Your morning routine can affect your entire day.
By Angie Comer
Getting up in the morning can be a challenging feat. The alarm clock goes off, you hit or swipe that snooze button, maybe you even have a backup alarm with a witty name — we’ve all been there at one point or another. In all reality, you’re not doing yourself any favors with that extra 15 or 20-minute nap. It’s time to turn over a new leaf (or pillow) and practice a new mantra — “If you win the morning, you win the day.”
How you start your morning can have a huge impact on the rest of your day. The good news is, you have complete control over this. To “win the morning” is to create a sense of structure, accomplishment, and control. Morning rituals or habits allow you to create a healthy and happy tone for your entire day, focus in on what is important to you, and help you consciously take action towards achieving bigger, broader life goals.
Looking to set your own personal morning routine? Here are a few of my favorite suggestions to try:
1. Skip snooze, wake up one hour early. By adding one hour to your day, you are gaining 365 hours a year. Ultimately, this converts into 15 extra days in a year of productive time and self-betterment.
2. Start where you are — make your bed first. This is easy — pick up where you left off! Something as simple as making your bed can start your day off with an early sense of accomplishment. Plus, an uncluttered bed makes for an uncluttered space, which leads to an uncluttered mind, and an uncluttered mind makes for an uncluttered life.
3. Get moving early. Yoga, stretching or even a five-minute walk, anything to get your blood pumping in the morning can jump start your metabolism, energize you for the day and increase mental clarity. The number one excuse for not working out is the lack of time. Don’t wait for the day to dictate your life; you dictate the day. “You run the day, or it will run you.”
4. Fuel your body. You’ve heard it before, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” It’s time you start believing it! You wouldn’t go for a road trip with your car on empty, so why leave your body on empty? A well-balanced, high-protein, low-carb diet encourages a lean, healthy, energized body ready to conquer the day.
5. Feed your mind. Read something that inspires you. Avoid anything that carries or spews negativity, as these feelings can often linger with you throughout the day. Instead, find something that inspires and encourages you to set a positive, empowering tone to follow.
6. Write down your daily goals. Statistics show that people who write down their goals demonstrate over an 80 percent higher success rate than those who do not. Each morning, take a few moments to jot down your 10 top goals for the day. Focus on the day ahead of you. Starting the day with goal setting will program you to focus on these items and move towards their completion all throughout the day. The most successful people are known to practice this technique.
Start your day off happy, healthy and strong before the distractions of the day take over. Depending on your morning routine, it can help you with anything from getting more focused, to getting into better physical shape. Your habits should create a calming energy within you, ultimately setting yourself up for success.