If you’re one of many who have had to make the adjustment to working remotely, you probably know by now that it can be harder than it looks. Maybe you haven’t gotten the whole “morning routine” thing down just yet, or at this point, you may be feeling like you’re stuck in a rut with your daily routine in general. It’s easy to feel that way, and if you do, you’re certainly not alone—but that doesn’t mean you can’t break out of the rut and set yourself up for success as much as possible.
If you’re reading this, chances are you want to make a change. First, you need to make a decision. Be more intentional about your mornings. Keep reading for tips and tricks on how to create a successful morning routine, especially if you’re still adapting to working remotely.
With these habits, you can create a morning routine on which you can count.
Plan ahead based on what you need. If you’re not a morning person, chances are you won’t be at your best at 7 AM. If you’re foggy until 10 AM, don’t try to force yourself to join the early risers club right away—make it work for you instead! Or, if it can’t be avoided (say you’ve got an early meeting on Zoom, or have a tight deadline), then prep ahead of time. Set an alarm to remind you of the meeting on your Fitbit.
Create a list of things to remember the day before. You can mentally prepare yourself for the next day by preparing your mind in advance. List the tasks by priority, with the most important tasks at the top. In his book, Eat That Frog! 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, author Brian Tracy tells us, “‘If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.’ This is another way of saying that if you have two important tasks before you, start with the biggest, hardest, and most important task first.”
The idea is that most of us have lengthy to-do lists on any given workday, and we’re not always likely to finish them. If we eat the frog first and get it out of the way, we’ll be more naturally motivated to check off the rest of our less difficult tasks in a more organic way.
Decide on the time you will wake up, and stick to it. Consistency is the key to a good night’s sleep. You already know that a regular sleeping schedule is good for your health. It boosts your energy and focus as well as your immunity. If you keep your body in sync, it will adjust to the circadian rhythm of your body and wake up naturally for you the next morning. But if you’re still working on that, you can try using Smart Wake on your smartwatch to avoid waking yourself up while in deep sleep.
Want to wake up earlier than usual? You can start by getting up five to ten minutes earlier. This will allow you introduce the change in your schedule gradually.
Change out of your pajamas. If you’re working remotely, this is crucial—even if it’s just changing from your sleep pajamas to your work-from-home pajamas. Hey, we’re not judging! And, if we’re looking on the bright side, it certainly is cozier to be able to work in your sweatpants. So, even if you are putting on sweats for the third time this week already, what matters here is the shift that changing from your PJ’s into your “work attire” creates in your brain, signaling that you are now ready to get to work.
Another big one is moving from your bed to a designated work station—even if it is your couch. Need tips on creating a better work-from-home environment/ergonomic workspace? Here are a few tips.
Eat a nutritious breakfast. If you want to reduce your sugar intake, eat a meal with 20g protein. Try any (or all!) Try any (or all!)
Take a walk. Take a short walk to simulate your commute. Of course, this depends on what your schedule’s like on any given day, but even fitting in a brisk walk around the block can help “trick” your brain into thinking that it’s going somewhere, which will, in turn, get you to gear yourself up for work mode. If you’ve got the time, listen to an inspiring or motivational podcast during your walk—or, make it more mindful by leaving your phone at home and observing little details about your immediate scenery that you might not usually pay attention to.