The Importance of a Solid Morning Routine
Written by Andrew Fox
If you want to feel fresh and energised throughout the day, you need to focus on getting a good start. Instead of sleeping in late, you should try waking up earlier and using that precious morning time for some productive work and planning. You could engage in some exercise or other physical activity or do some yoga and contemplation exercises, which will give you great energy to fuel the rest of your day.
Our habits decide our success as human beings. While waking up late or just in time for work isn’t necessarily a bad habit, it can affect the quality of our mood and therefore the rest of our day. However, making a habit out of waking up early in the morning can provide immense benefits in terms greater energy, a clearer mind, the opportunity to plan the day ahead of us and prepare for any anomalies the day might throw our way.
1. Drink Ample Water
This important resource offers massive health benefits. While some may reach for a cigarette first thing in the morning, it goes without saying that a glass or two of water is a healthier alternative. Water helps cleanse your system and aids in eliminating waste from your body. Make it a habit of drinking 1-2 glasses of water as soon as you get up, and you’ll quickly find that your stomach will thank you for it.
2. Practice Yoga or Meditate
Meditation is another great practice that you could perform early in the morning. Contrary to what you might have heard about this ancient eastern practice, meditation is the best medicine for your mind. If done regularly, over a period, it can help cure your mind of that nagging voice that constantly chatters about anything and everything.
To meditate, you simply need to find a quiet place in your home and sit down, either on the floor or on a chair. Keep your spine erect (this ensures you don’t fall asleep and will keep your mind alert) and become aware of your breath. If you find yourself getting lost in thought, or some random chatter, simply recognise that and come back to your breath. The objective is to return to your breath every time. Do this for about 5-10 minutes daily and with practice over time, you’ll find that you’re no longer as caught up in everything that your mind says.
3. Exercise
In the morning, we generally have higher levels of energy and more testosterone compared to other times of the day. According to your preference, you can run, lift weight, perform bodyweight exercises, swim or simply hop on a bike.
Exercise is great not only for the body but also for the mind. It can boost your energy levels, improve your mood, reduce stress and improve your confidence. It’s no wonder that several of the world’s most successful business people choose to exercise in the morning before they start the day.
More important than the quantity of exercise is the quality and consistency of the exercise. In fact, studies in sports psychology have found that even as little as 10 minutes of aerobic exercise can have a positive impact on the body and the mind. However, to experience the long lasting benefits of exercise, one should try to exercise 3-4 times a week for about 30-40 minutes at a time.
4. Preparation for the Day
With proper planning, hard work and determination, you can achieve the goals that you set for yourself. To achieve success in any field it is important to maintain a healthy and positive attitude and build a strong mind. Whatever your goal, it helps to become a student of your profession, whether that’s business or marketing, dance or art or even boxing. If you feed your mind the right ideas surrounding your area of interest, you increase your chances of success.
It can help to listen to an inspirational audio book or follow the advice of a successful role model and educate yourself about the tools of your trade. After your morning exercise, take some time (30 minutes or so) to engage in this sort of activity. Sit back and let your mind absorb this positive and motivating information and allow time for it to digest.
Finally, you could also make a schedule of things to be done during the day; i.e. a to-do list. If nothing else, you’ll be organised and get a whole lot more done than you thought you could.
A Final Word
If you want to be successful, you significantly increase your chances by developing a solid morning routine. After waking up, it helps to start your day with some water and light exercise or a yoga routine. Meditation is another invaluable practice that can increase your productivity and reduce stress by changing your relationship with your mind. Once you’re done with exercise and meditation, spending some time to plan and engage in some motivational reading or listening can give your mind just the inspiration it needs to take you a step closer to your goals. Utilise the morning hours well, and you’ll notice a huge increase in your output as well as your ability to perform tasks under pressure.
About the Author: Andrew Fox is the founder and CEO at Aim Workout. He is a passionate fitness professional and triathlete, with years of experience using top commercial spinning bikes under his belt. He has also been an avid mountain biker, deep sea diver, rock climbing guide and has spent considerable time learning and practising mixed martial arts. In short, Andrew has a penchant for the wild and extreme.
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