A Lean Journey 
Some mornings just feel right. You wake up
without any alarm. The sunlight entering your room feels pleasant and soothing.
You come back from your morning jog all energized and looking forward to the
day.
And sometimes you have the complete opposite
days. You don’t wake up in your best mood. You don’t feel like working out and
deep inside your heart, you know that today isn’t going to be a great day.
days. You don’t wake up in your best mood. You don’t feel like working out and
deep inside your heart, you know that today isn’t going to be a great day.
Aren’t these everyday scenarios for most of
us?
us?
To have delightful mornings, it’s important to
have a solid morning routine in place. Successful individuals such as Richard Branson,
Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama are known to have kickass morning routines and they
are nailing it every day.
have a solid morning routine in place. Successful individuals such as Richard Branson,
Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama are known to have kickass morning routines and they
are nailing it every day.
To create a morning schedule, just add some
good habits to your current lifestyle – it will dramatically improve your life.
To get you started, below is a list of little things you can add to your
morning routine to have a good day.
good habits to your current lifestyle – it will dramatically improve your life.
To get you started, below is a list of little things you can add to your
morning routine to have a good day.
Let’s take a look at them:
1. Resist the snooze
Time
required: A few seconds (and a lot of willpower)
required: A few seconds (and a lot of willpower)
It could be tempting to hit the snooze button
and get those ten minutes of extra sleep. Mind you, it’s going to do more harm
than good. Ideally, the human body needs 7-8 hours of sleep to be at its
optimum best. So, make the tough call to wake up as soon as your alarm starts
ringing.
and get those ten minutes of extra sleep. Mind you, it’s going to do more harm
than good. Ideally, the human body needs 7-8 hours of sleep to be at its
optimum best. So, make the tough call to wake up as soon as your alarm starts
ringing.
Benefits
of waking up early:
of waking up early:
●
Sense of accomplishment
Sense of accomplishment
●
More time for other activities
More time for other activities
●
Relaxed start of the body
Relaxed start of the body
2. Drink a glass of water
Time
required: One minute or less
required: One minute or less
It’s a good practice to drink water as the
first thing in the morning. As you’ve had a sound sleep for about 6-8 hours,
your body gets dehydrated. Add lemon, cucumber, ice cubes or just drink it
straight up. It starts your metabolism on the right note and keeps your
digestive processes running smoothly.
first thing in the morning. As you’ve had a sound sleep for about 6-8 hours,
your body gets dehydrated. Add lemon, cucumber, ice cubes or just drink it
straight up. It starts your metabolism on the right note and keeps your
digestive processes running smoothly.
Benefits
of drinking water:
of drinking water:
●
Replenishes water levels
Replenishes water levels
●
Refreshes body and mind
Refreshes body and mind
●
Better metabolism
Better metabolism
3. Be grateful
Time
required: Five minutes
required: Five minutes
It’s always a great idea to start your day on
a positive note and what better way than practicing gratitude. Life becomes a
blessing when you start treating it like one. Being grateful increases your
long-term well-being by more than 10percent which is the same as doubling your income. Successful people like that of Tony
Robbins and Arianna Huffington always take out time to be grateful from their
hectic schedules.
a positive note and what better way than practicing gratitude. Life becomes a
blessing when you start treating it like one. Being grateful increases your
long-term well-being by more than 10percent which is the same as doubling your income. Successful people like that of Tony
Robbins and Arianna Huffington always take out time to be grateful from their
hectic schedules.
Benefits
of practicing gratitude:
of practicing gratitude:
●
Makes you happier and optimistic
Makes you happier and optimistic
●
Strengthens your emotions
Strengthens your emotions
●
Makes you more likable
Makes you more likable
4. Complete a 7-minute
workout
Time
required: 7-10 minutes (including warm-up)
required: 7-10 minutes (including warm-up)
It could be hard to find time to exercise when
you are spending more than 10 hours at work. However, if you could just spare 7
minutes to break a sweat in morning, you’re going to have a super-productive
day at work. You can easily find several seven-minute workout apps for your
Android phones and iPhones.
you are spending more than 10 hours at work. However, if you could just spare 7
minutes to break a sweat in morning, you’re going to have a super-productive
day at work. You can easily find several seven-minute workout apps for your
Android phones and iPhones.
