Sometimes you wake up ready to face the day, and whatever comes your way, like a Ninja.
Other days, you hate to admit it, but you’d rather hit that snooze button and crawl under the warm sheets. You can’t face the thought of facing customers all day. Or your boss for that matter.
And what about that annoying work colleague whom you wish could be transferred?
Or those cold rainy days when you’d rather stay in bed in your favourite pyjamas sipping a nice cup of hot chocolate while you watch reruns of …. (insert the name of favourite sitcom here)?
But from your experience, it seems like the longer you dither and delay your getting out of bed, the more miserable your day turns out to be. Ok, maybe miserable is a strong word, but things somehow seem to fall apart from there.
The truth is, not all days are the same. Some days are good. Some days are, well, not so good.
It’s life.
That’s when you wish that there could be a magic pill that could make every day better than the last.
But the truth is, there is no magic pill.
However, there is something that comes close.
It’s called a morning routine. As the name suggests, it involves doing the same activities in the same sequence every morning. It is all about structure and strategy. It is what can help you focus on your customer service as it takes the overwhelm out of the day.
While a morning routine is not a one size fits all, there are some basics that when done within the first hour of waking up, can help you emotionally prepare for whatever lies ahead.
A morning routine too has its do’s and don’t
Wait. Before you grab a piece of paper to write down your new morning routine, below are a few things to bear in mind;
- The activities in a morning routine should be meaningful and should add some value to your day.
- Your routine should start the night before by preparing everything that you will need come morning.
- A morning routine can take up to an hour depending on the complexity of the activities so strive to get up earlier than usual.
- The routine should not include any technological gadgets — that means No emails. No Facebook. Not even Whatsapp.
A random example of a morning routine
There are many examples of morning routines. Below is an example of a sequence that you can try out as you experiment to see what works for you;
1. Meditate:
Meditation is not only about repeating Mantras. It has been found to clear the mind of clutter and can leave you feeling relaxed and, surprisingly, energized.
Find a space where you can sit undistracted.
Close your eyes and inhale and exhale deeply, allowing your stomach to rise as you do so.
As you breathe, set your intention for the day and visualize what you’d like your day to be like.
2. Pray:
With life being stressful, it is easy to forget about all the goodness around us. Morning prayers are all about taking the time to give thanks. They help you to connect with God before you face your day.
Prayer can be on its own or as part of the meditation.
3. Morning pages:
Morning pages have gained popularity since they were “discovered” by Julia Cameroun.
They entail writing 3 pages, in longhand, of whatever comes to mind.
Just writing.
No censoring.
Just jotting thoughts down from page to page.
If you prefer to type, 3 pages are equivalent to 750 words. Journaling can be hard at first so try to follow a specific structure as follows;
- Write random thoughts about that moment. If you feel grumpy, say so. Whatever crosses your mind. Get all the negativity out.
- Write a preview of the previous day. Think of the positive things that came your way.
- Note down 20 things that happened the previous day that you are grateful for.
- Write down your affirmations in the present tense. For example, if you would like a promotion to a specific position, write that you already hold that position.
- Map out your day by writing down your plans/goals for the day.
4. Make your bed:
Yes, it may sound trivial but doing something as mundane as making your bed gets you ready to focus on even the most mundane of tasks.
5. Exercise:
You don’t have to be on a weight loss journey to exercise.
Exercise gets your heart rate up and ultimately gets the oxygen flowing to your vital organs and gets your metabolism going.
The adrenaline also gets you in a good mood ready to face your day.
6. Water:
Have a glass of warm water. Warm water taken in the morning increases the body temperature and subsequently increases the body’s metabolic rate.
7. Shower:
I don’t have to explain why a shower is good for you (and for those around you). Some gurus swear by starting the day with a cold shower.
I don’t know how they do it, but they swear by it. They say that it increases alertness.
8. Breakfast:
Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day. It is very tempting to rush out of the door with no breakfast but 10 o’clock will find you feeling hungry and worn out.
A good breakfast with the correct mix of carbohydrates, protein and starch will leave you feeling energetic and ready to face your day. You may not have time for breakfast later.
Final Thoughts
A morning routine may seem robotic at first but hang in there. It will soon be the easiest of all tasks once you get the hang of it.
It will, in the long run, make it easier to get out of bed. Yes, even on those rainy days when there is no place you’d rather be than in bed.
Sticking to a morning routine helps you stick to your goals and plans. Sticking to your goals and plans makes you more productive.
Being more productive ultimately leads to growth, success and most importantly, a happier you.
Do you have a specific morning routine that you follow? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.