Mornings don’t have to be hard. They don’t have to be full of grumpiness and dread. Here are five easy ways to start the day smiling so that you can be a better, happier self.
Get enough sleep
The oft-repeated advice to get enough sleep should not be ignored. While it seems like there is never enough time to accomplish everything in a day, sleep should not be sacrificed. While it’s recommended that adults get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, everyone is different. But, if you are constantly foggy throughout the day, think about changing your sleep habits. Even an extra 20 or 30 minutes a night can make a big difference.
Plan the night before
It’s tempting to think that your day should start with a plan, but it’s actually better to plan the night before. Before going to bed, make a list of things you want to accomplish the next day. Are there any projects that need to be finished? What errands need to be done? Even something as mundane as picking out your outfit the night before can help you to start the day smiling.
Too often we wake up and worry about all of these decisions. If you can make the decisions the night before, then you won’t have to worry about them. Instead, you can simply wake up and start your day off right.
Think about your purpose
Instead of getting trapped in a cycle of focusing on small tasks that need to be accomplished, think about a big picture for your day. Start with feelings. Do you want to focus on being happy today? Do you want to make a difference with others? Or want to feel creative? If you can begin your day with a purposeful focus, it gives your brain an overall feeling to achieve. This purpose will help you start the day smiling by giving you some clarity.
Meditate/ Reflect
Once the alarm goes off in the morning, it can be a mad rush to get dressed, eat breakfast, and be on your way to work. But time to meditate and reflect needs to be added to your morning routine. It doesn’t have to be much. Even 10 minutes in the morning will help you clear your mind and give you a sense of inner peace.
It can be hard to find an extra 10 minutes in your morning, but time isn’t there to be found. It’s there to be made. Make the time. Got to bed 10 minutes earlier so that you can wake up 10 minutes earlier. Have a shower in the evening.
Leave the Emails for Worktime
Now that email is almost automatically paired with a smartphone, work email has steadily intruded into personal time. It’s tempting to immediately start checking your email after waking up, but this usually just creates stress. Do your best to wait for work to do work. It will allow you personal time and result in you able to start the day smiling.