Are you hitting the snooze button for an hour every morning? Do you usually end up rushing through or skipping parts of your routine? Do you wish there was an easier way? There is! We have some helpful hints to guide you to a more efficient and successful morning routine.
Tip #1 – Planning Is Your Best Friend
Taking even 10 extra minutes at night to plan your morning can make a huge difference. Think logically and make a checklist of everything that will need to be done. To get the best results, try to estimate about how long each item will take. That way you aren’t trying to squeeze 45 minutes of prep time into a 30 minute time slot without realizing it. Having a checklist to refer back to also prevents you from walking out the door without your big presentation or the gym bag you need after work.
Tip #2 – Be Sure To Adapt For YOU
After you have a general plan for what needs to be done in the morning, customize it for your convenience and preference. If you aren’t a morning person, for example, you should try to accomplish as much as you can the night before. You can set out clothes, make your lunch, and even shower the night before to cut down on time spent in the morning. If you are an earlybird, you might schedule a workout first thing to wake you up and energize you. Your best bet for success is to come up with a plan that is natural to you, because it is easier to maintain.
Tip #3 – Get A Good Night’s Rest
This tip is arguably the most important! We’re learning more and more through science about the amazing health benefits of sleep. It reduces stress, increases your lifespan, and it can help your daily routine too. After all, in order to get the most out of your mornings it helps to be as rested and alert as possible. So once you have your customized plan in hand, calculate how much time you’ll need total and work backwards to find out when you should call it a night. Most health professionals recommend 6 – 8 hours a night, so aim for that as your goal.
A little extra effort can transform your mornings, and your life by extension. Imagine starting the day prepared and rested instead of rushed and panicked. Just think of what you could do with that extra energy!
Try these tips at home and leave us a comment to let us know how it’s helped you.