The 7 Things You Need to Check off Your List Before 9am

It’s actually quite incredible how the way you start the day can dramatically impact how the rest of your day plays out. If your morning ritual regularly has you leaving your house in a frantic rush, you may find that you never seem to be able to get the rest of the day on track. Starting your day off in control with a productive morning can help you manage the rest of the day ahead with success.

The most important thing you will want to do is begin establishing a morning routine. Doing this will help you better manage your time, letting you feel in control and accomplished before you even walk out the front door. It’s going to take some time and adjustment, but if you stick to it, you’re almost certain to notice a difference in how your days start and progress.

To start out, you will probably need to map out your morning schedule, and may need to reference it to stay on track. Don’t get discouraged if it takes some time to get the routine down -this almost never happens instantly!

Here are some suggestions for things to do before 9am, that you can add into your new morning routine to get your day off to a great start:

1. Stay offline

First thing’s first – don’t pick up your phone and begin checking your emails when you wake up. You never know what messages you’re going to find, and you could find your day derailed from the start with problems at work or other issues. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of time to resolve these issues the rest of the day. Focusing on outside priorities to start your day means you’re putting aside your own priorities and what you want to accomplish for the day. Stick to your schedule by not allowing emails to derail your focus.

2. Exercise

It’s not necessary to run a marathon every morning in order to get a little exercise into your routine. But, setting aside even a short amount of time each morning to add some physical activity into your routine can have tremendous benefits. Just a few minutes of time spent doing stretches in the morning can be a beneficial step towards getting blood flow pumping and starting your day positively. Not only does this help improve your overall physical health and well being, but it gives you a feeling of accomplishment and allows you to do something beneficial for yourself. Physical activity helps prepare your mind and body for the rest of the day, giving you a sense of control from the start.

3. Skip the junk

When we’re rushing around in the morning, it’s so much easier to grab something quick – and usually not healthy – as we run out the door, or to skip eating anything altogether. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet we seldom make it an important component in our morning ritual. When you have a routine established, you can make time to prepare a healthy breakfast to fuel your body and mind. Not properly nourishing your body in the morning can actually impact your ability to work properly and efficiently, and can even diminish your ability to problem solve. 

And, remembering to drink water throughout the day is also an important component in giving your body and mind the fuel they need to function properly. Having a tall glass of water in the morning can also help wake up your body and jump-start your metabolism.

4. Take time for yourself

It’s always beneficial to take a few moments to yourself each morning, before you start focusing on others and you’re pulled in all directions by kids, work, and other obligations. Sometimes all you need is 5 minutes of quiet, alone time, enjoying your morning cup of coffee. If your morning schedule is already pretty full, getting some time for yourself might mean waking up a little earlier than everyone else to have a little extra time for you. 

5. Prioritize

You will have plenty of things you will want to get done each day, but it’s important to realize you likely won’t be able to get everything checked off your list each day. Figure out what your top one or two priorities are – those things that you absolutely must get done – and focus on those things for the day. And, be sure to set realistic expectations for what can be accomplished.  

6. Don’t lose your passion

No matter how busy your schedule may be, it’s essential that you take some time towards something that brings joy to your life. Whether it’s taking time to read a great book, painting or photography, do at least one thing that you’re passionate about. Even if it’s just finishing one chapter of your book, or putting a few more brush strokes on canvas, it’s important do inject your day with something that’s personally fulfilling.

7. Transition 

Transitioning your mind into work-mode helps you move from your morning routine into the rest of the day. Include something into your morning routine that helps trigger that transition – it could be something as simple as turning on the radio when you’re ready to get started. Whatever it may be, make sure it’s what helps get your mind into the right mode to get your work day started.

Establishing a morning routine helps get your day started on the right track, and gives you the structure that lets you take control of your time. Making a few small adjustments to your morning schedule can result in big changes to your level of productivity. Give yourself time to get used to your new schedule, but if you’re trying to stay consistent with your routine, you’ll start noticing positive changes almost instantly.

We hope you found this blog helpful and informative. We, at Ontario Business Central have been assisting thousands of individuals every year to set up and expand their businesses.

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