Not everyone is a morning person, but to succeed at many jobs, you need to be able to produce as if you were one. Getting a strong start to your day is the key to keeping your focus and increasing your capacity at work. If you struggle to stay focused at work, try these tips to help increase your productivity.
1. Change Your Rest Routine
Getting to bed at a reasonable and regular time is essential. The body develops rhythms around sleeping and waking up, and works best when the pattern is consistent. If you want to start getting up earlier, set a time you want to wake up and count eight hours backwards from there; this is your new bedtime. Going to sleep earlier, and allowing plenty of time for adequate rest, will help you wake up feeling refreshed and recharged. You should also unplug from all electronics at least 90 minutes before bed. The blue light from these electronics interferes with production of the sleep hormone melatonin and seriously impacts your ability to get a good night’s sleep.
2. Nourishment: Fuel for Your Body and Mind
A nutritious breakfast is possibly the single most important factor to having a productive day. The mind and body need calories and nutrients at the start of the day to get things going right. Along with breakfast, drinks like fruit juices and herbal teas from natural sources are good for the mind and body. Eating a satisfying breakfast can also curb cravings the rest of the day, which will keep you away from the office vending machine.
3. Engage in Energetic Early Morning Activities
How you start your morning is crucial to how much you can increase your productivity throughout the rest of the day. Do things in the morning that put you in a high state of energy; this will set the tone for your day. Morning workouts are an excellent idea because they get your blood flowing and activate mental alertness. Burning off physical energy at the start of the day does wonders for stress management. Regular exercise also keeps you healthy, improving personal productivity. Shower in the mornings to improve your energy level and your self-confidence.
4. Prepare for Your Day Before Bed
Do certain activities before bed that prepare you for the next day. Lay out your wardrobe, plan or prepare your lunch and breakfast, and get your papers or any other work materials ready and at the door. Not only does this make your morning more productive, it lets your brain prepare for the tasks of the next day while you sleep. Feeling prepared for the next day allows you to relax and easily drift off to sleep.
Don’t forget to set aside time during the day for relaxing activities. Your mind and body need some downtime to recharge, and then you can rebound for the rest of the day with renewed energy and creativity.
