Not everyone was born to be a morning person. However, several studies have proven that morning people may be more productive at work and happier in their lives. So what are the night owls to do? Consider these tips to transform yourself into a morning person.
1. Get ready the night before.
Do you find that you're a little scattered in the morning? Are you constantly running late or do you have a tendency to leave something behind? If this is the case, preparing yourself the night before will help center you a little bit.1 Lay out your outfit for the next day, set up your coffee machine for the morning, make your lunch before you go to bed, and put your keys in a place you'll pass on your way out. Getting yourself organized can keep you a little more clear-headed the next day, preventing you from showing up to work flustered. Put down all electronic devices 90 minutes before you hit the sheets. Research has found that looking at your phone or computer can actually stimulate the brain, so if you try to go to bed right after screen gazing, you may have more difficulty sleeping.2
2. Set your alarm earlier and don't snooze.
Some people may set their alarms for 6 a.m. but end up hitting the snooze button numerous times. This is not recommended. Follow the habit of many successful CEOs and set your alarm for six or earlier each day to get off on the right foot. Don't snooze – research has shown that it actually resets your sleep cycle, so when you wake up again your head feels fuzzier. Once you get up, try to get active. This could mean scheduling a workout for yourself or, if you're pressed for time, just do a few quick stretches. Getting your circulation going first thing in the morning is a great way to motivate yourself. Exercising can help calm your mind and assist in clearer thinking.
3. Eat breakfast.
Come on, you knew this was coming. Say it with me: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” If you want to be a morning person, you'll need the fuel to get going and have a positive attitude. So keep plenty of nutritious breakfast food in your kitchen. It wouldn't hurt to have a stash of healthy snackables for the morning at your desk too.
4. Consider your first 15 minutes.
The first 15 minutes after you get to work may determine how the rest of your day goes. Figure out how to tackle your top projects for the day within this time frame. And get to it. If you try to tackle a major project in the middle of the day, you might get side-tracked by meetings and other tasks. In the morning try not to respond to emails. That's a common morning distraction that can pull you away from top priorities. Address your workload first and attend to non-urgent emails later.
5. Turn on the music.
Research has revealed that music can help stimulate the brain, meaning you will be more likely to get to work right away. Whether that means turning on the radio and using headphones at work or setting up a work playlist on your music player, listening to music can help keep you focused and let you complete your agenda for the day.
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Related post: Tips for Being On Time to Work
1 https://www.themuse.com/advice/19-morning-hacks-for-night-owls-who-would-rather-still-be-sleeping
2 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/casey-cavanagh/morning-person_b_5502768.html