Research tells us that how you start the beginning of your day will set the tone for the rest of your day. They say mornings can either make you or break you depending on what type of person you are. Some people love early mornings while other people love to sleep in. Either way, how you start your day is completely up to you and is directly connected to the way your day will flow.
According to recent studies, 57% of Americans hit the snooze button when their alarms go off. Come on, you’ve probably been before. In other words, over half of the U.S. has a hard time getting up in the morning. This could be because of late nights or simply because you’re “not a morning person.” Either way, learning to make the beginning of your day count has incredible benefits.
Here’s a few ways to improve your morning:
Prep the Night Before
Prepping for your day the night before can ensure that your mornings run smoothly. Whether it’s figuring out what you’re going to eat for breakfast, finding your outfit, or doing your hair, doing these things ahead of time can make a big impact in your morning. Granted this is a tough task at times, it’s worth it. I’ve found this to be one of the hardest things to do in my experience but when I make time to prep my day, I feel so much better when I wake up. Find what works for you. Make a TO-DO list and out yourself ahead of the game.
Beat Procrastination
Procrastination is the enemy. It’s designed to keep you in a place of feeling like you can do things later, instead of now. Unfortunately the more you put things off, the more you’re not going to want to do it. Just do it! Do the toughest tasks first. Do what you don’t want to do. Do what matters most. Put your feeling to the side and practice discipline. No, it’s not easy. Yes, you may fall short sometimes but tackling tough tasks when you don’t necessarily want to will make you feel so accomplished when it’s done. Plus, you’ll have more time and energy to then do the things you actually do enjoy.
Develop a Morning Ritual
Growing up I remember seeing my grandparents wake up early, pray, turn on the news, make coffee, and read newspapers. Everyday I could expect to see Grandma preparing lunch and dinner in the morning. While I didn’t realize what she was doing essentially growing up, I now realize that they had rituals that put them in a position to stay productive. Having been real estate investors and business partners, they helped each other stay on task and ready for each day. They always knew what their day consisted of and the planned and prepared themselves into a ritual that worked for them.
Crafting your mornings can be a task. I have been working on this and I still have my days where things are out of place. When things seem out of wack I find a way to refocus. I find a way to reset the tone of my day. I fail at times but I also try again. After all, the mission is to grow!