Your Morning Routine- at HOME
From the desk of Carol C…
Being in a profession which involves working with people of all ages all day requires lots of energy and being in good health. Easier said than done in most cases at least on a consistent basis, but a few months ago I read an article about the importance of having a dedicated routine in the morning…meaning you follow it every day. I think it caught my eye because my routine in the morning is to get out of bed and rush to wherever I am to be. Sound familiar? This article stated there were only three things that needed to be a part of a morning routine. Only 3? Music to my ears! What a relief! Every other time I’d read an article explaining what to do to make my life happier, more successful, and less stressed I faced 10-13 suggestions to implement. That’s too many changes for me. After about number 5 I would lose interest and forget about making changes. 3 I could do. AND these 3 routines are professed to be the ones successful CEOs follow. Certainly there had to be something to this idea of 3.
Here are the nonnegotiable steps of the morning routine:
1. Get your muscles moving. Engage in at least a few minutes, not seconds, of traditional exercise. Remember the days of jumping jacks, toe touches, and squat thrusts? Bring one of these back into your morning. Instead you may go for a jog, to the gym, or wherever you prefer to exercise. You just need to move those muscles for a couple of minutes. Something as easy as stretching would fit into this category. Why a bit of morning exercise? It loosens your muscles. After several hours in bed muscles become stiff and almost misaligned. Stretching keeps them aligned and gives them more flexibility. It, also, improves blood circulation which in turn increases energy level. Finally, it serves to improve self esteem and decrease stress (especially when you’re getting up to face a tough day. I guess it’s those endorphins being released.) Stretching in bed should make it easier to actually get out of bed…physically and mentally.
2. Eat protein. When you get out of bed in the morning you are breaking your fast, so it’s important to feed your body, give it what it needs. Protein keeps your blood sugar level stable and regulated. When these levels are stable, all of your body systems work more efficiently. You feel less hungry if your blood sugar doesn’t spike and then fall rapidly. Protein slows down the rate at which blood sugar travels. With protein your body is better able to fight infection. Your brain is able to keep you moving and thinking more clearly. Protein helps repair and build muscle. Eating it for breakfast can increase the amount of calories burned in a day (Yes!) and again reduce your appetite.
3. Set ONE goal which you are going to accomplish for the day. Are you kidding me? ONE? That’s right. Set one goal…the most important one for you…and work on achieving it. If you are successful then you may move on to another one. Just remember though you have already had a successful day regardless of how you come out with the second goal. Accomplished CEO’s set one goal. Now the goal may be complex. Most likely difficult infrastructure is involved, but the CEO stays focused on her overall goal. She concentrates on what she has to do in order to meet it. Just as important as staying focused, the goal which is set must one which can be achieved
within the day. Setting a goal is about looking at the big picture but seeing the small parts you can accomplish a bit at a time.
I don’t know the science behind these suggestions, but I do know this. In my case they are working. I still rush much too often in the morning, but I’m better prepared and my day runs more smoothly when I follow the “morning routine rules”!