Time and time again we read about how the most successful people start their days. The morning is truly the only time of the day you have to yourself. During this time it’s extremely important to develop and stick to a morning routine.
Here are seven things you should add to your morning routine:
Be an Early Riser
If you aren’t a morning person then you need to suck it up. The majority of wildly successful people start their day at the crack of dawn. You should aim to wake up well before the actual work day starts.
When you wake up early you can use this time to get a head start before getting worn down on your day’s responsibilities.
Hydrate
This one may seem like a no brainer. However many overlook the need to properly hydrate first thing in the morning. The experts suggest you should drink at least one 24 oz glass of water to start your day.
One of the biggest indicators of low energy is the fact that you’re dehydrated. Get up, hydrate, and start your day.
Avoid Your Phone
Cell phones are proven to be one of the biggest productivity killers at work. When you constantly check your phone you’re seriously inhibiting yourself from focusing on the task at hand.
In the mornings I suggest staying as tech free as possible. Use this time for deep thinking and reflection.
Exercise Before Breakfast
Everyone should aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise each and everyday. Exercise gives you lasting energy and motivation throughout the rest of your day. I can’t stress how important this is.
A pro tip I have is to exercise before you have breakfast. If you don’t like working out on an empty stomach then you can have a banana or something small. However, when you exercise first thing your body will burn your fats rather than energy from food you may have just eaten.
Have a Healthy Breakfast
Again, this one sounds like another obvious one. However very few individuals actually know what constitutes a healthy breakfast. The American diet mostly consists of sugar. Cereals, granola mixes, yogurts, breakfast sausages, and many more common items are packed with sugars.
Sugar will give you a temporary rush and leave you feeling lethargic halfway through the day. Instead of buying packaged cereals, look for some granola in the bulk section that has no added sugars. Use greek yogurts like Siggis that are high in protein and low in sugar. General rule of thumb is to avoid processed or added sugars at all costs.
Read
Knowledge is power in this world. I strongly suggest spending at least 15 minutes each morning reading. In addition to learning more skills and gaining knowledge you should also read up on current events in the world and in your industry.
Apps like Apple News and Flipboard are great for early morning reading.
Practice Mindfulness
While it may seem silly, meditation is one of the most powerful things you can to your mind. There are plenty of free resources available that can help you practice mindfulness. I recommend spending at least 10 minutes meditating each morning.
Meditation at it’s simplest form is the ability to focus on a single point typically your breath. In order to truly meditate you need to remove everything else from thought. Give it a shot, it’s much harder than you think!
Final Thoughts
Everyone spends their time differently, especially in the mornings. That said there are definitely practices that you should adopt each morning if you want to have a more successful day. If you haven’t already I strongly suggest adding the seven things listed above to your morning routine.
This article was originally published on Calendar by Renzo Costarella.
