9 Killer Morning Habits To Boost Your Productivity

Albert Einstein said that “we cannot expect different results if we always do the same.” And I say “we cannot have the most productive day if we do what we always do in the mornings”.

You need to start from the beginning to boost your daily personal and professional productivity. And by the beginning I mean the first things you do in the morning, when you wake up.

These are 9 killers habits that will help you start your day with a smile, and positive and ready to take on any challenge.

Even if you are one of those morning haters, you will eventually come to embrace the beauty of the sunrise and the birds singing outside. These habits will help you to do so.

The habits are organized in order. So, hopefully you will be able to practice them in the way they are presented. 

1. Don’t curse the morning!

I am morning person. I wake up every day between 3.45 and 4 a.m. But, I understand that not everyone is a morning person. And that’s OK. But even if you are not a morning person, don’t start your day by cursing your bad luck for having to wake up early. I mean, how sad it is to start your day by saying “f… the morning”.

I seriously believe in the power of words to shape our mood. Try welcoming the new day, being thankful that you are alive. Then, move on… You’ll notice the difference in your mood and behavior throughout the day. Embrace the morning!

2. Drink Water

A lot of people are like zombies before their morning coffee. They can barely walk. And if they can walk at all, it’s because of animal instinct attracted by the allure of the coffee machine. But, we have to tweak that habit a little bit.

60% of your body is water. And you drain a lot of it in your previous day sweat and your nocturnal peeing. You have to properly reactivate your body in the morning. And (SAD info coming….) coffee doesn’t do that. Water does. So, instead of having a cup of coffee, drink a full glass of room-temperature water. You’ll feel the difference!

3. Stretch

I’m not talking about the lame arm stretches you do in bed while you yawn and cuss the mother of the guy who invented working at 9 a.m. I’m talking about serious stretches (without hurting yourself) that make your joints and muscles pop. Stretch your arms, legs, back, neck, shoulders. Find a 5-minute yoga routine or 5-minute morning stretches. If you have never done it, start progressively. I don’t want to kill you in your first day of using these habits. Start easy, increment constantly, become stronger. 

4. Meditate/Reflect/Say Your Mantra/Set Goals

After you drank your water and stretched for a few minutes, take some time to do nothing other than meditate about what’s coming in your day. Please don’t rush in your train of thoughts about the many things you have to do during the day, or the hundreds of emails waiting to be responded. Instead, take quality and quiet time (5 minutes) to repeat your positive mantra, reflect about how you want to live this day, instead of what you want to accomplish. Only then, after you meditate on the "how", can you take some time to set your daily goal, personal or professional. All in all, this shouldn’t take more than 5-15 minutes.

5. Get your workout in (the morning!!!)

I understand that human bodies work in very different ways. Some people enjoy getting their workouts in the mornings, others in the afternoon. However, research is clear about the fact that your cortisol levels are higher in the morning than the rest of the day. Cortisol does many wonderful things in your body (when regulated properly). One of them is regulating metabolism and stress levels.

Getting your workout in the morning helps you take advantage of your higher levels of morning cortisol. If you are not a workout-in-the-morning type of person, try at least to get a short walk, run or even some stretches in before you start getting ready for the day. Getting your workout in the morning entails more consistency, it’s better for weight loss and you are energized for the rest of the day!

Most people are not super early risers, neither night owls. They are in somewhere in between. So, it really wouldn't kill you to start your day 30 minutes earlier and get some workout in.

6. A hearty breakfast

Dump the sugary comfort cereals that come in a box or an envelope. Instead, take a few more minutes to make yourself a hearty, larger and less processed breakfast. Eat a lot of fresh fruit, make yourself a powerful smoothie, or simply an oatmeal bowl. Breakfast is extremely important. And whether you like to eat super early or not, what’s important is to eat as clean of a breakfast as possible.

7. Love yourself

Love yourself. Say how gorgeous or good looking you are. Accept and embrace who you are, your nature. Kill those thoughts of self-doubt and hesitation about what you are able to do. Self-deprecation is not accepted, anymore. Get it out of your brain! "Bring it on, life. I'm are ready!" is your new morning expression!

8. Now… the normal

Now you can do the normal, everyday stuff: brush your teeth (don’t do it before drinking water, though!), get your shower, dress for work and get out of the door with the biggest smile that will have people asking you “what did you do this morning?”… And tell them.

9. And the night before the morning… Go to bed early

If you’re reading this and are younger than 20… well, it probably doesn’t really matter at what time you go to bed. You’ll recover very fast. But for those of us who are way past our 20s, we do need a relaxing and restful night of sleep. Today, Americans sleep way less than they did in the 1940s. Sleeping is a fundamental part of life. It’s not just about resting, it’s also about cleaning your body, flushing out dead cells and toxins, and getting ready for the next day. Go to bed early. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep (closer to 8, if possible).

Where’s the coffee?

I stopped drinking coffee four years ago. I was addicted to it and loved it, but I think it was harming me more than doing any good. Coffee makes the human body acidic. And an acidic environment is the coziest place for bacteria, viruses and illnesses that harm our health.

I’ve always been a morning person and never needed coffee to stay awake in the morning. So, it wasn't really difficult to get rid of coffee (except for the first two weeks). But if you think you need your coffee, it’s up to you whether you want to continue drinking it. Perhaps you can just adjust the quantity... All I’m saying is that at the end of the day, you don’t really need coffee to stay awake. It’s just habit. And as such, it can be changed from drinking coffee to drinking a fruit or green smoothie.

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