Morning routines are an underrated aspect of maintaining sanity at your job, because they work! Having the best morning routine truly sets up the rest of your day for success, because it helps to set the tone for your day. Whether it’s a routine you practice at home, on your way to the office, or once you sit down at your desk, you’re going to want a morning routine that works for you! As humans, we thrive on the consistency and the comfort of routine. This means that they’re good for our personal, professional, and overall health.
How do you create a morning routine that works for you? The following are some suggestions for morning routines that truly work:
Sip Something
Whether it’s the classic cup of coffee, a spot of tea, or even a breakfast smoothie, starting your day off with beverage is a simple way to help cultivate a routine. It helps inject a level of stability, and if you’re going to enjoy something like a cup of coffee or a smoothie, then you’re also going to enjoy that boost of caffeine, or those all important vitamins. In general, having something to sip on is a great start to your morning. There’s a reason why so many people rely on their morning cup of joe, and it’s not just because of the kick, it’s because it provides a level of comfort to their morning.
Plan A Morning Detour
Before you walk into your workplace, it’s worthwhile to consider making a detour on your way to work. Whether it’s stopping at your local breakfast place, coffee shop, or just making some time to sit on a bench or walk through a park, you should plan a break between leaving your home and walking into work. The time before heading into work is important for self-reflection, and making time for yourself is important when it comes to feeling fulfilled for the rest of the day. If you take the time to enjoy different environments, you won’t feel stagnant, and chances are your day will also go by faster! Take the scenic route, and make time to not feel rushed first thing in the morning, the rest of your day will thank you.
Shallow Sorting
Want to know one of the most problematic things you can do once you sit down at your desk first thing in the morning? Answering your e-mails is right up there! When you first get into the office, you’re not going to want to answer e-mails, so you shouldn’t! Instead you should practice what we’re going to call “shallow sorting” — this is the process of quickly scanning your e-mails and deciding what you want to answer first. Once you’ve taken a look at your e-mails, organized them, you can feel better about starting your day. While there might be some emergency e-mails you need to respond to right away, most e-mails can wait at least until halfway through the morning, so don’t worry about responding to everything immediately.
Make a To-Do List
Look ahead and start organizing your day! By crafting a to-do list of your most important tasks, you can have a good idea of the day ahead. Morning routines are crafted by acknowledging your previous accomplishments, and also looking ahead, so be sure to include what you accomplished yesterday (while also forecasting what you have on your plate today). This is not only an opportunity to see what lies ahead, but also to look back on what you’ve already completed. At the end of the day, you’ll be able to say you completed a certain amount of tasks, and this might even help come performance review time, too!
Socialize
Want to know how to start your day off right? Talk about your evening with co-workers! The emotional health that comes from enjoying the company of others is incredibly impactful in the morning. Talking, laughing, and sharing with co-workers is a great way not only to develop office culture, but to get your creative juices flowing. Isolating yourself first thing in the morning is essentially isolating yourself for the rest of the day, so get out there and talk to your fellow coworkers!
Take In Information (Outside of your Role)
Morning routines aren’t just about being productive in your role, you also need to take time out of your morning to get caught up on everything outside of your workplace. Take ten to fifteen minutes out of your morning to read articles, to collect your thoughts, and to read other people’s opinions on issues and events. Not only does this give you some great water cooler fodder, but it also gives you an opportunity to develop nuanced opinions on issues. It’s easy to become blind to everything else going on in the world when you’re at work, but this simply isn’t a productive way to live. Keep yourself open, take in as much information as possible, and your work will (ultimately) benefit.
Of course, these are just some suggestions for morning routines, and the kind of morning routine that will work for you will all depend on the type of person you are! That being said, a morning routine is a great way of ensuring that you feel refreshed and concentrated for the day ahead. The start of your day will often dictate how your day ends, so you should always look to start it off right!
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