went well for you yesterday. This could be anything from “I got some good feedback at work”, “I didn’t eat any junk food yesterday” or even “I woke up on time”.
If you find yourself struggling with this task because there aren't many positives in your life right now (or even if there are), try changing the way you think about what a win means for you: instead of thinking about external achievements—the amount of money earned or number of hours worked—focus on internal victories such as experiencing joy in some unexpected way or overcoming an obstacle.
Make your bed.
Yes, it’s that simple! Making your bed is an easy way to start the day feeling more positive and productive. It’s one of the first things you should do in the morning. It takes less than a minute but leaves you feeling extremely accomplished before the day has even begun!
Eat a healthy breakfast.
Do not underestimate the power of a good breakfast to start your day right! It’s known as the most important meal of the day for a reason.
Your body needs nutrients to function properly, and it's best to eat those nutrients at regular intervals throughout the day. Skipping breakfast can lead to an energy crash mid-morning or afternoon, which can cause you to lose concentration at your desk when you're supposed to be getting things done.
A healthy breakfast gets your metabolism started off right by supplying your body with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein for optimal health. Protein is especially important because it helps to keep you full until lunchtime so that you don't reach for a quick unhealthy snack between meals.
Preparing your breakfast beforehand will help you to optimize your morning routine, and fuel your day for maximum productivity. Try preparing dishes such as overnight oats, homemade pancakes (with the mix ready to use from the fridge for the morning), breakfast burritos, or even just having some granola and a Raw Rev bar ready to add to your morning yogurt or smoothie bowl.
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Your morning routine doesn’t need to be perfectly executed or overly complicated, but it does need to be intentional. By simply making some small adjustments to how you begin your day, you will soon see some improvements in your productivity and overall well-being!
Will you be implementing these top productivity tips? Let us know in the comments section below.
