Five Morning Tips to Supercharge Your Work Day
Five Morning Tips to Supercharge Your Work Day
With all the pressure on us to perform, we need to be at our best the moment we arrive at work.
“Our best” isn't going to happen, however, by simply rolling out of bed and eating a doughnut on the drive to the office. Just like an elite athlete, our peak performance requires proper fuel, warm up, as well as getting into the right frame of mind. In other words, you need a good morning routine.
If you want to hit the ground running each and every work day, here are our top five productive morning tips:
1. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
This one sounds obvious, but that doesn’t make it any less important. According to Web MD, eating a nutritionally-complete meal in the morning helps you concentrate, solve problems, and generally improve your mental performance. Added benefits of a healthy breakfast include the potential for lower cholesterol levels, plus an easier time managing your weight.
2. Hydrate Yourself
As this article in Business Insider states, many top executives make a point of drinking water first thing when they wake up. Why? To function properly, your brain not only needs food for fuel, it requires water, too. A tall glass of H2O also boosts your metabolism, can help flush out toxins, and promote better general health.
3. Work Some Exercise Into Your Routine
We’ve heard about the benefits of exercise since we were kids in gym class. But what you may not know is that there’s a link between physical activity and our overall energy level. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that exercise “…helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores.” In addition, as The Next Web states, top business leaders such as Richard Branson, Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, and Starbucks President Michelle Gass start each day with exercise because it boosts their productivity.
4. Clear Your Mind
With those huge task lists bearing down on us, our heads are constantly spinning with thoughts, fears, and anxieties. Add in a buzzing cell phone, a dog that needs a walk, and kids wanting help packing their lunches, life can become overwhelming. To get a better handle on things, Fast Company recommends taking some time for inner peace and mental quiet. For some, mental peace can be achieved through meditation, others recommend morning yoga, and many others find mental quiet through their morning run, paddle, or bike ride. Whichever method you choose, quieting your mind gives you a chance to organize your thoughts and approach the day in a calmer, more methodical manner.
5. Use a Standing Desk
With all this healthy momentum you’ve built up, you don’t want to lose it the second you open that spreadsheet. Studies show that a standing desk helps keep you energized, engaged, and focused on the task at hand. Adjustable height desks also help fight “sitting disease,” which a prestigious doctor at the Mayo Clinic told the Los Angeles Times causes us to lose two hours of life for every hour we sit.
Standing Desks Supercharge Your Work Day
If these suggestions and standing desk benefits inspired you to get out of your chair, we suggest installing a standing desk converter or a full-featured sit to stand desk. For maximum comfort, ergonomic desk accessories such as a floor mat, wobble stool, or footrest will make a great addition.
