None of us know how many mornings we’ll get to wake up in our life, so to me none of them are to be wasted. Yes, there are a million and one reasons why the day can start out crappy but we only need one reason to turn that around.
And that reason for me was the day I realized that each day alive is a gift and that if I was motivated enough I could choose to have any experience I wanted in the morning. After years of waking up tired, drained, unmotivated and despondent about the day ahead, I realized that I was doing nothing but giving myself a hard time.
It takes just as much energy to be tired and grumpy and stay that way as it does to shake it out and have a happier disposition. This didn’t happen overnight for me, but as i started thinking about my morning routine and how i could improve it, as chance would have it, the answers started to come to me in a variety of wondrous ways.
Here’s my top five morning routines that I have found to be the most effective for getting the most out of my mornings so I start each day happy, calm and with good energy levels.
1. The power of first 5 minutes
What we do when we first wake-up sets the tone for the rest of the day. That’s why it’s important to just lay in bed for 5 minutes before arising and visualize your day the way you want it to be. If it helps, use this time to think about the top 10 things you are grateful for in your life. This will help you feel grateful for the rest of the day.
2. Start the day with something you love
After you get out of bed do something that you enjoy. I spend the first 30 minutes to an hour either meditating, stretching, taking the dogs for a walk or reading a personal development book. Whatever it is for you, just make sure it’s something you enjoy.
3. Look after your energy levels
Every cell of our body is filled with energy which means that in all reality we never truly do run out of energy. What does happen though is as a result of mental, emotional and physical exertion during the day we need to recharge and revitalize our body. This usually happens during sleep, but when we don’t get a good nights sleep, then it can leave us depleted before the day even begins.
One of the best ways I know of to manage your energy levels is to do your best to get a good nights sleep, every night. To help achieve this you may need to find a meditation or activity that helps to slow down your mind before going to bed. If your mind is busy when you go to bed then it may takes ages to fall asleep.
Spending 15 or 20 minutes before you get into bed relaxing, or doing something soothing and quieting for you is a great way to get your natural sleep patterns to do their job of restoring your mind and bodies to their peak levels each day.
4. The power of words
This one really speaks for itself. If you wake up in a grumpy mood then keep it to yourself. If you find that you are more sensitive to what others are saying or doing then either remove yourself from the environment or don’t say anything until you can speak with calmness and kindness.
This is such a powerful way to start the day, even if you feel like going back to bed and wish the day was over before it even begins. There is tremendous power in the words we speak and the way we speak them to influence those around us.
By being conscious of what you say and how you say it and choosing to speak only words that bring more happiness and joy around you, this will give you rocket-fuel in your emotional tank to start the day.
5. Think about tomorrow the day before
One of the best ways to manage your productivity and task lists is to spend a few minutes each night organizing the following day’s to-do list. I always schedule my workload for the next day in the evening so that when I get up in the morning I just have to follow it.
This is a massive time and energy saver and puts you on the front foot before the day even begins. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes and can save hours of fumbling around the next day.
Regardless of how you start your day there is tremendous power in establishing a morning routine that sets you up for peak mental, physical and emotional performance. When you do this you say goodbye to wasted mornings and unproductive days forever.
