The early bird gets the worm! Learn how this early morning routine can benefit your health and performance in all aspects of your life.
When people are in their teen and young adult phase, they tend to have a sloppy daily routine. I don’t know if it’s just the norm of society, but it’s simply a fact.
These young people like to go to bed late and have to wake up early. They also like to run on caffeine all day and look tired. It may look cool to them, but in the long run it can cause all sorts of problems.
Having a daily routine has several benefits, including better emotional health. Furthermore, these benefits are stronger for people who tend to wake up early on enough sleep.
I have always been an early bird, and transitioning back from working overnights to a normal schedule has been great. I feel much more productive and to an extent much healthier.
The routine I’m about to share is my personal routine, and although I don’t measure the benefits by stats, it definitely makes me feel good.
Without further a due, here is a good daily routine to follow:
1. Hit the gym before work
Personally, I like to go to the gym before entering into the office. It has a lot of benefits, such as beating the heat and having less people on the equipment.
However, on a healthier note, the benefits include improving my mood, boosting my energy, and ultimately feeling more awake after my workout. This allows me to be focused and happy to start my day.
Doing exercise in the morning in general is quite peaceful and calming to an extent. If the workout is intense, you leave the session feeling accomplished. Towards the end of the day, you also get tired which makes it easier to sleep.
I like to go to the gym at 5am when it opens. So far it has been a great thing for me and I’m sure it can be for others as well.
2. Eat a good breakfast
Since I haven’t stressed this enough, a good morning routine is fundamental to having a good day. After doing a workout, it’s important to get the appropriate amount of nutrition.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all. It’s the first meal of the day. Hence, breakfast is vital for the body to function properly on a daily basis.
I like to eat cereal if I’m in a rush, but I try to eat a fruit as well. Tangerines are a nice option as well as bananas or apples.
When I have time, I like to have toast with cream cheese and jelly. I tend to make scrambled eggs too and have it as a sandwich with cheese sometimes.
The main thing to consider is to have some form of wheat for breakfast and if possible, some protein. Drinking milk or juice is also a great choice.
3. Stand up and/or walk throughout the day
Oftentimes, we forget that it’s important to stretch our legs if we work in a corporate setting. We get too attached to our seats all day.
It’s a good habit to go on a walk for a few minutes at least once a day. Not only does it distract your mind off things for a while, but it pumps oxygen into your brain too. In other words, it allows you to think better.
Of course, there’s other benefits of going on a walk like getting your vitamins from the sun. It also allows you to work certain muscles that you can’t strengthen when you’re sitting all day.
A simple 10–15-minute walk a day during work is a good habit and part of my routine.
4. Socialize with others
Part of what makes going into the office to work nice is the opportunity to chat with people.
As you get to meet and know people, it gives you a sense of belonging. When you feel that way, it helps your mental health. Having a good mental health is arguably the most important thing for anybody.
In addition, socializing allows you to build cognitive skills. You want to make sure to remember certain things about a person so you can continue to develop a relationship with them.
I like to take time throughout the day to ask people how they are doing. I don’t often get too deep into conversation with them, but from time to time I do.
A good tip on my end is to go up to people from time to time to see how they are. Don’t just talk to people whenever you need something from them. I personally think it looks a bit rude, but that’s just me.
5. Eat well throughout the day
Although breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it doesn’t mean the others aren’t important.
A lot of people tend to skip lunch or have a poor meal to save time and money. I was a culprit myself, and it did affect my health to some extent.
People don’t realize how impactful a poor meal throughout the day can be. It can cause weight gain, it can make blood sugar levels drop, and it can affect your mood.
A good way to go about eating your meals everyday is by meal prepping. It saves money and if you cook enough for a few days, it saves time too.
I usually cook on Sundays and Wednesdays, and it lasts me for the week. Saturdays are my junk days where I order food from places for dinner.
6. Relax your mind
Part of being successful is knowing how to work smarter, not harder. It also means not overworking yourself. Again, I was often a culprit of this when working overnights.
Distracting yourself is very important. It can shed light on things you may not see at the moment. The phrase “sleep on it” very much means to let your mind take a break and come back to it later.
Whether it’s watching TV or going on social media, the brain needs a distraction from its everyday tasks.
I like to spend an hour on YouTube watching videos, but everyone can have their own thing.
7. Sleep early
It’s impossible to maintain a routine unless you get enough sleep.
I end up going to bed around 8:30pm on weekdays. It allows me to wake up at 4:45am the next morning and feel rested.
Of course, the main idea is to get 7-9 hours of sleep. If you want the time to be different in your routine, by all means that’s fine.
One final thought, I do this entire routine on weekdays. I like to sleep in a bit later on weekends and I go to bed later on Fridays and Saturdays.
I personally understand it’s no fun being serious about a routine everyday of the year. Thus, I take the weekends off to do my own thing. I do exercises at home for a few minutes or just relax somewhere.
I can honestly say this routine has gotten the best of me so far in the few months that I’ve done this. You get a feeling of being more productive and a better version of yourself. Try to establish your own routine and see what works for you.
