03 Jan How to Find Daily Motivation for Your Mornings
Your Mornings Determine Your Days
Every one of us has experienced those dull, uninspiring days where the last thing you want is to crawl out of bed and face the world.
Mental and physical fatigue, chronic stress – couple that with waking up late and you have a cocktail for a miserable day.
Surely, you’ve had mornings like this. What you may not realize, however, is that once you start the day bad, you will likely end it bad as well.
A study that specifically looked into waking up on the wrong side of bed surveyed customer service representatives, and their moods throughout an entire working day.
What they found is that employees who started the day upbeat were able to finish the day in the same calm and happy emotional state. And they provided higher quality service, too.
Meanwhile, those who started the day in a bad mood usually ended the day in that way, despite having positive interactions from customers. And they tend to take more frequent breaks to get themselves through the day – something that could affect productivity.
How to Find Daily Motivation for Your Mornings
Even though it would be nice to be able to stay in bed whenever you feel like it, it’s not an option for many of us. When you’re just not feeling motivated, you can use these simple techniques to help you overcome those morning doldrums:
Stop snoozing (for the ninth time!)
Waking up on time is one of the key things you can do to start your day right. It gives you enough time to gather yourself and complete your morning routine without being on a mad rush.
What’s the point of setting the alarm if you will not use it anyway?
If you wake up on time, you can accomplish various things, such as planning your day, meditating for a few minutes, and preparing for work. These mini-tasks set you up for a good momentum the entire day.
Additionally, if you take a look at the routines of super achievers, most of these people rise early and prepare for the day.
CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, for instance, wakes up every day at 7:00 am, after about six hours of sleep. He would usually skip breakfast, but never the morning shower, as this is his ‘thinking time’. Other notable examples include Virgin Group Founder Richard Bronson, who wakes up at 5:45 am to exercise and eat a proper breakfast, and Apple CEO Tim Cook who wakes up at around 4:30 am to send emails before heading to the gym.
These leaders don’t wake up early just for laughs. They recognize the benefits that an early rise can bring. In your case, try to do it gradually – you may not handle the 4:30 am a daily rise, but even just adding half an hour to your mornings can give you that quiet time to plan your day well.
Make your bed
It may seem useless, but making your bed can actually contribute to how motivated you are for the day. Ever wondered why it’s taught in children and even in the armed forces?
One Navy Seal Admiral, William H. McCraven explains, that making your bed in the morning can symbolize the first accomplished task of the day. This simple act also reinforces the fact that the little things in life matter – and if you can’t do the small things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right.
Recite affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements you can use to reframe your state of mind at that moment. They can potentially help you overcome those nagging, negative self-talk that would just start you off feeling miserable.
It could be about anything you wish to happen: “I will be productive today”, “I will make $$$ this year”, or “I will achieve _____”. Early morning is a great time to contemplate and plan on reaching your goals, no matter how big or small they are.
As you focus on these things, they can make a mark on your subconscious, and you will begin to believe that you can and you will achieve them, which then pushes you to act on them.
Squeeze in a bit of exercise
This might be hard for some people, but spending a few minutes exercising in the morning can definitely change your entire mood and energy levels.
You get a blood circulation boost, you release endorphins, and you fight feelings of depression and anxiety. A brisk walk around the neighbourhood, a few minutes of weight training, or a quick yoga session would be enough to complete your morning.
Still unconvinced?
Well, just to get you thinking: a Finnish study suggests that exercise can be correlated with increased wealth.
Try a cold shower
This might not be for everybody, but many people swear by taking cold showers in the morning to kick-start the body.
Like exercise, it can increase blood flow and release dopamine in the body, getting you ready to face the world confidently.
Leave enough time for your commute
Rushing to work is one of those irks that causes so much stress and anxiety. Especially if you have a major event, meeting or presentation, scrambling to arrive at your workplace will ultimately set off a dreadful day.
When determining your wake-up time, always set the right amount of time to the commute. This includes leaving space for any delays. Traffic jam, road works or any disruptions must be factored in your schedule.
The Takeaway
These are just some of the ways you can find your daily motivation in the morning. You don’t have to follow everything, but it would be useful to reflect on these tips and make a few of them a part of your routine.
Daily motivation rarely lands on your lap by its own; it’s up to you to work on it and be more purposeful with how you spend your day from the time you wake up.
What’s your secret for a great morning start?
Now that you have these ways to help you find your daily motivation, you are now ready to go out and achieve your motivational goals