There are two types of people in this world: the morning people and the night owls. If you are the latter, you know how miserable getting up each morning can be. However, there is one truth that morning people agree on: the mindset you create for yourself in the morning sets you up for the rest of your day. In fact, some of the most successful individuals in the world use their mornings to set themselves up for productivity. With that said, here are two things you can adopt every day to develop a morning routine and begin your day productively.
Make Your Bed and Lose the Snooze
It may sound cliché, but one of the best morning routines you can adopt is to make your bed as soon as you get up. And this does not mean lying in bed and hitting the snooze button until you finally find a sliver of motivation, and then finally get up to make your bed. If you want to truly maximize your morning to its fullest extent, try ditching the snooze button altogether. If you don’t follow any other morning routine, at least adopt the practice of waking up with your alarm and making your bed. Not only does making your bed first thing knock out one of your daily tasks, but it also allows you to be productive after you wake up. U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven stated that if you want to change the world, you should start off with making your bed.
“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day.” -McRaven
The theory is if you start your day doing something productive—even something as simple as making your bed—you have already accomplished one task and are more likely to continue making productive decisions throughout the day. It’s like rolling a snowball down a hill. Starting with one simple task can develop a mindset that craves accomplishment, allowing your willingness for productivity to carry on throughout the day.
Get a Head Start on Your Day the Night Before
Another great way to boost your motivation and productivity in the morning is to plan your day the night before. The issue that many individuals have with scheduling their days is that everything can feel overwhelming. All the possibilities of the day can actually impair our motivation. However, if you plan out your day the night before, you can eliminate the stress of decision-making and can wake up knowing what you need to do.
A good way to plan your day is to create a timeline: what activities you want to do and how long you want to spend doing them. American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault dedicates a few minutes each night to writing down three goals he wants to accomplish the next day.
Whichever way you choose to start your day, planning it the night before could boost your motivation— or at the very least, save you the stress of doing it in the morning.
Develop a Morning Routine to Jumpstart Your Day
If you do not have one yet, the best thing you can do to boost your productivity is to develop a morning routine for yourself. If you are not a morning person and struggle to find motivation in the mornings, try creating a routine that works for you.
A good place to start is figuring out a sleep schedule that allows you to wake up fully rested at a time that naturally works best. In fact, developing a natural sleep schedule has shown to not only improve mental and physical health, but it also provides more energy and a clearer head.
The next step is to give yourself an incentive for getting up in the morning. This incentive should be an activity that is both productive and rewarding. For instance, many individuals enjoy waking up and going straight to yoga practice or exercise. However, your first activity could be as simple as making breakfast or enjoying a warm cup of coffee. Try finding an activity that will encourage you to get out of bed. If you develop a morning routine, you can influence the emotions you experience throughout the day. So why not start with an activity that you enjoy and is rewarding?
