Rise and shine! Morning time just became your new best friend. Love it
or hate it, Utilizing the morning hours before work may be the key to successful and healthy lifestyle. That’s right, early
rising is a common trait found in many CEOs, government officials, and other
influential people. Margaret Thatcher was up every day at 5 a.m.; Frank Lloyd
Wright at 4 am and Robert Iger, the CEO of Disney wakes at 4:30am just to name
a few. I know what you’re thinking – you do your best work at night. Not so
fast. According to Inc. Magazine, morning people have
been found to be more proactive and more productive. In addition, the health
benefits for those with a life before work go on and on. Let’s explore 5 of the
things successful people do before 8 am.
1.
Exercise. I’ve
said it once, I’ll say it again. Most people that work out daily, work out in
the morning. Whether it’s a morning yoga session or a trip to the gym,
exercising before work gives you a boost of energy for the day and that
deserved sense of accomplishment. Anyone can tackle a pile of paperwork after
200 ab reps! Morning workouts also eliminate the possibility of flaking out on
your cardio after a long day at work. Even if you aren’t bright eyed and bushy
tailed at the thought of a 5 am jog, try waking up 15 minutes early for a quick
bedside set of pushups or stretching. It’ll help wake up your body, and prep
you for your day.
2.
Map Out Your Day. Maximize your potential by mapping out your schedule for the
day, as well as your goals and to dos. The morning is a good time for this as
it is often one of the only quiet times a person gets throughout the day. The
early hours foster easier reflection that helps when prioritizing your
activities. They also allow for uninterrupted problem solving when trying to fit
everything into your timetable. While scheduling, don’t forget about your
mental health. Plan a 10 minute break after that stressful meeting for a quick
walk around the block or a moment of meditation at your desk. Trying to eat
healthy? Schedule a small window in the evening to pack a few nutritious snacks
to bring to work the next day.
3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. We all know that rush out the door with a cup of coffee and
an empty stomach feeling. You sit down at your desk, and you’re already
wondering how early that taco truck sets up camp outside your office. No good.
Take that extra time in the morning to fuel your body for the tasks ahead of
it. It will help keep your mind on what’s at hand and not your growling
stomach. Not only is breakfast good for your physical health, it is also a good
time to connect socially. Even five minutes of talking with your kids or spouse
while eating a quick bowl of oatmeal can boost your spirits before heading out
the door.
4.
Visualization. These days we talk about our physical health ad nauseam, but
sometimes our mental health gets overlooked. The morning is the perfect time to
spend some quiet time inside your mind meditating or visualizing. Take a moment
to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on the successes you will have.
Even just a minute of visualization and positive thinking can help improve your
mood and outlook on your work load for the day.
5.
Make Your Day Top Heavy. We all have that one item on our to do list that we dread.
It looms over you all day (or week) until you finally suck it up and do it
after much procrastination. Here’s an easy tip to save yourself the stress – do
that least desirable task on your list first. Instead of anticipating the
unpleasantness of it from first coffee through your lunch break, get it out of
the way. The morning is the time when you are (generally) more well rested and
your energy level is up. Therefore, you are more well equipped to handle more
difficult projects. And look at it this way, your day will get progressively easier,
not the other way around. By the time your work day is ending, you’re winding
down with easier to dos and heading into your free time more relaxed. Success!
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