When we feel like we need a major change in our lives, we usually tend to wait for the calendar to come. A new week, a month, a year… But no line on the calendar will help you with change, because it starts with you. And it doesn’t have to involve moving to a new country, getting divorced, or, God forbid, changing your hair color. We’ve selected ten (relatively) simple things that everyone can do first thing in the morning. And most successful people do them.
(Yes, some may not do them. A good argument might be Zuckerberg, Musk, or Jobs. But the counterargument is simple – not everyone is born a genius, and where there is a little talent, double the diligence is needed.)
Getting up early may not be a particularly pleasant thing, but it is a habit. Margaret Thatcher used to get up at five. The CEO of Disney is already on his feet at half past four and Bill Gates has been getting up at four throughout his professional career. Tom Ford is already working out at five in the morning and Victoria Beckham has all his emails done before six. There are a million studies showing that those who get up early are more productive, get more done and are more energetic. Working late into the night doesn’t have as many benefits because the brain is more tired and the feeling of productivity is an illusion.
Compare your day in your head – the worst thing you can do is to bury your head in your phone. Don’t check your emails or messages. Take a moment to have a glass of water, make an espresso and take a few minutes to think quietly. What awaits you, if you need to prepare for it, what you need to do, if you have anything personal to do… Create a list of priorities in your head, you can write it down on paper and only then start doing something.
Exercise – it’s not just about summer abs. It’s more about a rush of happy hormones to your brain and a better feeling. If Obama found time to exercise every morning and was sitting in the Oval Office at eight, you have no excuse.
Meditation or yoga can be better than “aggressive” weight training first thing in the morning. You will organize your thoughts and be more calm.
Learn to clean up after yourself – if you live alone (so no one cleans up after you), a system is essential. You don’t have to wash the windows every morning, but even making the bed teaches discipline over time – it’s the first thing you do in the morning in the military. Practicing putting things back in their place will also ensure that you never forget your charger, don’t look for your flash drive, and don’t feel embarrassed when you unexpectedly invite someone over.
Learn to eat breakfast – a bun from a plastic bag on the way to the subway doesn’t count. And neither does an extra huge brunch. Save that for the weekends. A healthy breakfast (and we all hear what such a breakfast looks like all the time) is essential. The body needs energy, if you exercise, you know that.
Green smoothies, plenty of water, vitamins. Eating bread and butter for breakfast is a treat. Or rather, a treat that you can enjoy on the weekends.
Start with the easiest – always tackle the worst thing you can do first. This way, you’ll have easier and easier work throughout the day. Not the other way around.
What else should you do? You can catch up on the news with breakfast and coffee. You should drink water (preferably immediately after waking up – it activates the organs, rehydrates the body that hasn’t had a drop in hours and gives you new energy), take a lukewarm shower and try to do something that makes you happy. Whether it’s sex, gluing trains, reading a book or playing Tetris – joy in the morning will transform your whole day.
Reflect on your daily morning and now compare it to this list… Wouldn’t it be better to wake up an hour earlier, but extend your entire day and start more successfully?
