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It is easy for the day to get away from you. You may lose track of time and not accomplish what you wanted to. You may end up in a bad mood or sluggish. Or you may find the days keep slipping by into one giant same-ole, same-ole.
Changing how you start your day can make a difference in how your days, and weeks go!
Here are 7 smart ways to start your day for a healthier, more productive you!
1. Take a breath
Before you reach for your phone, before you start your to-do/to-worry list, take a moment for yourself. Take the time to breathe.
Focus on yourself, and being in the moment before the distractions of the day take hold.
The quiet of the morning can be the best time to get your head clear. I know I can struggle to quiet the distractions in my head, but my morning prayer time is important for the whole day.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast
I know, I sound like your mom. But there’s a reason they say its the most important meal of the day.
Your body’s metabolism is like a factory and it needs to start running early in order to work correctly. Starving your body can cause it to actually start storing fat, which I’m pretty sure no-one reading this article wants.
Starting your day with a healthy meal can boost your energy and productivity for the day, and keep you from overeating later. I swear by my steel cut oats. You can easily add honey and fruit for taste, and ground flax seed for extra health benefits.
If you feel like you don’t have time, hard boil eggs the night before for a quick on-the-go breakfast. Or grab a greek yogurt. Just make sure you grab something, eating breakfast is one of the most important smart ways to start your day.
Check out these 15 easy, healthy breakfast recipes.
3. Make a priority list
Our minds are in a constant state of overload with work, kids, friends and all our responsibilities. So expecting yourself to remember everything you need to do is unreasonable.
Make a list of your priorities for the day that you want to accomplish. You may have a bigger to-do list in general so you don’t miss anything, but make a “hot list” for your day of things you would really like to complete.
4. Step out of your routine
It is easy for your life to become routine. Routine can be good and certainly comforting, but you don’t want to be in a rut.
And you don’t want to miss out on life because you are sticking to the same routine day in and day out!
Shake things up! Try something new.
Change the order and way you go about your work day. Did you know this can actually help your brain create new connections? Routines can shift your mind into auto-pilot, but change can make your brain switch into gear to pay attention and help you to even think more creatively.
Take a little time at work to investigate how others work, or new tools or tactics you could use. Trying something new is a smart way to start your day and your brain.
Even taking a different route to work can wake your brain up a little. Plus, if your same old route means you stop at Starbucks each day, your budget may thank you if you drive a different path.
Trying something new, like a dance class, or how to learn guitar not only could be a fun experience, but maybe a way to meet new people and make new connections. You never know what one small change may bring to your life.
5. Dream big
While scratching items off your to-do list is important, the daily tasks of your life shouldn’t be allowed to prevent creative thinking or mean that you don’t have time for a dream!
Take time in the morning to think about what you want. What new goal might make you happy. What dream do you want to work towards?
Make a permanent spot on your priority list for that dream, whatever it might be. Even if it is for only 10 minutes a day, accomplishing even one step towards it means you are getting closer.
Thinking about what you really want to accomplish is a smart way to start your day more productively.
6. Be thankful
We all have struggles. Most likely your day will have some stress in it. Some disappointment, or regret or pain over relationship issues or money troubles.
But thinking of something you are grateful for at the beginning of your day can help put you in a positive mindset from the get-go. It can be easy to get burdened with all the negatives so do your best to counteract that by looking at the positives! Gratitude can actually be good for your mental health.
7. Take care of you
It is so easy to get burnt out. And being burnt out is a serious productivity-killer. Make sure you are doing something to take care of yourself at some point during your day.
Taking care of yourself is a smart way to start you day and to end it! No matter what technique you use, make sure you start your day with intention and good habits.
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