Start Your Day off Early to be More Productive

Starting the day on the mat doing yoga has taught me to embrace early mornings and to be more productive during the day. When I start the day with yoga, it helps me to connect mind, body and spirit. It makes me feel calm, focused and in tune with myself.

Spending the time on myself first thing in the morning is a form of self-care too. It lets me know that I am a priority in my own life. It allows me to feel good about myself. Starting the day this way helps me feel ready to face anything.

Your morning sets the tone for the day

Getting up earlier in the morning can help you set a positive tone for your day. It allows you to spend some time on yourself, so that you are ready to face

whatever needs to be done during the day. My early mornings are always self-care times.

In addition to doing morning yoga you can:

• Go for a walk

• Exercise

• Journal

• Practice gratitude

• Say affirmations

• Wash the dishes

• Take a long shower

• Have your coffee outside

• Spend time with your pets

• Read a book

• Listen to a podcast

• Watch an inspirational video

All of these things will help your mindset for the day ahead. Getting into a positive mindset first thing in the morning will help you be happier, calmer and more focused. Also, getting up earlier and spending time on yourself will make you feel less rushed as you are getting ready for the day. Even if you only get up five minutes earlier and do one of the habits above, it will help you for the rest of the day. Putting yourself and your mindset first can allow you to be more productive all day too, because you are more focused. I’m not going to tell you to get up at 5am and take a cold shower, but if that’s your thing, go for it!

Benefits of waking up earlier

According to Amerisleep, here are 9 benefits of getting up early:

• Enhanced organizing skills

• Eat healthy foods

• Exercise regularly

• Beat peak traffic commute

• Stay stress free

• Enjoy quality sleep

• More energy

• Feel happier

• Better grades

When you get up early, you have time to eat a healthy breakfast too, without being in a rush. It can be a green smoothie, a yogurt and fruit, oatmeal, or eggs. Having time to cook in the morning can make sure you aren’t grabbing a donut on the way in to the office.

When I used to wake up late, I would grab a coffee and a donut almost every day. I bet you can think the effect that had on my figure too. Working in a building with a convenience store isn’t really good for your health, especially if you are always late or running in a hurry.

All in all, getting up a little earlier every day can have many benefits. But don’t try to go too early too fast, or your body will have difficulty trying to adjust. Try just getting up 5–15 minutes earlier at first, then gradually move your wake up time so your body can adjust. It can take up to 6 months for your body to get used to waking up 15 minutes earlier, so take it slow.

Taking baby steps will pay off in the end. You will get used to being more of a morning person once you start to experience all the benefits of not having to be in such a hurry!

Pick one early morning habit, stick to it for at least 30 days, and see all of the difference that it makes in your life! New habits typically take at least 28 days to stick, so it is important not to give up before that. This way, you can get all the benefits of getting up earlier!