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8 Morning Habits to Get You Going
Some people seem to have effortless, calm mornings while the rest of us rush through early hours in a whirl of bleary-eyed chaos. Take a few tips from the experts on organization and how you can calm your chaos for a better start to your day.
1. Be the First One Up
Waking up 10 to 15 minutes before the rest of the house can be enough to make a difference. Getting those first few minutes alone before being pulled in a million directions really helps get a jump start on the day.
2. Don’t Check Your Cell Phone Immediately
When you grab the phone as soon as you wake up, you can get lost in the black hole of emails, headlines, and social media posts that suck up those precious morning minutes. Instead, sit up in bed upon waking, and take a few deeps breaths for at least 30 seconds.
3. Do a Few Things You Love
Give yourself five to 10 minutes in the morning to do some type of positive activity like yoga, meditation, reading, or listening to music. It helps to start your morning off in a positive direction.
4. Complete Tasks in the Same Order
You probably follow an order when you brush your teeth or shower because they’re habit. Create a routine in the morning and stick to it. Eventually, what seemed like a challenge in the morning will soon feel more like second nature.
5. Identify Three Tasks for the Day
Think through your day. Ask yourself, “What do I need to do to make this a good day?” Figure out when these things can be scheduled, including back-up slots, given that life will happen.
6. Prepare Food the Night Before
Plan and package your breakfast and lunch the night before. It’s helpful to know what you’re going to eat each day, and it saves decision and prep time in the morning.
7. Prepare Your To-do List the Night Before
Organization pros emphasize the importance of starting your to-do list the night before. Come morning, you can tweak it based on any emails or tasks that popped up on your radar overnight.
8. Clean Key Areas of the House Before You Leave
Streamline whatever you can at home before you walk out the door so you return to a cleaner environment later. If that means you need to do the dishes the night before, give it a try.
Source: Reader's Digest