5 Things You Should Be Doing in the Morning to Kickstart Your Day

Simple Tricks to Becoming a Morning Person Once & For All
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Morning rituals and how to become a morning person, @waitingonmartha

I’ve become a bit obsessed with morning (and nighttime) rituals lately; I’m slowly finding that they’re the secret to success for a more productive, more balanced (and just straight better) life. 

My boyfriend is an avid Tim Ferriss devotee, which has made me, in turn, become a fan too. He’s the author of three NYT bestsellers (ever heard of The 4 Hour Work Week?) and drops a lot of knowledge on his super popular podcast. Tim talks a lot about the rituals of highly successful (and all around incredible) celebrities and individuals, pointing out the patterns in their habits in hopes of getting to the bottom of what makes them thrive.  

The common theme among all of them?  A few simple habits in the morning have the power to make your day great (and they really do matter).  I’ve adopted a few of these so far myself, though I still have a ways to go in the meditation department…  But alas, I’m taking it in baby steps so that I don’t bite off more than I can chew.  With the help of Tim Ferriss and a few other inspiring reads, I rounded up five sure-fire ways to finally enjoy your mornings once and for all.  I’d love to know what you do in the mornings to help you take on the day with a pep in your step.  Cheers, Kat

P.S. This book by Tim Ferriss is next on my list! 

 

Use an Alarm Clock

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Use an alarm clock to wake up in the morning, and keep your phone in another room. It will not only help you sleep better (less screen time as you unwind before bed), but it will also ensure that the start to your morning is devoted to your morning rituals.  Uninterrupted YOU time and not answering to anyone else (emails, texts, Instagram, etc.). 

Exercise or Meditate

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Any exercises that strengthen your core will help your spinal alignment for the rest of your day, not to mention get your blood flowing.  I’ve also read that an inversion has a dozen positive effects on your body…so get into that headstand!  Because of their movements, yoga and pilates are great practice to incorporate into your morning rituals.  And if that still sounds too aggressive for you, check out this no-excuses morning workout.

And of course, everyone’s heard that meditation is a key ingredient to success by now, especially for entrepreneurs.  The app Headspace is a simple way to get started (and one that I’ll be trying soon!). 

Journal for 5 Minutes

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Journaling every morning for as little as five minutes can be just the thing your morning ritual is missing.  By writing down what you’re grateful for, you’re starting your day feeling content, satisfied and blessed in different areas of your life.  It’s a simple, proven way to improve well being and happiness…and everyone from athletes to movie stars to your neighbors and the UPS man are doing it (and so should you). 

The Five Minute Journal is a great way to get started; its simple, structured format keeps the guesswork out of it.  

Make Your Bed

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According to Tim Ferriss, the simple act of making your bed gives you a feeling of accomplishment first thing in the morning. This is especially important for your productivity for the rest of the day because it encourages you to do even more tasks, ultimately enabling you to get more done. 

Also, when working from home (*raises hand*), having a clean, organized environment greatly affects your productivity…less distractions = more GSDing. 

Write Down Your Most Important Tasks of the Day (and Do Them First)

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After you’ve made your bed and given your soul a little hug (through exercise or meditation), go ahead and write down the most important things you need to get done that day.  By writing it all down and tackling the dire tasks first, you streamline your to-do list and boost your productivity levels.  You’ll be feeling like a million bucks as you cross off the must-do’s, and that feeling of accomplishment will fuel you through the rest of the day. 

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Featured image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha

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  • Love this! (And have been loving all your articles this month.) Meditation really helps my brain (and heart) start the day in peace rather than overdrive. Just finished “The Miracle Morning” by Hal Elrod, and he gives an easy outline to follow. Makes a difference in my day when I do it.

  • Kat Neunaber / 01.17.2017

    Love to hear that, Chris! I’ll definitely have to check out The Miracle Morning! Thanks so much. xo

  • These are really good tips. An alarm clock is essential. Writing down tasks is a really good way to start the day.

    Inez | My Small World

  • My husband is also the one that got me into Tim Ferris! His stuff can be pretty inspiring. On my list to read this year is The Miracle Morning (which I see has been mentioned below). I’ve heard great things.

    Having an alarm clock so your phone is in another room seems like a great idea to me. I really struggle with checking Instagram first thing. Mostly because it’s cold and I don’t want to get out of bed!

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