If productivity is what you’re after, then a little self-care will be the biggest step you can take to get more done and feel great while doing it. Here are seven things you can add to your routine to help make your mornings more productive in the new year.
A plan
Create a plan for your morning the night before to help you follow through the next day
- Try incorporating something you enjoy into your morning plan – perhaps a favorite new coffee blend, food, meditation
- Reward yourself for your efforts and give an added boost to jumpstart your day
Natural light
Sunlight activates your body’s circadian rhythm and tells your system it’s time to wake up
- Leave a window open to allow natural light to stream into your room as the sun rises
- Make an effort to venture outside to soak up some rays before starting with any difficult tasks
Time to unplug
Set your phone aside at least an hour before closing your eyes for bed.
- In the morning, resist the urge to instantly grab your phone and check your email. Give yourself space to ease your way into the day and ditch your phone for the first precious few moments.
Vitamin D
Over 40% of adults in the U.S. are vitamin D deficient
- Taking Vitamin D along with a daily dose of sunlight is one way to help combat fatigue and become the best version of yourself in the morning
- Vitamin D deficiency leads to fatigue, among a host of other side effects, which can negatively affect your productivity.
Sleep
Get a good night’s sleep
- A good bedtime ritual is just as important as a morning routine and should go hand in hand with your resolution to have more productive mornings.
- Write down things you are grateful for in a journal before bed to help you think about them in the morning.
A morning walk
Incorporating physical activity into your morning routine will help you feel alert more quickly
- Try biking to work, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator to get there
- Jumping jacks before you sit down at your computer, or take a walk to your local coffee shop
Consistency
Wake up at around the same time each day to condition your body to naturally wake up at that time
