Whether we’re talking about celebrities or Fortune 500 stars, the most successful people have morning routines. But you don’t have to have fame and fortune to start using these simple habits. Morning routines have been shown to lower our stress levels, increase our productivity, and even can make us happier people. Our habits can make us or break us. So here are some ideas that help us rise to the next level…and the best part is they don’t have to require a lot of time!
Move
Help your body and brain wake up and warm up. If there’s one routine that we need the most yet ironically do the least it’s exercise. It’s instrumental to our mental and physical health and releases the “feel good juices” in your brain (endorphins, dopamine, serotonin).
And the best part? There are so many different ways to do this! You don’t need to head to the gym to gain the benefits.
Before you get out of bed, practice some deep belly breathing or yoga stretches. Do a few minutes of high intensity interval training (HIIT), which has been shown to have similar benefits as the hour long workouts. Doing a set of jumping jacks, push ups, sit ups, or jogging in place for 30 seconds then resting for 15 seconds before moving on to the next exercise.
Meditate
It is well known that Oprah is a big proponent of meditation and starts out her day doing so. Take 5 minutes with your morning coffee and just sit outside watching the birds before tackling your laundry list of ‘to do’s.’ Or adopt a mindset of curiosity when you’re eating breakfast. What do you notice in terms of the aromas, tastes, textures of your meal?
Meditation helps us improve our focus, better manage depression and anxiety, can help us lose weight, and even helps improve the quality of our relationships.
Connect
As humans we are wired to connect with others. Be intentional about connecting with a loved one in the morning. Tell them you love them and mean it. Look into their eyes or take an extra 3 seconds when you hug your kids goodbye before they run out to the bus. Call a friend or say hi to your neighbors when going on your morning stroll. If you live alone, turn on the TV and do your best to intentionally engage with the morning show. Really listen to what they’re saying and allow yourself to laugh when something funny is said, call in when asked by the host or hop on social media to share your thoughts.
The more intentional we are about connecting with others the happier we become, our immune system improves, and even leads to longer lifespans!
Start strong
Research shows that willpower and self control are highest first thing in the morning. What that means is, therefore, to prioritize and tackle our most difficult tasks first
Barack Obama & Mark Zuckerberg basically wear the same thing every day because they’re familiar with the concept of ‘decision fatigue.’ Knowing you have one less decision to make if you wear a blue or grey suit or a gray t-shirt frees up your willpower points to focus on bigger priorities.
Build momentum by starting the night before
In short, plan ahead! Get your ingredients ready for your smoothie so it’s all ready to go. Think about what tasks and priorities tomorrow will require and write them down. Do you have someone you need to contact on the list? Put their phone number or email next to their name so you won’t have to spend time digging. Place your papers, purse and keys all in one location by the door.
Doing these tasks ahead of time helps us stay more focus and accomplish more. We’re being a friend to the future version of ourselves. Just think: “My good morning starts the night before.”