When you’re working from home it’s tempting to roll over in bed and immediately hop on your first zoom call of the day. Maybe even taking your call while you’re still under the covers. But that’s probably not the most productive way to start your day. Developing a morning routine is an important part of setting the stage for a productive day of work. The tips below are will help you hone in on your perfect morning.
1. Be aspirational…BUT also realistic
You’re reading this article which means that you’ve probably read similar blog post about “super productive” people who wake up at 4am so they can spend an hour meditating then drink a green smoothie or whatever. It sounds so lovely and the youtube videos make for great content…but in practice 99.9% of us don’t want to wake up at 4am. When it comes to self-help it’s easy to get wrapped up in the aspirational version of who you’d like to be, but it’s okay to meet yourself where you are. So if you want to wake up earlier, start small. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier and make adjustments over time and eventually you’ll have a full hour before your first zoom call.
2. Drink Water
We expel ….of water while we sleep. When you wake up it’s important to replenish your body with water to stay hydrated.
3. Get Dressed
The first couple of weeks I worked from home it was kinda fun to stay in my PJs and sweats all day but it got old fast. I use to have a very well crafted work wardrobe when I went in the office and not only did I miss my stylish fits I was starting to feel kinda bummy. Even if your company doesn’t keep the cameras on during conference calls it still a good idea to get dressed for nothing more than “getting in uniform” to do work. Sleeping clothes are for sleeping not working after all. If you really aren’t feeling your old office clothes maybe it’s time to update your loungewear so you can make the most of working from home.
4. Develop a “Ritual”
This will be different for everyone. The idea is that this “ritual” is for you to take a pause and practice mindfulness. I loooooove coffee. So every morning I take a little time to make a cup of coffee and drink it. It is basic, but the pause is important before diving into work. If you’re not into coffee maybe your morning ritual is making matcha, going through a skin care routine, taking a walk or reading an inspirational quote. If you’re not sure what your ritual will be it’s okay to experiment till you find something that speaks to you.
5. Plan your workout
Knowing exactly what your workout is going to consist of before you even go to bed at night will make it that much more likely you’ll complete it in the morning. If you’re doing a online workout have the exact tab pulled up on phone/tv/tablet so you don’t have to figure out what your workout will be in the morning. This also includes prepping your exercise outfit. Have everything ready to go so it’s one less thing you have to think about in the morning.
6. Do the prework
In order to have a successful morning routine it does help if you to do some night time prep work. Lay out your clothes for the next day or make some overnight oats for breakfast. The future you will thank you.
7. Set your intention for the day
It’s so easy to get swept into the frenzy of replying to pings and emails as soon as you sit down to start your day. Take 5 minutes to write out what you want to accomplish for the day. It can be a to-do list or you can record it in your bullet journal. By starting with a direction you’re more likely to reach the destination.