If you’re anything like me, then you’ve definitely said the phrase, “I’m not a morning person.” We all cope with those mornings when it seems impossible to get out of bed and go to work. Luckily, there are some easy changes you can make to your routine that will help those early mornings feel less daunting. Here are 10 ways to start your day off right:
Don’t press snooze. Period.
It is easy to snooze your alarm on those winter mornings when it feels like the sunlight will never come, but fight the urge! You’ll be thankful you did when you have a few extra minutes in the morning and don’t feel rushed before work.
Eat a healthy, balanced breakfast
Don’t let yourself become the office grump — start your day off right with a nutritious breakfast. It’ll help you stay focused and alert all day long, and might even make you more pleasant to be around (coffee doesn’t count).
Take time to relax
Have a cup of coffee (or tea) on the porch. Take a bath. Read a chapter of your new favorite book. Do whatever morning activity makes you happy so that your day can start off right Relaxing will prepare your body and mind for the rest of your more difficult tasks later in the day.
Make a to-do list
Creating a to-do list when you wake up in the morning will help you remember every task you need to do during the day, no matter how small. You’ll also be able to track your progress and feel satisfied as you check items off of your list.
Prioritize
One of the best ways to set yourself up for a productive day is by identifying one task on your to-do list that you will complete within the first two hours of work. This is especially important if it’s a big or challenging task, as our brains tend to be fresher and more focused in the morning. Getting this out of the way early on will leave you feeling accomplished and less stressed later in the day.
Get to work early
This approach allows you to get situated and begin working with reduced distractions. Also, departing for your job earlier means less congestion and a quicker commute.
Don’t check your email first thing in the morning
Unless it can’t wait, don’t open that email! It’s a total time-waster to start your day reading messages. Read the essential ones now and come back to the rest later in the day after you’ve completed your priority projects.
Make important calls and send urgent emails ASAP
As soon as you arrive at the office, contact somebody to confirm that they have plenty of time during the workday to answer your questions. In doing so, you’ll avoid feeling anxious at the end of the day when you don’t have access to information that is essential for completing a project.
Check-in with your team
When you take a few minutes each morning to meet with your team, everyone becomes more productive and organized. In just 5-10 minutes, you can get input on projects or share your most important goals for the day.
Give a simple “Good Morning” and Smile
Science has shown that smiling not only benefits your mood but the mood of those around you as well. They call it the ‘facial feedback hypothesis. So put on a smile and brighten up everyone’s day by saying good morning when you see them in the office!
How do you start your week off right?
Ask DailyCandy’s Jordan Blumberg how she starts off her week!
