5 Easy Steps to Having a More Productive Morning During a Pandemic
Having a productive morning during a global pandemic is not easy. Between having to work from home with our families and our favorite restaurants being closed, it can be hard to find the motivation to get things done.
Luckily, there are 5 easy steps we can all take that will boost our morning productivity and enhance our focus throughout the day.
1. Prepare the night before
Mornings can be rough. Things often seem to move a hundred directions at once and your brain is only half turned on.
Save yourself some morning stress by making preparations the night before. Preparing your next day meals and picking out your outfit in advance will help make your morning more productive and efficient.
2. Start the day with a proactive and positive mindset
When you wake up in the morning, what are the first thoughts that cross your mind? If they involve worries over what needs to be done or doubts about being able to do it, you’re setting yourself up for failure before you’re even out of bed.
The right mindset can take you anywhere. Visualize yourself breezing through the hardest task of the day and they’ll be done before you know it. Focus on the positive aspects of your least favorite activities and they will no longer be so bad.
There are many aspects of life that we have no control over. But, our mindsets are not one of these. Wake up, rub the sleep out of your eyes and believe you’re going to have a productive and positive day. Because you are.
3. Get in some early morning movement
Getting some movement and exercise in the morning is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a productive day. Research shows that morning exercise increases productivity and enhances mood, making it easier for you to deal with the demands faced throughout the day.
Morning movement will also help kick start your day and keep you energized. A Harvard study found that waking up and exercising will not only boost your energy more than a cup of coffee, it will also keep you focused and energized longer than if you were to use caffeine.
Don’t be daunted by the idea of rolling out of bed to working out. Your morning movement doesn’t need to be intense or difficult. A simple walk around the neighborhood or a short stretch routine is often all you need.
4. Eat a nutritious breakfast
We have all heard the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”. And it turns out, it is true. Eating a nutritious, protein-rich breakfast helps fuel our bodies after a night of fasting while we sleep.
Eating a healthy breakfast has been shown to drastically improve cognitive performance and even increase general well being. So ditch the donuts and boost your morning productivity by starting your day off with a nutritious meal.
Need some inspiration on how to make the most out of your breakfast? Here are 73 healthy breakfast recipes that will help you start your morning off right.
5. Write a (short) to-do list
Writing down and organizing the tasks you need to do in the day is a great way to increase your productivity. Having a list of tasks helps you visualize what needs to be done and plan accordingly.
However, it is important to keep your list short. A large to-do list can be overwhelming and cause less productivity than no list at all.
So write down your highest priority tasks, take a deep breath, and go conquer the day knowing you have had a productive morning and that you have set yourself up for success.
