The way you start your morning can set the tone for your entire day. While a chaotic or frustrating AM routine can hinder your afternoon work, having a productive morning starts you off on the right foot and paves the way for a successful and industrious day. According to The Hartford’s Small Biz Ahead, productive entrepreneurs sing the praises of having a morning routine that includes all of the elements below.
Check your E-mails for Anything Urgent, but Move on Quickly
Checking your e-mail first thing in the morning can easily snowball into spending several hours trying to clear out your inbox. While it’s important to catch up on what you missed overnight and ensure that you are tending to any urgent matters, it’s also important to not get sucked into your email and delay your other work. Quickly scan your messages in the morning to catch anything pressing and then move on to other tasks.
Move Your Body
It’s no secret that exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself physically, but it also has massive mental and emotional benefits. Doing your doctor-recommended 30 minutes of cardio in the morning can help boost your productivity later in the day and improve your decision-making, planning, and problem-solving skills.
Eat Whole, Unprocessed Foods
Breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day. Eating whole, unprocessed foods that allow a steady stream of glucose to enter your body is a great way to help keep you focused and on-task. Avoid sugary breakfast cereals and other items that give you a temporary “sugar high” followed by a crash.
Tackle Your Worst Task First
Chances are there is at least one item on your to-do list that you’ve been putting off for a few days. You know the one that fills you with dread every time you think about it and leads to you procrastinating with other tasks? According to successful entrepreneurs, it’s important to get this task taken care of first thing so that you can be clear-headed about the rest of your day and not waste time trying to avoid the inevitable. Letting undesirable tasks build up over time tanks your productivity and leaves you with a pile of overwhelming business to do under greater pressure later down the line.
Take Some “Me” Time
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “you can’t pour from an empty cup,” then this item will be of no surprise to you. Taking a few minutes each morning to do something that brings you joy and recharges you, such as meditation, listening to an audiobook or podcast, journaling, or simply drinking a hot cup of coffee, will help you be more emotionally present throughout the rest of your day. When you take “me time” in the morning, you avoid burnout and can also be a better asset to the rest of your team!
Take Walking Meetings
Check in with your employees in the morning by walking around the office rather than sitting at your desk. This will allow you to remain in touch with your employees while providing the added benefit of getting your blood pumping and increasing your creative output.
While there are some best practices when it comes to how you start your day, creating a morning routine that works for you is deeply personal and can make a huge difference in your overall productivity. Experiment with different combinations to create the schedule that works ideally for you.
