5 Ways to Get Motivated in the Morning
I would never dare to label myself as a morning person. Scheduling a call or meeting before 10am feels ludicrous because usually, it takes me a good 1-2 hours to wake up fully after a cup (or 3) of coffee. However, lately I’ve developed a habit that not only makes getting up a little less brutal but motivates me to be productive first thing! Here are 5 ways that have helped me beat the grogginess and get my butt in gear…
1) HYDRATE
First thing, drink at least a glass (preferably more) of water. We wake up dehydrated and if you replenish those fluids first thing, it can help with mental clarity and alertness. If plain water is gross to you, throw in some fresh lemon or fruit or bust out a La Croix if you need some morning fizz.
2) START WITH GRATITUDE
Before you start reacting to to-do lists and emails, take a few minutes to either write down or meditate on what you’re grateful for. It can be anything, big or small - my first one is usually coffee since this is when I fuel my body with caffeine and my mind with at least three things I feel especially lucky to have.
3) READ
Now before you scoff at that and think, “Read?!?! In the morning?? How much time do you think I have??” This can come in all different formats and I encourage you to pick the one that works best for you. For me, I love reading a few pages of either a devotional/spiritual book as well as the handful of affirmations that I pick when I start a new journal. However, if you’re short on time, pick a few uplifting quotes from people who inspire you, listen to an audio book on our commute to work, anything interesting that will help your mental attitude heading into the day.
4) AVOID YOUR PHONE
This is the hardest one for me and one I don’t always accomplish. Our phones have a way of luring us into the black hole of Tiktok or makes us feel like we need to respond to that work email right away…but if it’s left on your nightstand when you head to the kitchen to start your daily routine, you’d be surprised how much better you feel not to mention ready to respond to all your notifications AFTER you’ve taken time to prep your mental attitude for the day.
5) GOAL SET
This one is my favorite and in my opinion, most important. These goals don’t have to be your biggest wildest dreams, but by writing down small goals for the day, it becomes extremely satisfying to cross those off your list, and by taking those small steps each day, you’re actually getting much closer to your bigger goals too. I usually start on Monday with my goals for the week and then each day, prioritize what is most valuable to get done. By writing them down in a journal or the same document on your computer, looking back at all you’ve accomplished over a period of time is so inspiring! That will hopefully motivate you to continue to set and achieve these goals over time. Tip: Start with the thing you want to do the least because then it’ll be so much easier to get the rest done once you tackle the most annoying one first.
I’ve been doing my specific morning routine for the past year and a half and it has helped shape my business, my attitude and relationships, and I can definitely tell the difference on days when I don’t get it in. I hope putting these into practice can help you get motivated and productive, before your official day begins.
Comment below with some of your favorite morning rituals!
Much love,
-SG