While we cannot plan for the unexpected moments in our day, we can prep our attitudes and get in the right headspace to tackle whatever the day throws at us.
Some of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time have a morning routine that they use to prepare for the day ahead.
Here are six things you need to do from the time you wake up in bed until you step into the office.
The first 15 minutes after you open your eyes are yours.
Take the time to mentally prepare and set the tone for the day. Say prayers, meditate, do breathing techniques, but don’t start your day until you center yourself with peace.
Deepak Chopra once said, “The highest levels of performance come to people who are centered, intuitive, creative, and reflective – people who know to see a problem as an opportunity.” So find your center, your happy place and transition from the comfort of your bed to the world from that space.
Pace and time your morning accordingly.
Nothing puts a cramp in your day or gets you in a bitter mood like a chaotic morning. Make sure you move thoughtfully through your routine with a pace that allows you to be comfortable and efficient. For many adults, mornings are filled with busy children, preparing breakfast, seeing after pets and tending to household duties.
Allocate enough time to tend to all of your responsibilities so that you can continue to operate from that happy space and crank out your morning duties without running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
Get your daily dose of news in the morning.
Don’t wait to get into the office before you digest the news. If you consider yourself a leader, you need to know what’s going on in the world. Doing it at the office – unless you work in media – is a waste of precious time.
Read the best in local, national and world news before you step out of the door. According to Business Insider, “Howard Schultz has kept his morning reading routine intact for 25 years. In 2006, the Starbucks CEO told CNNMoney that he gets up between 5 and 5:30 a.m., makes coffee, and then picks up three newspapers: the Seattle Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. The habit must work, because he’s stuck with it for more than two decades.”
Get in your 30 minutes of exercise.
Exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins trigger positive feelings in the body. Keep that positive energy going and get in sweat time before you hit work mode.
Getting it out of the way also gives you one less reason to talk yourself out of going to the gym if you wind up having a long, tiring day. As we’ve reported in the past, “You want to do your workout first-thing, if you can. Some studies show the metabolic benefit is three times greater if you start your day by starting your heart.”
Not a big fan of the gym in the AM? Try sex. While you’re partner may be … um … up for it, studies show there are numerous benefits to an early morning roll in the hay, including improving blood circulation and reducing blood pressure.
Dress to feel good.
When we look good, we feel good. Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and beautiful. When you have to adjust your skirt or blouse every time you walk or sit, it can be distracting and make you feel unattractive.
Make sure your clothes fit properly and that your outfit gives you a little oomph of confidence.
Power Up.
Give yourself a daily dose of inspiration. Listen to one of your favorite speakers, an inspiring playlist or a daily devotional on your ride to the office.
Your car ride is your last chance to gear up for the day before you walk into your waiting workload. Spend that time wisely by feeding yourself emotional and psychological nourishment.
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