It’s amazing to think that one small tweak in your routine can change the outlook of your day. We’ve all heard that if we “wake up earlier, we’ll be more productive” and that can be true. There’s something relieving in starting your day before everyone else and amazing how much more you can achieve in those rare, precious minutes of quiet before the household stirs.
But, setting the alarm thirty minutes earlier is only the beginning of the story. If you’re going to sacrifice thirty minutes of precious rest time, then you owe it to yourself to maximize those minutes. Here’s how:
- Hydration – One of the best things you can do as soon as you wake is to drink at least 16oz of water. This fires up your metabolism and gets you wide awake and ready to face the day ahead. By hydrating your body, you’ll flush out toxins, give your brain fuel as well as curbing your appetite. There’s probably no other time in the day when you’d go 7-8 hours without a drink, so your body will thank you for giving it some fluids.
- Meditation – Although your instinct upon waking may be to jump out of bed and get moving (after all, why wake up early otherwise?) a few minutes spent meditating is a great way to start your day. Even a few minutes of sitting quietly, practicing mindfulness can make a positive difference. While you sit peacefully, silently, your body is revitalized through mindful breathing. While this might seem counterintuitive, (after all, why wake early to then sit in a Zen-like state for 30 minutes?), you’ll find that this time spent in meditation will not only help you start your day in a calm state but will also help you to become more conscious when you wake up and less zombie-like.
- Stretching – there is no better way to energize your body and get the blood flowing than to start your day with a full-body stretch. The good news is that this can be done while you’re still in bed! A good stretch will help the blood flow to your muscles, get them engaged and ready to start their day. Your muscles have stiffened overnight from lack of movement, so a good stretch first thing is just what they need. The brain and body are closely intertwined too, so this stretch allows your brain to operate more efficiently.
A few minutes dedicated to self-care will set you up for the day ahead and help with both physical and mental wellbeing.
Once the self-care is taken care of, you’ll want to make those precious few minutes count. It’s important that you not only focus on a routine that will allow you to make the most of your extra time, but also to plan effectively. This means taking a strategic look at your weekly, monthly and annual goals and needs.
For example, when you have your week effectively planned out, it’s easy to see what you need to achieve and by when. Similarly, with monthly and yearly goals, you’ll be able to factor these into your schedule and, by working backwards, allocate enough time to plan, prepare and execute. For example, planning that every October 1, “I’ll set up a time to have my car winterized” – (no being blind-sided by snow for you!) or “Every February 1 I will set aside time to get my tax stuff done and off to the accountant, so I don’t need to file an extension” – you see the kind of thing?
Of course, if you’re adding to your daily activity, you’ll need to make sure that you have enough energy to stay the course. Make sure to take frequent breaks to maintain your attention span. Also ensure that you don’t become a slave to your to-dos. Move, stretch and breathe throughout the day. The effectiveness of your early start will be totally lost if you end up working harder for longer! Try and block out time each day to get out in the fresh air for a few minutes. A walk around the block can help clear your brain, relieve anxiety and focus your mind.
In our next blog, we’ll be looking at the excuses we make and how not to get distracted by “shiny object syndrome”.