3 Productivity Tips for Your Mornings

Do you find yourself hitting “snooze” more times than you’d like to admit? Is it difficult for you to get up and get moving? Maybe it’s the leftover thoughts from yesterday, the daunting to-do list for today, or the grogginess from not getting quite enough sleep that can make mornings stressful and difficult parts of the day. However, a positive and productive morning sets the tone for a positive and productive day. Mornings are valuable. Whether you’re a morning person or not, implementing these three tips will boost your morning productivity, and will likely increase your energy for the rest of the day as well.

Be ready for your morning . According to Jayson DeMers, Founder and CEO of AudienceBloom and featured on Inc., it’s crucial to give yourself a head start by “planning the night before.” DeMers explains this planning can look like “setting the timer on the coffee maker, preparing breakfasts or lunches ahead of time, and having your laptop and briefcase ready and waiting by the door.” Planning does not have to be intense or intricate in order for it to be effective. Think through your morning, decide what you’ll need, and make a simple plan so that your morning is less stressful. Perhaps prepare your favorite overnight oats the night before, pick a morning workout to do, or even put a glass of water out for yourself to enjoy. By taking care of the little things the night before, you can reduce stress and spend more energy setting a positive tone for your day in the morning.
Add movement into your mornings . Britt Joiner emphasizes the importance of movement in her article about productivity on Trello. She explains that this movement does not have to be intense or complicated; even basic “moving around will get your blood flowing and help you get your day started.” What kind of movement is enjoyable for you? Perhaps walking around the block, going out to your backyard and enjoying creation, or doing some stretches boosts your energy and mindset. Try out new things, find something that works well for you and leaves you refreshed and energized, and watch how it impacts the rest of your day.
Focus your focus . No multitasking. According to Travis Bradberry’s article on Success, “Multitasking reduces your efficiency and performance because your brain can only focus adequately on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully.” This makes sense; our brains can only focus on so much at once. So choose wisely where you will set your mind and focus, and then stay fully present and engaged until it’s time for the next task or break. Being fully present in the morning sets a pattern of intentionality that will be useful for whatever meetings, work, and fun the rest of the day holds.

Do you feel more productive already? As you prepare for your mornings, move around, and focus, choose to find joy in the present. This joyful productivity will enable you to accomplish much while also enjoying your work and being fully present in it. By choosing to prepare well for your morning, getting your body moving, and tackling one thing at a time, you’ll be setting a pattern of productivity and enjoyment. Get ready; it’s going to be a great day.

By Carissa Joy Burns
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rissa-joy-5848271a5/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rissa_joy_/
Blog: http://runningwithrissa.com/