6 Morning Hacks To Improve Productivity Throughout The Day

Early bird? Night owl? No matter what, getting up, out of the oh so comfy bed, dressed, and ready for the day can be a challenge. Adding in a health condition, like diabetes or hormone management, and it can feel even more cumbersome.

While some parts of the morning are simply meh, there are steps you can take to optimize your time management and start the day off feeling fresh, ready, and prepared for what’s ahead.

6 Morning Hacks To Improve Productivity Throughout The Day

1. Know Your Circadian Rhythm and Work With It

Harvard’s 2010 study found morning people are more proactive and goal-oriented, and suggested a direct correlation between early risers and success. While you might want to work your way to an earlier morning, if you’ve consistently been a night owl, it will work against you if you all of a sudden change the alarm from 9am to 5am. If you can’t fall asleep before 1am, and know you need a solid 8 hours of sleep, forcing yourself out of bed with only 4-5 hours of sleep is a recipe for burnout. If you're not a morning person, your body will only work with you for a few days before you experience effects of sleep deprivation. Rather than “ripping off the bandaid” approach, try:

• Slowly shifting your night time routine to aim for falling asleep 15-20 minutes earlier each week

  • For example, if you fall asleep at 1am, aim for 12:45am one week, 12:30am the following, etc…

  • It will take time to get to your designated sleep goal, but the slow and steady progress will allow your body’s circadian rhythm to adjust comfortably.

2. Prepare What You Can The Night Before

Too many decisions in the morning can overwhelm us and slow us down. Not to mention, when we’re still waking up, we may be more prone to making a mistake. Anyone left the house with two different shoes? By eliminating unnecessary morning decision-making, you can save time for more energy and productivity.

You can:

• Prepare breakfast ahead of time: If you prep ahead you can ensure you’re having a balanced, nutritious breakfast without putting any thought into it the morning of. Try these greek-inspired mini omelettes that you can make ahead of time. They’re a grab-and-go option that will be ready in 20-30 seconds.

• Lay out your medications: Having a pill organizer can help with this so you’re not fumbling around the medicine cabinet.

• Lay out your morning clothes & Peep the Forecast: whether you’re an AM exerciser or want a polished work look, having your clothes out and ready takes away the added stress of “what am I going to wear?” This includes checking the forecast to see what weather you may encounter (although I also double check in the morning, just in case)

• Glance At The Agenda: Knowing what’s in store for the day ahead of time gives yourself extra time to prepare. Our subconscious thinks through many problems without us even recognizing. You might generate multiple ideas overnight for the topic of your meeting by just planting the seed ahead of time!

3. Hydrate

Drinking water first thing in the morning helps fuel your brain. You might not feel it, but after a long night’s sleep your body wakes up naturally dehydrated. The brain is made up of over 70% water, and continuing to hydrate helps keep your brain feeling fresh & optimal. When dehydrated, the brain has less fuel, and you can actually feel drained, lethargic and be more prone to mood fluctuations.

4. Move

Movement is a natural remedy for stress. Getting in your workout before your day gets going will lower your body's cortisol levels (stress hormones). Morning exercise will also help relieve tension and relax your muscles, which your body will thank you for. The body mind connection also comes into play. Moving your body gets your mind active as well. It will help ward off the morning grogginess. Whether morning movement looks like a brisk walk, the gym, or even a couple minutes of calisthenics in the bedroom, this makes a big difference in your day.

5. Engage Auditorily

Engaging auditorily helps activate your brain and add to your morning energy. This can mean throwing on your favorite playlist, or listening to a podcast you enjoy. Adding sound into your morning routine can help boost your mood by stimulating your brain, and activating your conscious.

Additionally, the National Library of Medicine houses a study sighting the connection between music and decreased glucose levels. For individuals watching blood sugar, the dawn phenomenon- an early morning rise in blood sugar - can cause glucose levels to spike in the AM. So, throw on some tunes to get the day going! Why not pair it with #4 and move to some beats??

6. Start -With The “ICK!”

That one task you're dreading the most because it's large and looming over you... The “ICK!” Build the habit of doing your biggest task first for a sizeable boost of accomplishment and relief. This will set you up for a less-stressed, more optimistic day ahead.

For those of you with a larger project as the “ICK” - a task that can’t be completed in one day’s time - tackle the most stressful aspect first. Is it an outline of the days ahead to meet the deadline? The formatting piece of the project? If you complete the biggest “ICK” first, there will be relief knowing it’s out of the way.

As we strive to optimize our productivity (especially on nice summer days where we hope to be outside as much as we can), what do you find to be helpful in your routine? Comment below!

Interested in speaking more about honoring your health: body and mind? Contact me here to schedule a time to speak.