Every morning offers a brand new start: a chance to conquer the day and squeeze the most out of it that you can. But to get off on the right foot, it can be helpful to incorporate some positive habits into your routine.
Develop a Purposeful Morning Routine
As humans, we have a finite amount of energy and willpower for the day. If you wander mindlessly through your mornings without a sense of purpose, then you’ll waste a lot of that drive before you encounter your greatest problems and challenges.
By developing a positive morning routine, you can remove some of the unnecessary decision-making from the equation and be prepared for success. We all have different interests and needs, but here are some choices and habits you could integrate into your mornings.
- Wake Up Early
There’s something inherently empowering about waking up early and getting a jump on the day. When nearly everyone is still sleeping or punching the snooze button on their alarm clock, you’re already off and running.
Few strategies will make you feel better about yourself than showing up at the office at 8 or 9 a.m. after already having knocked three or four items off your to-do list. This will free you up to focus on what you really want to get done.
- Read Your Daily Horoscope
A little morning inspiration and clarity can be extremely empowering. Most people have a preferred method of gaining insights, but why not read your daily horoscope?
If nothing else, it’ll help you center your mind on some of the crucial elements in play; elements that go beyond you and your present situation.
When you read your horoscope, don’t treat it as a prediction of what the future holds. Instead, regard it as an explanation of what the day could be if you’re intentional enough to embrace who you are and what you’re meant to be.
- Get Some Exercise
You know you need at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. So why not do a workout first thing in the morning?
“Movement can be a tremendous source of energy, something many of us need when we start our day. But beyond that, morning exercise has been shown to improve focus and mental abilities all day long,” personal trainer Dave Smith writes.
“Not only will you feel awake and have more energy after your workout, but your mind will be ready to take on whatever tasks you have lined up that day.” You can also hire a personal trainer to help you stay accountable and get in great shape. In fact, these days you don’t need to go to the gym to work with a personal trainer! In-home personal training is now provided by companies like Mobile Trainers, allowing you to work with a fitness professional from the comfort of your own home.
- Slow Down Your Grooming Routine
Your morning grooming routine is something you should take great pride in, not rush through so you can get out the door on time. Make a habit of slowing down that ritual.
Whether it consists of shaving, showering, brushing your teeth, moisturizing, or other duties — there’s something nurturing about taking the time to embrace, even savor, these small rituals of self-care. You’ll feel a greater sense of purpose and dignity the rest of the day.
- Avoid Media
Turning on the news, browsing social media, or reading the newspaper in the morning probably isn’t doing you any good. In fact, overexposure to media brings most people down and makes us more susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression.
So make it a point to avoid exposure to media in the morning. You’ll feel happier … and frankly, you’ll find you haven’t missed much.
A Positive Morning Starts the Night Before
Millions of people operate under the assumption they could never become a “morning person” … as if that’s pre-determined on the day you’re born. But the truth of the matter is, anyone can learn to love and embrace a positive and productive morning.
In order to do so, however, you have to be smart about how you manage the preceding evenings. You’ll never have productive mornings if you don’t insist on a nightly routine that allows you to go to bed at a decent hour.
You need at least seven hours of sleep on a nightly basis. So if you aim to get up at 5 a.m. to tackle your morning routine, you need to go to bed at 10 p.m. at the latest (and preferably 9 p.m.). This requires careful planning and determination.
