Mornings are tough. There is no doubt about it. They’re also the first challenge we face every single day. Getting motivated to get up at a crack of dawn, to wash up, suit up and start your daily commute can be difficult. Not mentioning all other little things, you have to accomplish first before you leave through your doorstep.
Although mornings can be difficult, there are plenty of ways to minimize the stress that comes with waking up on a Monday morning. Figuring out a great nightly routine can help you get to bed stress-free, and kickstart your mornings. I do the following things every night to give myself a peace of mind, better my sleep, and increase my morning productivity and overall well-being.
Recommendation #1 – Nix the technology.
Every night, at least 30 minutes prior to going to sleep I switch off all my technology and I stop using any devices. As reported in many studies, most devices emit blue light which in turn delays the release of a sleep-inducing hormone called melatonin. Blue light can also increase your alertness, keeping you up at night and delaying your much-needed sleep.
Instead of checking Facebook and double tapping on Instagram, use your last 30 minutes decompressing and relaxing while doing something you love.
Recommendation #2 – Use your night to relax.
After a full day of work, set aside some time on the night to do something you enjoy that helps you relax. Remember that great looking book that your friend recommended, and you bought it at a local bookstore? Yes, that book – now is the time to pick it up, dust it off and open up on the first page. Unlike devices, books do not emit any blue light, therefore, are a pretty safe substitute for nightly entertainment. You can put it down as soon as you’re done with your chapter and they won’t keep you up at night. Winner!
Recommendation #3 – Organize your next day.
Before you lay down and decide to relax, and call it quits for the night, one way you can kickstart your next morning is by planning it out. At this time, I like to reflect on my day and on goals I set myself to accomplish. Weather I have reached them or for some reason, I was unable to accomplish them, I keep myself accountable.
Planning out my next day helps me set expectations and daily objectives. That way when I wake up I know what the majority of my energy will be focused on throughout the day. Knowing what you’re expected to accomplish, will help you avoid procrastination, confusion, and randomness that can lead to 0% of goals accomplished. So plan it out! Make sure you know what you need to do the night before. Don’t let yourself have to work this out when you get up. It’s not the best way to start your morning.
Recommendation #4 – Prep your clothes. Prep your meals. Don’t scramble.
If you want to avoid unnecessary stress in the morning, make sure you take some time out the night before to plan out your wardrobe and prep your food. Having to make this kind of decisions, could easily be avoided. Let’s face it when you wake up in the morning, and you’re already challenged with the decision of getting up or staying in bed, the last thing you want is to have to make even more decisions. If you’re like me and you move slowly in the morning, you can definitely benefit from having your wardrobe and meals prepped the night before. The lesser the stress, the easier it will be for you to start your day.
Conclusion.
Mornings are difficult and there is no doubt about it but, by making some conscious decisions and taking actions you can increase your productivity and achieve your daily goals! Recommendations mentioned in this article are a few things that I do every night to help myself relax and strategize my days. This article is not some kind of a gold mine that will skyrocket your productivity but staying aware of these recommendations can help you formulate your own nightly routine, one that hopefully works for you!