When interviewed about the keys to success, it's astounding how many leaders swear to the importance and effectiveness of their morning routine. While I recognize that in our 24-7, global world, each person's morning may vary, the research definitely indicates that starting your "day" with purpose is critical. Following are 4 top tips for making the most of your mornings:
1. Be Prepared. Preparing for the following day is a great place to start for a few reasons. First, it's generally much calmer before the storm. By taking the time to sit down in the quiet, away from the noise, interruptions, worries and details of the work day, successful people are able to more objectively and clearly assess the most important tasks for the following day. Second, studies reveal that the brain is never at rest and that, when individuals "program" it prior to sleep, it actually continues to work on problems without our own consciousness. By placing an issue or problem in your psyche just before going to sleep, you are actually allowing it to find solutions unencumbered by your own conscious bias.
2. Wake Naturally. With the exception of those individuals who are "morning people" (the kind that tend to just spring up and jump out of bed with a smile without the need for an alarm), most successful people will admit that they at first had some challenges with getting started in the morning. Let's face it, nobody enjoys being rudely pulled from the realm of dreams and startled to life by a shrieking box from across the room. But, thanks to new wearable devices and smartphone apps, individuals are able to wake more naturally. Rather than being abruptly jolted from restful slumber by an annoying alarm clock, these technologies gently wake you when they detect you are in the lightest phases of sleep. This slight adjustment can make all the difference in helping individuals to establish a better pattern of waking.
3. Fuel Up. Everyone has heard the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but for some reason, not enough people are following this sage advice. Research shows that investing the time and energy to prepare and consume a healthy breakfast has positive effects on both body and mind. After lying in a resting state for 6-8 hours, the entire being needs nutrition to help jump start its physiological functioning. Regardless of individuals preferences on the size and substance of this early morning meal, breakfast can definitely help you to make the most of your morning.
4. Review Your Plan. Once you've prepared and slept on the issues that you'll face today, spend an hour or so during breakfast to reflect upon and review the plan that you created last night. Look at things with the refreshed perspective that rest provides. Quite often, individuals admit that they have gained new insight during the course of the night. Make the most of your time and energy to streamline the tasks that lay ahead.
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