Exercise
Follow the morning routines of successful people and start your day with an exhilarating rush of endorphins and clarity. If you work on a computer all day, exercise is the best way to feel active for the rest of the day. Many successful people incorporate a form of exercise into their morning routines to stay healthy and combat stress. But it doesn't need to be intense or time-consuming. Studies have shown that a morning cardio session jump-starts your metabolism while giving you a quick energy boost. If the idea of an hour-long gym session seems daunting, you can try yoga, dancing, or a 10-minute walk around your neighborhood.
Drink Water
It is normal to feel dehydrated after a nights sleep. Drinking water is one of the first things you should do when you wake up. Once you're awake, jump-start your metabolism with a large glass or two of water. Adding a bit of lemon to the drink can also help aid digestion and weight loss.
Write My to Do List
It's important to have goals for the day and this step is always included in the morning routines of successful people. Having some direction helps keep your priorities intact. Make a to-do list for the day and even consider making some tasks a priority. After those priorities get done, anything else is a bonus. If something doesn't get completed that day, it moves onto the next day until it is completed.
Schedule Everything
If you work full-time, it can be hard to do things like blogging or social media posts during the day. Between 5am-6am, write blog posts, schedule social media, reply to comments on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. When you get up before heading to work, plan some time to arrange scheduling for all of your posts to go live for the day.
Inform Yourself
Turn on the news and have a cup of coffee. Read some updates that didn't come from Facebook and stay in touch with whats going on in the world. We like The Skimm, its free, too the point, sent to your email every morning, and in plain English. It could also be a good time to do some reading about getting your small business ahead; check out our list of books every small business owner should read.
Eat Breakfast
You've heard it before and its true: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Skipping breakfast tempts you to eat poorly the rest of the day. There are so many fast options anyone can make or grab-and-go. Take a few minutes to chew, then put dishes in the sink - or rinse and pop in the dishwasher.
Set Out Clothes the Night Before
Just do it. You'll save so much time in the morning. You can even pick out a backup outfit in case you feel like something different tomorrow.
Preset Your Coffeemaker
Set your coffee maker to brew so it's dripping without any extra effort in the morning. You can also pull frozen foods out of the freezer and place in the fridge for easier dinner prep the next night.
Wake Up Earlier
Set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier than you're used to and place the alarm out of arm's reach, which forces you to get up and out of the bed. And then try to keep waking up at the same time every day to keep a routine. Try to avoid hitting snooze and once you're up, make your bed. Making your bed can be checked off as your first accomplishment of the day.
Turn on a Light
Have a hard time not hitting snooze? Turn a light on as soon as it goes off and it will help wake you up faster and avoid hitting snooze so easily.
Leave On Time
Strive to leave five minutes earlier than you normally and it will give you one less thing to worry about. You may even hit less traffic by leaving before the main rush starts.
Mindfulness
A calm, clear head is an asset for any highly successful person. Add at least 5-10 minutes of peaceful solitude to your mornings to keep you relaxed. You can even recite an uplifting mantra or prayer if you wish, or simply focus on your breathing. Adding a cup of coffee helps too.
Learn A New Vocab Word
Real titans of industry know how to communicate. It's one of the most undeniable habits of successful
Family and Relationships
It can be difficult to balance work with family and relationships, so prioritizing is key. Many leaders use their morning hours to reconnect with their spouses, partners, or children.
Before you head out the door or sit in your home office, set aside some time to get your children dressed or go on a "breakfast date" with your partner. Make it a habit to bond with your loved ones and be present in their lives.
Bonus: Get Ahead Before You Even Get Out of Bed
There isn't really a better way to ensure you have a great morning than to start preparing for it the night before.
To help you get a head start on your day, try making a to-do list on the night before. Write down the tasks you want to accomplish tomorrow, and use that list to start your day.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Build the same morning routines of successful people and boost your success with your own energizing morning routine. With these 6 must-haves, you'll be ready to seize the day.
