Every time I have a terrible morning, the day seems longer. When the mornings are chaotic with the stress of not knowing how the day will pan out, my relationships too sometimes pay the price. With my head space muddled with too many competing things, I also could be slower at making decisions and setting priorities. I don’t make as much of the day as I could have!
Over the years, I have realized that a good start to the day helps me have better clarity, stay focussed and have a fulfilling day. When I start the day well, it sets a positive tone for the day!
The majority of the world’s top achievers also claim that their first actions of the day set them up for success. According to English Business magnate Richard Branson, no matter where he is in the world, he tries to routinely wake up at around 5am. By rising early, he is able to do some exercise and spend time with his family, which puts him in a great mind frame before getting down to business. Arianna Huffington, journalist & entrepreneur starts her day with 30 minutes of meditation. She is also big on sleeping well and unplugging from smartphones. She shuts off all her devices at night and keeps them out of her bedroom. Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder, shared he is up at 5am, meditates for 30, has 7 minute workouts, makes coffee and then checks in with his companies. Oprah Winfrey starts her day meditating, then hits the treadmill followed by a healthy meal. She gets to work as early as possible which gives her more working hours in the day.
In my own experience, nurturing one’s body and spirit makes for a great start and a wholesome day. The following tips are simple, doable and guaranteed to give you the perfect morning for an awesome day.
• Take a moment: As soon as you wake up, take a moment to be grateful, appreciative of the day or of being alive. Better still write down the things that you appreciate and are grateful for. No matter how low we are, we can always find something that we are grateful for. Start with two or three and increase the number as the days pass. Today, I find myself writing out a really long list. I had started with two but over the years, I have learnt to be more appreciative of life. I see beauty in the simple things of life and don’t take many things for granted as before. You will see your gratitude alter your life. The positive approach will gear you towards possibilities and away from problems. Transform it with a silent prayer or meditation that connects you to the sublime. Whatever, your beliefs, stop, listen and seek some sort of connection for yourself. It will energize you.
• Get some Exercise: Exercise is beneficial both physically and mentally. It is especially effective in the morning as it will energize you and increase your readiness quotient. It will not only keep you fit but also active. The Bringham Young University researchers found in a study that people who work out in the morning end up being more active in general. Also, being successful at something early in the day will give your motivation a boost, keeping you upbeat for the day. Further, people who tend to find it difficult to get into an action mode will notice that the physical activity will decrease their lethargy and make them more active.
• Have a healthy Breakfast: Breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day. A good breakfast will be good for your health in the long run and boost your metabolism, helping you to not only feel full but also be more productive as your energy levels are high and alertness & concentration improved. Nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky told US News that foods rich in vitamin B, like oatmeal, avocados, bananas and pineapple, can give you an energy boost and help improve your concentration.
• Read the news: Being updated with what’s happening around the world will help stay prepared for the world.
• Plan the Day: I find creating a plan for the coming day on the night before works very well for me. As I go thru my plan in the morning it becomes more meaningful and I am all set and ready to begin the day. I also choose a mantra or an affirmation for the day which keeps me focussed & lightens the day. A mantra is simply a reminder on how I want the day to unfold or better still how I want to design the day. Positive Affirmations are simply statements that are designed to create self-change in the individual using them. They can serve as inspiration or as simple reminders. They also can serve to focus attention on goals throughout the day, bringing about sustained self-change. Effective Affirmations are written in First Person, in the Positive, in the present state, and have an Emotional Charge. They are proven methods of self-improvement because of their ability to rewire our brains. Much like exercise, they raise the level of feel-good hormones and push our brains to form new clusters of “positive thought”. According to Walter E. Jacobson, M.D., there is value in affirmations because our subconscious mind plays a major role in the actualization of our lives and the manifestation of our desires. What we believe about ourselves at a subconscious level, he says, can have a significant impact on the outcome of events. . I try and say /write the affirmation /mantra three or four times, programming myself to create the day I desire and I am ready for the day!
**Consider an Electronic Detox: I try not to touch my mobile or answer my emails at least for an hour after I wake up. I spend the time with myself and my loved ones. At the least, it safeguards my eyes and my body and at the most it helps me see perspective and stay connected with all that’s truly precious.
