How To Have A Successful Day, Every Day: A Few Wood Men
The first hour you spend awake will usually decide if today is going to be just another day, or a great day. Most men have a morning routine that they stick to each and every day, but can yours be improved? Getting up on time and utilizing the early hours to prep yourself for a successful 18 hours can truly push your life in the right direction.
Not only will you feel energized, awake and happy at work but you’ll also have a couple of extra hours for fitness, side-projects or anything else that drives your passions. Below are a few tips and ideas to up your morning productivity, including some insights from the experts
Your Morning Routine Starts In The Evening
The truth is, a successful day always begins the night before. Take 20 minutes at the end of each day to plan tomorrow’s clothes, to-do list and set some goals. This will help clear your mind and create a pathway for another successful day! Having three clear goals for the day ahead can also help motivate you to wake up that little bit earlier.
When you wake up, you don’t want to think. You need to be in autopilot - this is the best way to get out of bed on time and get moving. That means anything you can do the night before to make things easier in the morning will be hugely beneficial.
What Gets You Out Of Bed?
Most of us aren’t blessed with the gift of being an ‘early bird’ making getting out of bed on time a major struggle! It’s hard to escape the warm comfort of your mattress when it’s cold and wet outside. How can you be up on time everyday? You need something that truly drives you.
There are a few products that can help, such as this alarm clock that uses lighting to wake you naturally. While products such as this can be useful for some, most of the time they simply don’t cut it! The real battle is in your mind. That’s what you need to conquer each and every day.
Some tried & tested ways to do this is by setting goals for the next day, getting your morning dose of inspiration (Via YouTube) or setting a morning task that you can look forward to every day. Even if it’s playing your favorite video game for 30 minutes - it’s still better than being asleep!
Morning Fitness
Something people all across the globe use to wake them up is a healthy dose of fitness. This will not only waken and strengthen your muscles for the day, but it will also get your mind active. Lots of people who workout in the morning claim it helps them to think quicker during the day and even be more creative. The benefits to your body are both physical and mental.
You don’t need to wake up at 5am for an intense 2-hour workout that leaves your burned out for the rest of the day. Instead, try a 20-minute run and slowly up your speed and mileage as your body gets stronger. You don’t even need to worry about getting to the gym!
Dress To Impress
It’s always a good idea to have a daily hygiene routine. Something simple like shower, shave, brush, change, breakfast will help ensure you never miss a beat. We believe that having a ready-to-go outfit for the day ahead can be a great way to reduce the need to think as much as possible and set yourself up for the day. (Try one of our stylish wooden watches for the perfect fashion accessory).
You can hang up tomorrow’s clothes in your wardrobe, or leave them in the bathroom so you can get changed straight out of the shower and save some extra time. This way you can look great everyday! Another great way to keep things simple is by using a shaving subscription box. This will make sure you have all the products and razors you need, every single month.
Prepare A Nutritious Breakfast
We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That means it’s time to stop skipping breakfast because you ‘don’t have enough time’. You need to make time! Also, preparing a protein-rich meal to set you up for the day ahead will always be 100X better than a supermarket cereal box.
Browse some high protein breakfast ideas online and find something that works for you. It only takes 20 minutes to cook up a nutritious meal and if you just try it once, I’m sure you’ll notice the difference in energy-levels.
Morning Routines Of Incredibly Successful People
Steve Jobs used his mornings to contemplate his life at a high-level and evaluate his desires. In a famous speech to a graduating class at Stanford, he said, “For the past 33 years I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” (Source)
Most CEOs like to get out of bed as early as possible (sometimes as early as 4am) and move their business forward as much as possible with every waking hour. David Karp, founder of Tumblr, is an incredibly successful entrepreneur. Interestingly, he makes a point to avoid all emails until 9:30 am. He was quoted in Inc. Magazine, saying; “Reading emails at home never feels good or productive. If something urgently needs my attention, someone will call or text me.”
Jason Vo, founder and publisher of Modern Block, thinks it’s good to spend the morning getting some fresh air. That’s why he rises at 6:30, makes breakfast and walks his dog shortly after. He also spends the morning cleaning and organizing his workspace, to ensure his surroundings are in ‘tip-top condition’. (Source)
Hilary Matheson is a designer, photographer, ultrarunner and frequent traveler. Despite her busy workdays and time spent exploring other regions, she still aims to get 7.5 hours of quality sleep every single day. “When I need to be up earlier, I work backwards with my bedtime so that I consistently keep those seven and a half hours reserved for sleep.” (Source)
So, hopefully, you’ve picked up a couple of tactics for tomorrow morning and you’re ready to attack the day! Have any other useful morning tips? Leave a comment below.
