Ease Into Your Day or Full Speed Ahead?

Before sprinters get set in the starting blocks, they go through a thorough warm up. They have to prime their muscles and nervous system so when that when the gun goes off, they can start fast.

If you want to be like a sprinter and start your day fast, then you need to warm up, too, but differently. You need to warm up your mind, your soul, and your body.

First, consider your mind.

Dr. Peter Haberl says, “Your mind is a thought and emotion-producing factory." So, if your mind is constantly producing thoughts and emotions, how can you reign that in for a productive day? Simply by spending a few minutes each morning performing mindful breathing, you can regain control of your attention and focus your efforts on the day ahead.

Here’s how it works:

1.    Close your eyes and sit up straight with your hands in your lap.

2.    Perform six breaths, breathe in through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for two seconds, and then breathe out through your mouth for six seconds.

3.    Fix your attention on the entirety of the breath as it enters your nostrils through the short pause at the end of the inhale and the entire exit of the breath.

Second, focus on your soul.

The soul consists of a person's intellect, emotions, and will. Spending time each morning reflecting on your purpose, and aligning your emotions with it, will add a renewed sense of meaning to your life.

Third, be aware of your physical body.

Move early and move often! Start your day with 15 to 20 minutes of an exercise of your choice. This will energize your body for the work ahead.

If you’re interested in starting fast, begin with the three keys to get you going – mind, soul, and body – you'll bust out of those starting blocks like never before.

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Who is Dr. Erik Korem

Dr. Erik Korem is on a mission to help people learn how to use stress to perform at their best – professionally, personally, and in any domain. It’s about being adaptable. He has spent the past 15 years working as a Sports Scientist and High-Performance Director in the NFL and major college and Olympic athletes. Today, he is an expert and thought leader in high performance who teaches others to be at their best without burning out or stressing out.