Not a Morning Person? 5 Tips to Jumpstart Your Day!

It can be difficult to get out of bed in the morning, especially in the dead cold of winter.

That being said, when you take advantage of this precious time, you will be able to create

momentum at work and promote feelings of accomplishment. Below are some of my favorite

tips on making the most out of your mornings and feeling motivated for the rest of your day.

Here are five ways to start your work day right.

1. Get an early start: Whatever you do, do NOT press that snooze button. Not even once. This will give you extra minutes to get ready, prevent you from being late to the office or feeling rushed and frenzied, and will also put you in the right frame of mind. When you hop out of bed right away, you are telling yourself that you are excited to start the day — not dreading it. Try to get to the office a bit early to let yourself settle in and get going with little distraction. Most importantly, do not be late; getting into the office behind schedule can throw off your entire day, causing you to continuously play catch-up. There is also a scientific explanation as to why hitting the snooze button can leave you feeling even worse than before. Your brain starts its sleep cycle all over again if you fall back asleep after your alarm goes off the first time. Try to stick to waking up at the same time every morning to keep a smooth rhythm going.

2. Organize and prioritize: Make a to-do list first thing in the morning to guarantee that you will not forget anything throughout your day. Pick out the one thing on that list that absolutely must get done within the first hour or two. Check off an important task early in the day, and conquer the most dreaded assignments first to get them out of the way and free your mind. Determine your peak working window and plan to tackle your most challenging or time-consuming work during that time. One major faux pas: do not start the day going through your emails. Not only is that a time-suck, but it will only derail you and unnecessarily cause stress. Instead, priority scan your inbox. Read only the important ones first and save the rest for later once you have completed some significant tasks.

3. Be mindful: Take a deep breath. If you get an early start, try to do something small that makes you happy and fit it into your schedule — read a chapter in a new book or stop by your favorite cafe. People are usually stressed by the time they come into the office, due to a stressful commute or leftover baggage from home life. When you finally sit down in the office, take a beat to focus on the present moment. Center yourself before you get caught up in your projects. Give yourself a few minutes to set your own tone for the day. Some people in my office even take some time to meditate in a quiet room to alleviate stress throughout the day. According to sources, Just 10 to 15 minutes of meditation a day can leave employees feeling more confident, and more productive with increased job satisfaction. Meditation is also one of the cheapest solutions a company can implement for their employees’ well-being, which in turn benefits themselves.

4. Check in with your team: Before you really get on a roll, hold a quick 10-15 minute meeting with your team to touch base. Get some input on the day’s projects or share important information. Share your objectives for the day to help each other feel motivated and hold everyone accountable. You do not need a formal huddle either. Even just making eye contact, exchanging smiles and hellos, and asking how they are doing can be enough. Take the time to really connect and be present, especially if you are in a leadership position. This can set the tone for everyone’s day, and make a big difference in morale and output.

5. Give yourself a blank canvas: Each day is a new chance to do something different —remember to take advantage of that clean slate. Think not just what you want to do, but who you want to be today. There may be lingering projects or conversations from the previous day that have carried over, but try to approach them with a new perspective. Start all of your days with feelings of gratitude; be thankful for what you do have, and continue striving for what you want. Leave any negativity behind, and leave the past in the past. Your first hour of work can set your attitude for the rest of the day, so make it a good one.

How do you start your day? Share in the comments!