The way I spend my morning almost always dictates how the rest of my day will go. This has been the case since college, but it has become even more true now that I work for myself and have the responsibility of structuring my day.
There’s no big secret to how I jump start my mornings, but there are a few key things I do that have really seemed to work as far as setting a positive tone for the day ahead. A typical morning for me:
- Wake up early. I set my alarm for 5 am almost every day (and if you think that’s impressive…my husband is out the door by 4:30!). I love the feeling of having a few extra hours to accomplish things, starting with…
- Work out. My early morning trips to the gym began on January 1, 2008, when I made a New Year’s resolution to get into great shape for my August wedding. It worked, and I’ve continued them ever since. I feel incredibly energized and ready to take on just about anything afterwards!
- Coffee. The first thing I do when I get home is make myself a cup. A little caffeine goes a long way :)
- Eat breakfast. My mom would always nag me to eat breakfast growing up, and I begrudgingly did. Now I know that I won’t get far without it, so I’m sure to eat something with my coffee while I check email and catch up on blogs.
- Get some fresh air. My dad and I have been biking several mornings a week for the past month, and I am hooked. The gym is okay, but it doesn’t compare to being outside — especially on beautiful Indian summer mornings like today.
- Dress for success. There are plenty of mornings that I could happily spend in my pajamas, lazing around my office. But on days where I take a shower first thing and put on a cute outfit, somehow I’m much more productive. The way I dress definitely affects my attitude!
- Listen to music. I have a “get pumped” playlist that I listen to on my Spotify app while I get ready in the morning, and it really gets me going. This is probably one of the most important elements of my morning, actually.
- Set some goals. I’m a list maker, as many of you know. Having a definitive list of goals in front of me at the beginning of the day gives me direction, and sets a course of action until my first student arrives at 3 pm.
I have to admit that I am guilty of skipping several of these steps this morning — although I did have coffee, breakfast, and an awesome bike ride. I’m off to listen to some tunes as I get ready for my day, and then attack the to-do list waiting for me on my desk. How do YOU jump start your morning?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! I got a Magic Bullet and have been enjoying fruit smoothies in the morning. Great way to start out my day.
….But now you just need to write a blog post about HOW to become a morning person. LOL
I’m enjoying reading your blog each morning too!
Tyne
Hi Tyne! I have a Magic Bullet as well and keep thinking I need to get into making smoothies. Thanks for the reminder! And I will work on that post idea ;)
The drinks are make are very simple. I bought a big bag of mixed black berries, I add a cup or so of berries, I add non sweetened yogurt, and some vegetable juice. Healthy and tasty!
I add a frozen banana to my smoothie most days. Makes it nice and creamy!
#6 is totally right!! I lived at home for a couple of months in between MT internship and my first job, and my Dad was working out of his home office back then. I remember one Monday morning about 8am he walked through the kitchen towards his office, wearing a suit and tie. I asked him if he had a morning meeting somewhere, and he replied that he had a conference call at 8:30. I reminded him that the other callers couldn’t see him (this was years before video conferencing and Skype) so he didn’t need to get all dressed up. But he said he knew that but it was still important to “dress the part” anyway. That really made an impression on me. And many years later, having my own private practice in my home, I completely understand what he meant– and what you’re saying about #6 on your list. It sooooooo makes a difference in my day if I “dress the part” of being the professional MT, even on those days when I’m catching up on officework and not seeing clients. Thanks for sharing your list!!
Your dad is a smart man! It’s totally true that dressing the part is vital to success. Thanks for the comment :)