You’ve just woken up. The entire day lies before you. You may have a rigid schedule and tight structure that leaves you feeling fulfilled before you walk out the door to attack the day. Or, you may have no morning routine at all. This piece is intended for the latter group, which will be the majority of you. So, please do yourself a favour and read on.
Countless guides, books, and theories have been published on the concept of the ‘perfect morning’. I’m going to make it easy for you: do these things and you will have a good day. This list is simple yet effective because your mornings should be just that, simple yet effective.
Some call it the hour of power, some call it the five minutes of shower. It’s up to you to make your mornings matter. Start by waking up earlier than usual and make time to fit these activities into your morning routine.
Nailing The Morning Routine
Meditation
I’ve spoken about the benefits of meditation before. All the world’s top movers utilise this ancient ritual simply because it works. Adding meditation to your morning routine will calm your anxious mind and give you mental clarity for your day ahead. The Waking Up app with Sam Harris is highly recommended if you’re looking for a good starting.
Exercise
Summer’s coming. Aside from working towards that beach body, you promise yourself every year, exercise of any kind is scientifically proven to boost mood and energy for your day. It doesn’t have to be complicated; run, walk, row, bike, swim. Lift big thing, put big thing down. There are countless guides online for every level of athlete. What’s most important: do something, every day.
Reading/Writing
For you, this may be optional. For me, it’s a necessity. Clearly articulating my thoughts on paper gets the useless muck out of my head and helps me to better understand the world. A good book gives me the education or entertainment I need minus all the flashing pictures. Podcasts on the way to your day-activity of choice are also winners. If you’re not the poetic, feelsy type like me, opt for a daily diary/to-do list so you know exactly what needs to be done for the day ahead.
By the time you sit down to those first pesky emails, you’ll be fully energised and ready to roll. Evenings, in my opinion, are for friends, family, and relaxing. The night is yours. Just don’t do anything you’ll regret when you wake up in the morning to do it all again.
Check out our recommended productivity hacks to ensure you maximise successes when working from home.
By Jay Bowen
