Getting ahead is about getting the most out of your time. Before you even officially start work, you can take steps that will help you maximize the rest of your day. In this way, you can achieve success by improving your morning routine.
Sustaining your momentum throughout the workday can prove difficult. One study showed that in an eight-hour workday, most people only operate at a productive level for just under three hours. Another study suggested a key time of day for this burst of energy — before 11 AM.
What does this mean for your work schedule? Well, you want to make the most of those precious hours before lunch, when you have the most creativity and energy. That means finding ways to extend your productive morning and to lay the foundation for a successful day.
With that in mind, here are four things to start doing before 8 AM that will help drive your success the rest of the day:
Get Enough Sleep
Making a long list of things to accomplish in the morning often leads to earlier and earlier wake-up times. In your quest to get more done during the day, your alarm settings keep moving up. However, before you cram additional activities into your morning routine, make sure you achieve one major goal first: getting enough sleep.
Adequate rest leads to a host of health benefits. It can also give a stealth boost to your career. Improving your sleep can increase your productivity, letting you get more done during the rest of your day.
So don’t think of sleep as time spent lounging or being lazy. On the contrary, those seven to eight hours provide the foundation for a successful day.
Exercise
Need coffee to get started? There’s a better way to get the blood pumping. A morning exercise routine can wake you up and get you ready for a productive day.
The right physical activity will depend on your preference and your morning goals. You also have to keep in mind the type of equipment you have access to (or can afford). In addition, a morning workout often comes with tighter time constraints than you might face with a post-job routine.
Still, physical activity early in your schedule can improve the rest of your day. There are signs that it boosts productivity and creativity.
You can consider options like:
- High-Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT
- Jogging
- Exercise bike/Peloton
- Walking
- Yoga
Make a To-Do List
As you head into your workday, set yourself up for success by devising a plan. Create a list of goals you want to achieve for the day. Prioritize them so that you can complete the crucial objectives first and then move on to less important tasks.
As you make your list, try to pack as much as you can into the early part of your day. Your energy and motivation will likely lag toward the afternoon. As such, you should get as much of your critical assignments complete when you have the most gusto.
Learn Something
Your morning likely involves chores or rote tasks that you need to complete. From getting dressed to eating breakfast to trudging through your commute to work, there are near-mindless functions that you have to finish.
Liven these up and learn something at the same time. As you run through your morning routine, look for ways to enrich yourself at the same time. Consider possibilities like:
- Listen to a podcast or audiobook
- Read ten pages in a book
- Watch part of the documentary
- Scroll through the morning news
Contact Recruiting In Motion today to learn more.
A strong morning routine can set the stage for a successful day. It helps if you have a job that makes you want to jump out of bed and get your routine started. A top staffing firm, like Recruiting In Motion, provides the support you need to find the perfect situation.
