Rise and shine! Morning
time just became your new best friend. Love it or hate it, utilizing the
morning hours before work may be the key to a successful and healthy lifestyle.
That's right, early rising is a common trait found in many CEOs, government
officials, and other influential people.
This post originally
appeared on Forbes.
Margaret Thatcher was up
every day at 5 am, Frank Lloyd Wright at 4am, and Robert Iger, the CEO of
Disney, wakes at 4:30am (just to name a few). P
I know what you're
thinking—you do your best work at night. Not so fast. According to Inc.
Magazine, morning
people have
been found to be more proactive and more productive. In addition, the health
benefits for those with a life before work go on and on. Let's explore five of
the things successful people do before 8am.P
Exercise
I've said it once, I'll
say it again. Most people that work out daily, work out in the morning. Whether
it's a morning yoga session or a trip to the gym, exercising before work gives you a
boost of energy for the day and that deserved sense of accomplishment. Anyone
can tackle a pile of paperwork after 200 ab reps! Morning workouts also
eliminate the possibility of flaking out on your cardio after a long day at
work. Even if you aren't bright eyed and bushy tailed at the thought of a 5am
jog, try waking up 15 minutes early for a quick bedside set of pushups or
stretching. It'll help wake up your body, and prep you for your day.
Map Out Your Day
Maximize your potential
by mapping out your schedule for the day, as well as your goals and to dos. The
morning is a good time for this as it is often one of the only quiet times a
person gets throughout the day. The early hours foster easier reflection that
helps when prioritizing your activities. They also allow for uninterrupted
problem solving when trying to fit everything into your timetable. While
scheduling, don't forget about your mental health. Plan a 10 minute break after
that stressful meeting for a quick walk around the block or a moment of
meditation at your desk. Trying to eat healthy? Schedule a small window in the
evening to pack a few nutritious snacks to bring to work the next day.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
We all know that rush out
the door with a cup of coffee and an empty stomach feeling. You sit down at
your desk, and you're already wondering how early that taco truck sets up camp
outside your office. No good. Take that extra time in the morning to fuel your
body for the tasks ahead of it. It will help keep your mind on what's at hand
and not your growling stomach. Not only is breakfast good for your physical health, it is also a
good time to connect socially. Even five minutes of talking with your kids or
spouse while eating a quick bowl of oatmeal can boost your spirits before
heading out the door.
Visualization
These days we talk about
our physical health ad nauseam, but sometimes our mental health gets
overlooked. The morning is the perfect time to spend some quiet time inside
your mind meditating
or visualizing. Take a moment to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on
the successes you will have. Even just a minute of visualization and positive
thinking can help improve your mood and outlook on your work load for the day.P
Make Your Day Top Heavy
We all have that one item
on our to do list
that we dread. It looms over you all day (or week) until you finally suck it up
and do it after much procrastination. Here's an easy tip to save yourself the
stress—do that least desirable task on your list first. Instead of anticipating
the unpleasantness of it from first coffee through your lunch break, get it out
of the way. The morning is the time when you are (generally) more well rested
and your energy level is up. Therefore, you are more well equipped to handle
more difficult projects. And look at it this way, your day will get progressively
easier, not the other way around. By the time your work day is ending,
you're winding down with easier to dos and heading into your free time more
relaxed. Success!
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