10 MORNING HABITS FOR SUPER PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE

Your morning routine sets the tone for your day and can even set the tone for your week. With this in mind let’s make sure you are setting yourself up for a productive one! 

To a lot of people the mornings can seem like a drag, especially Monday's. Believe me when I say, this is all in your head. Our top 10 tips will guide you through how to set yourself up for a truly productive day, helping you to feel proud and accomplished at the end of it. 

TOP 10 TIPS TO SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR A REALLY PRODUCTIVE DAY:

1.Maximise your time

Time is our biggest gift so if working from home has given you back an extra hour in the morning then use it to your advantage and maximise it! Or alternatively, work out how much time you could gift yourself before you have to start work and set your alarm accordingly. Take a risk and get up an hour earlier… you won’t regret it! Plus, there’s nothing better than starting the day with a gift.

2. Don’t hit the snooze button 

This is all about mindset - start your day by getting up when you promised yourself you would. By this point you have taken the time to work through tip number one, so honour yesterday’s positive mindset by continuing it into a new day and doing what you promised yourself you would. We all know that when someone says they are ‘disappointed’ in you it is the worst feeling so don’t start the week by feeling disappointed in yourself. 

3. Move your body 

This means something different for everyone and it certainly doesn’t have to mean jumping out of bed and going for a 10 mile run! Do what works best for you. The goal here is to get your body moving. For some a 45 minute HIIT session is the best, for others a nice morning stroll around the park with your morning coffee works. Personally, I love yoga as soon as I wake up, it stretches my body, wakes up my muscles and clears my mind ready for the day ahead. Moving your body is SO important. Get those endorphins flowing!

. Make a to do list

Map out exactly what you are hoping to achieve that day and put it somewhere where you can see it. Whiteboards are great for this, you can then wipe things off as you complete them which gives you a great sense of accomplishment. If you don’t have a whiteboard you can use paper, post-it notes or try a pin board. The key here is to make sure that you can track your progress throughout the day. Celebrate when you have ticked something off - it will feel so good!

5. Prioritise and block out your activities 

Plan focus time for tasks that will take a lot of brain power and try to do these when you are feeling most productive. Plan short breaks and lunch to make sure that you are taking the time out to reset. 

It can feel daunting when you look at your to do list and you have 2 birthday cards to post, an ASOS parcel to return and a presentation to complete by the next morning but trust me… blocking out time for each activity will make you super productive and feel far less stressed. Tasks that can seem big and time consuming when broken down like this suddenly become so much more manageable. 

6. Listen to music 

For me, music is life. I listen to music all the time no matter what mood I am in or where I am. In the shower, in the car, on the bus… you get the picture! Start your mornings with your favourite songs, a yoga playlist or some ibiza classics - whatever gets you going. 

7. Hydrate 

If you are anything like me you either forget to drink or drink too much of the wrong stuff. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE a morning coffee but I also ensure that I have a 1L water bottle next to me on my desk which I fill up at the start of the day. This will help you track your intake and ensure you stay fully hydrated. 

8. Make yourself feel good 

Feeling fresh and clean will set you up for the day. Shave your legs, complete your skin care routine and moisturise… whatever makes you feel good. Looking good and smelling good elevates your confidence levels and ensures you are ready for any challenge that might come your way… even meaning that you can answer the door in confidence when your Amazon driver arrives - rather than hiding in your pyjamas with bed hair and unbrushed teeth hoping that he will go away. 

9. Have a cold shower 

This may sounds crazy and like the last thing that you want to be doing when you are all warm and cosy from getting out of bed but hear me out… there are endless benefits to having a cold shower. They are known to increase your metabolism, help build up your immune system and most importantly release endorphins or ‘happy hormones’. The cold water sends many electrical pulses to your brain jolting your system and increasing alertness, clarity and energy levels. 

10.  Don’t sweat the small stuff

This one speaks for itself. It can be so easy to get caught up in the office gossip or the annoying email that your colleague has a sent to your boss which makes you look incompetent. Choose to start your day by acknowledging that these niggles are annoying but not worth your time. Allow them to pass over you and actively decide that they aren’t going to affect your mood. It is possible - I promise!