Seeing any type of results or change in your life ultimately comes down to your habits. From fitness to your career, being intentional with your routines is the best way to reach your goals. This starts with the rituals you follow each morning—starting your day off strong will make it easier to keep that momentum all day long. If you want to be more productive throughout the day, what are some habits that you can add to your routine in the morning that will help you achieve your goals? We asked Wasim Hajjiri, a fitness professional, author, and business coach, what tips he has for setting yourself up for success as soon as you wake up each day.
First of all, it’s important to note that just as good habits can lift you up, bad habits can tear you down. What are some things you may be doing every morning that are setting you up for failure? “Checking your phone right away and scrolling through emails and social media, or watching the news,” Hajjiri says, “The first 30 mins of the day set the tone for the entire day, if you start with social media that is the worst thing you can do. There have been many studies about the negative mental health effect it has on us. So, if you start your day negatively it tends to feed into everything else.”
Hajjiri also notes that sleeping in or having an inconsistent wakeup schedule can be tricky too. “The more you give your mind an opportunity to be comfortable, the harder it will be to do the tasks on your to-do list, especially the difficult ones. Our brains are not wired for comfort, that’s why we always feel some kind of resistance to take action—the way you overcome that is to do the things you don’t like doing and force yourself to do them.” Hajjiri shared the top three things that he recommends you do every single morning if you want to get better at being productive.
Exercise
Exercising has lots of benefits, for your physical and mental health. But something people may not realize is that you don’t have to do strenuous exercise to reap the benefits. “Taking 5 to 15 mins to do some movement and get the blood pumping [will help],” Hajjiri says, “This can be walking, yoga, or stretching.”
Journalling
Making a point to write down your plans, aspirations, and thoughts can help you visualize your goals, make space for gratitude, and process your emotions. Hajjiri suggests keeping it simple, and taking 5 minutes to write down your goals for the day, a list of things you’re grateful for, and a list of things you love about yourself. This will help you start your day off on a positive note, and get a clear picture of what you need to get done.
Meditation
Meditation has lots of benefits when it comes to managing stress and improving sleep quality. Hajjiri recommends taking as little as 5 minutes every morning to meditate. “There are many free apps you can use [if you’re not sure where to start]. I suggest doing something simple like deep inhales from the nose and slowly exhaling from the mouth.”
Starting your day off by relaxing, thinking positive thoughts, and having a game plan for what you need to get done are all essential for being productive and feeling your best. Keeping it simple and being realistic with your personal schedule is also important—just taking 15 minutes a day to do all these things in the morning is enough to give you the boost you need to take your day by storm.
