As we end one year and start another, people often look for ways to change their lives for the better. That’s a reason I personally try to have four new years every calendar year. (More on that in a later post.) But for everyone else, here are some morning habits you might want to consider starting next year. Why?

Well, most of our mornings aren’t very fun. We roll out of bed, maybe hit snooze a few times, and then crawl into work feeling groggy at best. But it doesn’t have to be like this. The morning hours can be times of relaxation, focus, and self-improvement. Here are a few practical habits that can take your mornings from pointless to productive!

Exercise first thing

One of the best habits to fill your morning hours with is exercise. Now first a disclaimer: I’m typing this but I haven’t been doing it lately myself. Every morning at 6:30 AM 🥱 my phone alarms with a reminder to exercise but since 2020 kicked us all in the gut I honestly started allowing myself to sleep in. Can’t you tell by how late this post is going up today?

At any rate exercise is a great way to get your blood flowing and boost your energy. Plus, the feeling that you’ve accomplished something can help carry you through the day and boost your confidence. And as pictured above, if you have children why not help them kickstart this habit early in life. It will help them be alert for those virtual classes and possibly make it a little easier for younger ones to sit still for a little longer. I for one intend to bring this habit back in 2021. But maybe not tomorrow…check in again with me on January 16th. (There’s a GOOD reason for the delay)

Prioritize your tasks

Have you ever thought of everything you have to do in a day and get overwhelmed? Has that never-ending list led to analysis paralysis or worse yet the tendency to bounce from one thing to another without seemingly getting any of it done? (I’m literally speaking from experience here 😳)

One great habit is to combat this is to start planning out your day and prioritizing your tasks. Write down what specifically you want to accomplish and when. You might be amazed by how empowering it is to make a plan and to see your goals on a piece of paper. Start off with your biggest task. The morning is when you’re at your peak brain power, so commit your best efforts to the hardest work. The feeling of accomplishment from knocking out the task will carry you through the smaller things!

Go to bed early

Ok, so I don’t expect anyone to do this tonight. But Sunday night don’t stay up too late watching just one more episode of your favorite show (Bridgerton or The Queen’s Gambit?) and expect to wake up feeling motivated Monday morning. A productive morning starts the night before. Try to stay away from screens before going to bed (at least one hour) and make sure you turn in at a reasonable time. You may also want to dial back when you wake up. Having a quiet hour or two before everyone else wakes up is a great way of freeing up time to invest in things you care about. Just remember that your new sleep schedule will take some time to adjust to!

Mornings don’t have to be rough. Incorporating these tips and habits into your daily routine can help make the first hours of the day a time you look forward to. Start inching your alarm closer towards sunrise and use that extra time to absolutely crush your day!

Which habits are you going to start in 2021? Tell us below! 👇