Set Yourself Up for a Productive Day
A productive day starts the moment you wake up, even before getting out of bed. From planning your day to the right power-producing breakfast, the productive day is set in the morning! Check out these great tips for a great day and how to get back on track!
Your productive day is right around the corner
There are two kinds of people when it comes to waking up in the morning – the Cheerful Ones and the Grumpy, Sleepy Ones.
The Cheerful Ones are like Joy from Inside Out. When the day breaks anew, you can picture them jumping out of bed so full of energy and a huge smile on their faces. “It’s a brand new day!” they might say, with hands waving above their heads.
On the other hand, the Grumpy, Sleepy Ones are obviously picture-perfect models for those who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Hair in disarray perhaps, slow, lazy movements with an occasional grunt or snarl on the side, and a bad mood for breakfast.
Either way, a new day is best viewed as a clean slate where you are in control. Go from grumpy to cheerful or maximize your morning energy for a productive day in five ways.
Quit the snooze
Hitting the snooze button can be tempting, but do not give in! Going on snoozes may give you extra minutes of sleep but the bad news is, it does more harm than good.
When you allow yourself another ten minutes of sleep after your alarm has gone off, your brain and body begin a new sleep cycle. The succeeding snooze alarm jerks your body out of the sleep cycle but at an earlier and deeper state.
The abrupt awakening confuses your brain and body even more and makes you suffer from sleep inertia, which is characterized by impaired alertness. A research study from Harvard Medical School shows that sleep inertia can last two to four hours.
It hinders the performance of even simple tasks because part of your body thinks it is still in a sleeping state.
Have a healthy breakfast
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it refuels your body after an overnight fasting.
According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, breakfast provides you with the energy and nutrients that lead to increased concentration and consequently prevent the mid-morning slump. It is also beneficial to healthy body weight management as breakfast skippers tend to overeat later in the day. They also resort to snacking on foods that are high in sugar and fat mid-morning to get them through until lunchtime.
A quick and healthy breakfast can be prepared as easy as 1-2-3 by combining at least one item from bread and grain, milk and milk product, and fruit or vegetable.
Get moving
Did you know that Starbucks’ former president and Kohl’s current chief merchandising and customer officer Michelle Gass ironically did not rely too much on caffeine for her morning pick-me-upper?
For the past 15 years, Gass has been waking up at 4:30 a.m. to run. Exercise leads to increased productivity because it makes you feel energized and more focused throughout the day. So sneak in a short workout for a burst of energy after you’ve woken up.
Opt for exercises that require your body weight, so you will not need any equipment at all. Three sets of 1-minute Jogging in place, 10 push-ups, 10 squats, 10 jumping jacks, and 10 lunges on each leg are doable. Other quick workout templates are available via mobile apps which you can easily download.
Psych your mind up
Go mind over matter in the morning. Believe your day is going to be awesome.
Changing the way you think upon waking up can also change the tone of your entire day. Positive thinking allows you to feel less stressed and anxious, and more energized and cheerful. Self-help writer and motivational speaker Tony Robbins highly suggests doing an “Hour of Power” every morning.
Frame your day positively for good motivation. Visualize your working hours in a pleasant tone, and you just might find yourself accomplishing all your deliverables lightheartedly.
Plan out your day
Upon waking up, you should already have an idea of what your day is going to be like.
Andrea Allen, a writer from Resumes Planet, usually eats her breakfast while planning her day. For her, it works that she has her goals set even before getting started on her tasks. Planning gives her a clear picture of her schedule and the important things that need to be addressed first.
Feeling more focused and organized with her day planned out makes it easier for her to navigate through her day as she can easily strike off her accomplishments or appointments as the day goes by.
Wrap-Up
The morning is the best time to take charge of your day while you still feel refreshed from your sleep. It’s always nice to start a new day in a pleasant mood as it can affect the rest of your day.
So better get out of bed, try at least two of the tips mentioned here, and have a nice day ahead.
- How To Have A Productive Day With 7 Simple Tips - April 21, 2016
