8 Things To Do Every Morning To Be Super Productive
As you get your day off to a frantic start by hitting snooze multiple times, skipping breakfast, and racing out the door, do you find the rest of your day following suit in a similarly chaotic vein?
The way you start your day sets the tone for the rest of it, so it’s important to make preparations now.
If you make good choices first thing in the morning, you’ll have a good foundation from which to launch a productive day.
Your daily life is governed by habits, both good and bad, whether or not you are consciously aware of them.
Becoming purposeful in pursuing a healthy habit is an essential step in the process.
The formation of most habits can be attributed to their convenience or proximity to the path of least resistance.
To the extent that you want to develop helpful routines, you may need to make a concerted effort.
This is particularly true of the morning routine in particular. To a large extent, your day’s mood, behavior, and thoughts are shaped by the habits you form first thing in the morning.
8 Things To Do Every Morning To Be Super Productive
#1: Try not to check your phone.
Don’t check your phone, computer, or other electronic devices as soon as you get up. If you do that, you’ll be able to divert your attention more easily.
Worse, it takes time away from you and provides it to others.
Rather, take advantage of the quiet of the morning to do something you enjoy, like reading, meditation, or a stroll with your dog.
Instead of a frantic beginning to the day, you’ll have something more soothing and upbeat to look forward to.
Ignore your phone until after you’ve had breakfast; I know it’s hard, but strive to do so.
Further Reading: How To Stop Social Media Addiction
#2: Get your day planned out.
Need a way to complete every single one of your projects? Also, make sure you have a time set up on your calendar to attend to them.
I’m not going to get it done if it’s not on my calendar,” says successful businessman and author Dave Kerpen. However, if it is on my schedule, it will be completed.
Every 15 minutes of my day is planned out so that I can meet with people, examine materials, write, and complete other tasks.
I have an hour a week set up for “office hours,” although I meet with pretty much everyone who asks.
Plan your breaks and lunchtime as well.
Further Reading: Top 6 Tips for Effective Planning
#3: Think ahead and prepare for the night before.
You should try to get rid of as many things that require decision-making first thing in the morning as possible because our willpower and ability to make decisions are finite.
For this reason, every night before going to sleep, American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault writes down the top three things he hopes to achieve the following day.
This also explains why both Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama had such small closets.
You’ll notice that all of my suits are either gray or blue. The number of options needs to be reduced.
I’d rather not have to choose between meals or outfits. President Obama told Vanity. Fair, “I have too many other decisions to make.”
Fewer choices mean less mental clutter, which translates to more work getting done.
Further Reading: 9 Sleep Habits of Successful People To Become More Productive
#4: Take care of your body by doing something kind for it.
One of the best ways to start the day is with a workout if you can fit it in first thing in the morning.
Initially, I couldn’t decide whether I’d be a morning gym person or an afternoon/evening gym person, but now I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m just not someone who enjoys exercising at any time of day.
The fact that I feel like a healthy, accomplished badass for the rest of the day after a morning workout is enough to keep me going.
#5: Look at your list of things to do.
Take a few moments to review your comprehensive to-do list, select the few items from it that will be top priorities today, and make a rough schedule to get them done.
If you sit down first thing in the morning (after you’ve had your coffee, of course) and make a rough plan of what you want to get done today, your day will go off without a hitch.
Further Reading: How To Write a To-Do List For Maximum Productivity
#6: Start Making Your Bed
I had serious doubts about it at first. In the past, for example, I found a strange pleasure in never making my bed.
But then I read all the research showing the benefits of doing this one small thing first thing in the morning.
It not only magically makes your living quarters more orderly, but it also kickstarts your day by giving you a sense of accomplishment.
Therefore, you’ll be in a better frame of mind to take on additional responsibilities. It took some time, but I finally bought it.
#7: Have a glass of water.
The morning is when our bodies need water the most. There has been no liquid intake for the past eight hours!
Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning to do your body a favor.
It’s a simple way to make sure you’re getting enough fluids throughout the day, and you’ll have a lot more pep in your step when you get out of bed.
#8: Start with Self-Care
Putting time and effort into your appearance helps build self-confidence. When you feel “put together,” it is one less thing to worry about throughout your day.
So, shower, wash your face, brush your teeth, floss, comb your hair, apply lotion/oil, dress to impress, and apply any other hygiene/grooming habits that make you feel good about yourself.
This may involve picking out your clothes the night before (especially if you are short on time in the morning) or ironing your clothes — whatever makes you feel like you are taking care of your health, looking presentable, and feeling confident.
