7 Ways to Make Your Mornings More Productive

Author: Peter Vossman

A good morning leaves you feeling energized and sets the tone for the rest of your day, which is especially important when you need to get work done. Luckily, there are a number of small things you can do to jumpstart your mornings and significantly boost your productivity.

Have a Plan of Action

Before you go to sleep, take a few minutes to come up with a list of things you need to do in the morning. Setting a reminder on your phone or physically writing it out on paper will reinforce your plan of action and make it harder to procrastinate or forget about important tasks, and knowing what you want to accomplish as soon as you wake up can save time and increase productivity right off the bat. Put the most important things at the top of your list, and cross them off as you go in order to track your progress.

Get Rid of Distractions

Resist the urge to wake up and immediately start checking on your personal emails, text messages, or social media updates. While you may tell yourself that it will only take a few minutes, it’s incredibly easy to get bogged down and waste your most productive hours. Unless there’s an emergency, set aside the phone and make an effort to concentrate completely on what needs to get done. Some people even find it helpful to turn off their phone or disconnect from the internet until they finish their work.

Visualize Your Goals

Visualization is a way to build up motivation and transform your daily goals from something abstract into something more concrete, forcing your brain to devote more attention and energy to it. Think of visualization as a sort of “mental rehearsal” – walk yourself through the task at hand, focusing on how to successfully complete it and what resources it will require.

Get Energized

If you find yourself tired in the mornings, or have trouble avoiding the snooze button, it’s time to focus on energy management. Try to eat a light, high-energy breakfast consisting of things like fruit, vegetables, and nuts, or protein-packed foods like eggs, cottage cheese, and yogurt. Avoid carb-heavy breakfasts, since they can make you feel full and sluggish. And make sure to include plenty of water, especially if you are drinking coffee, since dehydration is a leading cause of fatigue throughout the day. It can also be helpful to do 10 or 15 minutes of light exercise early in the morning, which can help energize you and improve your mood.

Decide What Is Important

When you start thinking about all of the things that you need to get done in in any given day, it can quickly start to feel overwhelming. The key is to take stock of the situation and prioritize your tasks. Decide what is absolutely crucial – things that will have major negative repercussions if you don’t finish in time – versus what is just important. Take into account how much time and energy your goals require, and don’t be afraid to finish a quick and simple task every now and then to give yourself a motivation boost.

Get Better Rest

Many people underestimate the importance of high-quality, consistent sleep. That doesn’t just mean getting the recommended 8 hours, though that’s certainly a good place to start. It also means avoiding caffeine, alcohol, or carb-heavy foods right before bed, which can interrupt your sleep cycle. Make sure your room is at a comfortable temperature, and that you don’t have any bright lights on in the background, which can make it harder to get to sleep. And consider investing in a better mattress or pillow–better sleep is a worthwhile investment if you want to maximize early morning productivity.

Create a Morning Ritual

Having a set morning routine is a great way to build motivation and signal to your brain that it’s time to buckle down and get work done. Everyone’s morning ritual will be different, so it’s important to try different things and find out what works best for you. Whether that means a quick jog, meditation, listening to relaxing music, or just brewing a fresh pot of coffee, the important thing is to find something that you can stick to.

Even if you aren’t a “morning person,” the simple tips above can help you maximize your potential and ensure that you face the day feeling energized, focused, and more productive than ever.