Did you know that your productivity in the office is strongly influenced by the type of morning you have? It’s true. A frenzied morning sends your cortisol soaring. This increases your stress level, and stress is not conducive to productivity. According to Christina Hamlett, stress can negatively impact people in the workplace by…
- Contributing to burnout
- Straining interactions with peers and supervisors
- Decreasing memory
- Causing mistakes on the job
- Preventing knowledge retention
These are issues that affect the majority of employed individuals. If you are one of them, understand that healthy morning rituals can get your workday off to a great start.
What is a Morning Ritual?
A morning ritual is different from an activity done in the morning. Rituals are things a person does every single day, not just on days he or she feels up to it. Establishing a healthy morning ritual can be hard at first, but if reinforced for long enough, the ritual will become effortless.
There are dozens of morning rituals that can be healthy and helpful for increasing productivity at work. Here are a few examples:
- Do not look at your phone within the first 10 minutes of waking
If you’re like most people, the first thing you do upon waking is reach for your smartphone and check Facebook, Instagram, emails, and text messages. Beginning your day this way jumpstarts adrenaline and sets you up to be distracted on the job. Give yourself a few minutes first thing in the morning to be alone with your thoughts before grabbing the phone.
- Eat a nutritious breakfast
There is nothing more frustrating than trying to focus at work on an empty stomach. That’s why it’s important to eat a nutritious breakfast. (Coffee alone doesn’t count.) In her article 3 Morning Routines That Will Ease You Into The Workday, author Nicola Mar said, “Get in the routine of eating a protein-packed breakfast that you enjoy, and start making it every day before work. This simple routine will keep your diet on track and your ability to focus sharp. The worst kind of day is when you’re crashing from a sugar high at 1 PM (and still have four hours of work to get through).” Heard!
- Give yourself the time you need to get ready for the day
In Western culture, “morning people” are praised. However, some individuals are simply never going to love waking up early. Whether you love or hate mornings, it’s critical that you give yourself the time you need to get ready for the day without rushing. Some people require a couple hours to themselves in the morning; others need much less time. Whatever amount of time you need, remember that you will never regret waking up early enough to avoid feeling rushed.
What morning rituals have you already established? Which rituals would you like to add to your workday mornings?
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