Benefits
of exercising:
of exercising:
●
Strengthens muscles and bones
Strengthens muscles and bones
●
Increases energy levels
Increases energy levels
●
Reduces risk of chronic diseases
Reduces risk of chronic diseases
5. Choose your 3 MITs for
the day
Time
required: 5-7 minutes
required: 5-7 minutes
As a part of your morning routine, develop a
habit of making to-do lists and planning your day. The most effective way to go
about it is to choose your three most important tasks (MIT) for the day. It
will help you stay focused on things that actually matter so that you can plan
your day keeping your priorities straight. You can use tools like ProofHub
and Evernote to plan, prioritize, and manage daily tasks.
habit of making to-do lists and planning your day. The most effective way to go
about it is to choose your three most important tasks (MIT) for the day. It
will help you stay focused on things that actually matter so that you can plan
your day keeping your priorities straight. You can use tools like ProofHub
and Evernote to plan, prioritize, and manage daily tasks.
Benefits
of making to-do lists:
of making to-do lists:
●
Creates order and structure
Creates order and structure
●
Lets you coordinate similar tasks
Lets you coordinate similar tasks
●
Makes you more accountable
Makes you more accountable
6. Read a book
Time
required: 15-30 minutes
required: 15-30 minutes
If you think that gone are those days when you
could find time to leisurely read your favorite book or novel, you are wrong.
By carving out 15-30 minutes every morning, you can read whatever you want and
expand your knowledge. Warren Buffett and Steve Jobs are one of those people
who read multiple newspapers and books to stay updated and relevant.
could find time to leisurely read your favorite book or novel, you are wrong.
By carving out 15-30 minutes every morning, you can read whatever you want and
expand your knowledge. Warren Buffett and Steve Jobs are one of those people
who read multiple newspapers and books to stay updated and relevant.
Benefits
of reading in morning:
of reading in morning:
●
More likely to grasp information
faster
More likely to grasp information
faster
●
Improves concentration levels
Improves concentration levels
●
Fewer distractions and
disturbances
Fewer distractions and
disturbances
7. Keep your phone away
Time
required: A few seconds (with constant reminders)
required: A few seconds (with constant reminders)
Phones have become an inevitable part of our
lives. So much so that people start searching for it before they even open
their eyes. Checking social media accounts and replying to emails isn’t a great
thing to do as the first thing in the morning. Keep a fixed time for phone
usage and use morning time for something constructive.
lives. So much so that people start searching for it before they even open
their eyes. Checking social media accounts and replying to emails isn’t a great
thing to do as the first thing in the morning. Keep a fixed time for phone
usage and use morning time for something constructive.
Benefits
of less phone usage:
of less phone usage:
●
More time for other things
More time for other things
●
Keeps your brain relaxed
Keeps your brain relaxed
8. Eat a real breakfast
Time
required: 5-10 minutes
required: 5-10 minutes
Eating healthy and nutritious food is
essential for your well-being. Make it a priority to have a power breakfast
every morning. It will provide required nutrients to the body to enable it to
be productive and efficient all day long. Include everything to have a
wholesome meal. Try incorporating fruits, veggies, salads, lentils to not miss
out on essential minerals and vitamins.
essential for your well-being. Make it a priority to have a power breakfast
every morning. It will provide required nutrients to the body to enable it to
be productive and efficient all day long. Include everything to have a
wholesome meal. Try incorporating fruits, veggies, salads, lentils to not miss
out on essential minerals and vitamins.
Benefits
of power breakfast
of power breakfast
●
Promotes healthy eating habits
Promotes healthy eating habits
●
Keeps weight and body mass index
in check
Keeps weight and body mass index
in check
●
Better skin
Better skin
9. Watch an Inspiring video
Time
required: 5-10 minutes
required: 5-10 minutes
The best way to start your day is by watching
kickass motivational videos or listening to some foot-tapping numbers. It fills
you with much-needed energy and empowers you to tap into your potential.
kickass motivational videos or listening to some foot-tapping numbers. It fills
you with much-needed energy and empowers you to tap into your potential.
Benefits
of watching motivational content:
of watching motivational content:
●
Uplifts mood
Uplifts mood
●
Fills you with motivation
Fills you with motivation
●
Inspires to take action
Inspires to take action
Summing
it up
it up
The way you handle your morning routine could
remarkably change your life for all the good reasons. I’ve only included things
that are less time-consuming and doable.
remarkably change your life for all the good reasons. I’ve only included things
that are less time-consuming and doable.
Feel free to share your morning routine
rituals in the comments below.
About the Author:
Vartika Kashyap is the Marketing Manager at ProofHub and has been one of the LinkedIn Top Voices in 2017. Her articles are inspired by office situations and work-related events. She likes to write about productivity, team building, work culture, leadership, entrepreneurship among others and contributing to a better workplace is what makes her click.
rituals in the comments below.
About the Author:
Vartika Kashyap is the Marketing Manager at ProofHub and has been one of the LinkedIn Top Voices in 2017. Her articles are inspired by office situations and work-related events. She likes to write about productivity, team building, work culture, leadership, entrepreneurship among others and contributing to a better workplace is what makes her click.
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