Thanks Stephen for this excellent e-mail this morning!
1. Exercise. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Most
people that work out daily, work out in the morning. Whether it’s a morning
yoga session or a trip to the gym, exercising before work gives you a boost of
energy for the day and that deserved sense of accomplishment. Anyone can tackle
a pile of paperwork after 200 ab reps! Morning workouts also eliminate the
possibility of flaking out on your cardio after a long day at work. Even if you
aren’t bright eyed and bushy tailed at the thought of a 5 am jog, try waking up
15 minutes early for a quick bedside set of pushups or stretching. It’ll help
wake up your body, and prep you for your day.
2. Map Out Your Day. Maximize your potential by mapping out
your schedule for the day, as well as your goals and to dos. The morning is a
good time for this as it is often one of the only quiet times a person gets
throughout the day. The early hours foster easier reflection that helps when
prioritizing your activities. They also allow for uninterrupted problem solving
when trying to fit everything into your timetable. While scheduling, don’t
forget about your mental health. Plan a 10 minute break after that stressful
meeting for a quick walk around the block or a moment of meditation at your
desk. Trying to eat healthy? Schedule a small window in the evening to pack a
few nutritious snacks to bring to work the next day.
3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. We all know that rush out the
door with a cup of coffee and an empty stomach feeling. You sit down at your
desk, and you’re already wondering how early that taco truck sets up camp
outside your office. No good. Take that extra time in the morning to fuel your
body for the tasks ahead of it. It will help keep you mind on what’s at hand
and not your growling stomach. Not only is breakfast good for your physical
health, it is also a good time to connect socially. Even five minutes of
talking with your kids or spouse while eating a quick bowl of oatmeal can boost
your spirits before heading out the door.
4. Visualization. These days we talk about our physical
health ad nauseam, but sometimes our mental health gets overlooked. The morning
is the perfect time to spend some quiet time inside your mind meditating or
visualizing. Take a moment to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on the
successes you will have. Even just a minute of visualization and positive
thinking can help improve your mood and outlook on your work load for the day.
5. Make Your Day Top Heavy. We all have that one item on
our to do list that we dread. It looms over you all day (or week) until you
finally suck it up and do it after much procrastination. Here’s an easy tip to
save yourself the stress - do that least desirable task on your list first.
Instead of anticipating the unpleasantness of it from first coffee through your
lunch break, get it out of the way. The morning is the time when you are
(generally) more well rested and your energy level is up. Therefore, you are
more well equipped to handle more difficult projects. And look at it this way,
your day will get progressively easier, not the other way around. By
the time your work day is ending, you’re winding down with easier to dos and
heading into your free time more relaxed. Success!
No comments:
Post a Comment