You wake up in the morning and begrudgingly make your way to the bathroom, stubbing your toe in the process while rubbing your aching back. You rush and ready yourself for the day and are out of the door before your grogginess has fully worn off.
If this typifies your morning, you’re kind of doing it wrong. What you do in the morning sets the tone for your day. Instead of filling this part of your day with required and boring tasks, make more of your morning and improve your day with the addition of these simple steps.
Step 1 – Absorb The Quiet
Particularly if you know you have a busy day, it may be all too tempting to pick up your phone and immediately start checking your emails, replying to your texts or listening to your accrued voicemails. Don’t. When you first transition from sleep to consciousness, take a few moments – even if you can only spare a minute or two, to let your body adjust.
Listen to the silence and absorb the calm. Try to clear your mind of everything and focus only on yourself and the room around you. With this simple start to your day, you’ll most likely find the frenetic energy you face later easier to handle.
Step 2 – Stretch
Aches and pains are common in the morning – and will persist into your day if you don’t give your muscles the attention they require. Start your morning with a simple routine of muscle stretches.
Step 3 – Treat Yourself To Music
Everyone feels better after listening to a favorite song. Replace the sound of silence or the rattle of the garbage truck on the street with something more melodic. Turn on your Pandora or Spotify, or slip your favorite CD into your player if you’re old-school like that, and groove away while you ready yourself for your day.
Step 4 – Greet Yourself With A Smile
There is a reason people say “fake it till you make it.” It’s because, while faking it, you’re engaging in valuable practice. Even if you don’t feel bright and cheery in the morning, make it a point to smile. Give yourself a grin as you fix your hair or adjust your tie. Even though it may seem a simple and silly task, just seeing your smiling face reflecting back at yourself can make a major difference.
Step 5 – Down Some Water
You’d probably be parched if you went eight waking hours without a sip of water. Don’t let the rigor of getting around in the morning leave you neglecting your body’s need to re-hydrate after your eight-hour water fast.
Make it a point to drink at least one full glass of water, and continue sipping throughout the day. This water consumption helps your body flush out toxins and reduces your hunger, making it easier to avoid over-eating.
Step 6 – Set Your Goals
As you finish your morning preparations and prepare to commence your day, allow your mind to venture to your goals. Run through the things you have to do in your head. Create plans mentally, or jot them down on paper if you prefer.
Set actionable goals with clear completion objectives. With these goals in place, you will have a better idea of where to focus your attention and, as you check the tasks off your list, you’ll experience the satisfaction of accomplishing a set objective.
Step 7 – Tidy Before You Leave
Not only is coming home to an untidy house an unwelcome experience, but going through your day with the knowledge that you left your house a mess isn’t terribly pleasant. Before you rush out of the house, take a few moments and pick up the pajamas you have strewn on the floor, wash out your coffee carafe and place your dishes in the dishwasher.
Even though you won’t consciously consider it throughout the day, the knowledge that you have left your abode, however humble, tidy will lighten your mental load and make you feel good about yourself.
