Welcome to my blog, Harmony Shift. Today we are going to talk about your morning routine. I know some of you play Build a Bear with your mornings and try to stuff as much in your mornings as you can, but you don’t have to. Some of you might think to get more done and to feel more productive I must accomplish 50 different things, but, in reality, you’re not more productive or getting any more done. Tim Ferris says, “If you win the morning, you win the day.” Try to focus more, prioritize, and reduce distractions. Let me explain below and it will make sense. So, let’s dive right in and hopefully you can start actually getting more done.
Before you try one of those quick fixes to shake up your mornings and your productivity, keep in mind that revitalizing your mornings require more than just a five-minute hack. The secret is to change your morning routine in a way that works for you and follow through on those practices every day.
So, what does make a good morning routine — one that inspires you? inspires success?
What popular morning routine advice is worth taking vs. ignoring?
Here I have listed my top 8 tips for creating and following a morning routine that energizes your body and sharpens your mind. Additionally, we’ll look at a few examples and guide you in creating a unique morning routine that you can actually stick to.
Focus
Ok so this is a tricky one. I started with this one because I know some of you have a hard time with focusing on your list, what you need to get done, the numerous things running through your head when you get up, and of course getting the kids ready or the pets fed. Well, here is what you can do to stay focused and the task at hand.
“These days, I feel more comfortable taking things at my own pace and doing things the way I want to do them; essentially, not holding myself to unrealistic expectations.” – Catherine Beard from her blog, the blissful mind.
Many people believe that they have to cram as much in the mornings with all the “good” habits; eat healthy, work out, meditate, journal, shower, read, write. Wait a minute, what time are you getting up, 3?! Come on, people. That is not realistic. Keep it simple and very minimalistic. For example, don’t get overwhelmed. Keep it simple, small, and gradual and work into it.
Give yourself and your body time to breathe and relax. Consider starting your day with activities that help center your thoughts. Whether that means a few minutes of meditation, jotting down your thoughts in a journal, or just taking a moment to self-reflect, these practices can help you slow down and clear your mind (aka-focus).
Prioritize
Start by making a list of your tasks, and then rank them in order of their importance. Just be mindful and make sure your energy is directed to what matters most first, this will help ensure your most critical tasks are completed while your mind is fresh and focused. Then, you can do the less important activities when you have time or get to them later. A study including 45 organizations revealed that multitasking caused them to be less productive by a whopping 27.5%.
If you complete your difficult tasks first (out of your priority list) you will end up being more productive, get further ahead, and accomplish more during the day. Brian Tracy invented a technique called “Eat the Frog” check out the link here https://www.usemotion.com/blog/eat-the-frog and see what you think. It’s a Time Mgt. Technique that a lot of small businesses use to be more productive.
Reduce Distractions
I have heard this before, and you may have as well but it’s worth mentioning here: It takes 23 minutes and 13 seconds to return to your original task after a distraction. That’s a lot of time wasted, especially if you’re frequently distracted. Distractions are unique to each person, but they still take just as long. For one person, TikTok, another, email.
My recommendations are to first, start cutting down on those distractions. Identify what frequently distracts you and find ways to eliminate those distractions. Motion automatically rebuilds your schedule when distractions or interruptions happen. This is great because you can pick up where you left off and maintain your momentum.
Some other great ways to have success in the morning is to get some exercise. Even Elon Musk works out and runs on a treadmill in the morning.
Author Henry David Thoreau, a frequent walker, said, “Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.” And Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” He would sometimes walk up to eight hours a day. https://www.usemotion.com/blog/morning-routines
Hopefully these ideas help you in turning your morning routine into a more productive, less stressful time. Remember if you win the morning, you win the day!
Until next time,
Darren
Harmony Shift 