How you start your day matters. Your morning routine actually matters a lot. Start out grumpy, frustrated, or overwhelmed and it carries over into your day. It impacts how you interact with others and what you’re able to accomplish.
On the other hand, if you’re able to start the day off with organized energy and clarity, then that too has an impact on your day – a much more positive one.
So how do you ensure each day starts off right?
Create a routine that supports your success and here are my special tips…
The Perfect Amount of Time
One of the things that starts a day off poorly is rushing around. If you give yourself the barest minimum of time to get out the door, then there’s no time for life’s little surprises.
For example (I’m sure you can relate), what happens when you can’t find your keys? You’re late. You’re frustrated and you start the day off in a state of agitation. (Inevitably, you also get behind the slowest driver on the planet and the bad mood follows you to work and throughout your day…ARGH!)
The solution?
Get up just a little bit earlier. Sure, everyone loves sleep, and that extra five, ten, or twenty minutes of sleep seems important at the time. But your peace of mind is more important. Start waking up five or ten minutes earlier. Try that for a few days and see if you’re able to slow down and relax just a bit more in the morning. If you find that you still need a few more minutes, then get up an additional five or ten minutes earlier.
The gradual system will help you and your body adapt, and you’ll be able to breathe more easily in the morning.
No Work Until You Get to Work
Don’t check your email.
Don’t make phone calls.
Allow your morning to be for you and only for you. Yes, I know you’re probably being pulled in a million directions, however really make an effort to focus on taking care of yourself first.
Focus On Your Health
The morning is the ideal time to take positive steps to care for your health. This can look like whatever you want it to look like.
It can look like a morning run and a bowl of oatmeal.
It can be ten jumping jacks before your shower to get the blood flowing, and a breakfast smoothie in the car on the way to work.
Just a few simple steps each day to take care of your health, set the tone for the rest of the day.
Breathe
If you have time in the morning to meditate for twenty or thirty minutes, it’s worth it. If you don’t have that kind of time and aren’t willing to get up any earlier, then try deep breathing for ten deep breaths before you head out the door to start your day and really focus on your breathing.
None of these steps are major lifestyle changes. They’re small and simple steps, yet they’re incredibly powerful. Just a few extra minutes a day and a shift in your morning routine and mindset can completely change how you feel.
xTheresa
