I am NOT a morning person. At all. Somehow, at 8 a.m. every morning my bed turns into the most comfortable place on Earth. I don’t know how, but it makes it very hard to leave. In my constant quest to get my life together, I have realized that I don’t utilize my mornings to their full potential. I have compiled some of my favorite tips on how to have a productive morning. I am trying some of these on my own, but productivity is a JOURNEY people.

Prepare the Night Before:

I am a busy bee at night. For some reason, my productivity levels are peaked at 11 p.m. If you’re like me, try using that energy for more than Netflix marathons and late-night runs for cookies that you HAD to have. Put out your clothes for the next day and get all your materials together for a seamless morning.

Exercise:

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I don’t like doing this ever, let alone right after I wake up. But you need to get your heart pumping to get rid of your foggy brain. I’m not saying that you have to go run a marathon, but maybe do some jumping jacks while you’re waiting for the shower to heat up.

COFFEE:

I love coffee. This is just a life tip in general, because coffee takes me to my happy place. You can replace coffee with whatever makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning. Another surprising alternative for some caffeine is an apple.

Get Dressed:

Putting on jeans makes it really hard for you to go back to sleep. Getting ready for the day makes you more awake and puts you in work mode.

Don’t Sit in Bed:

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I am very guilty of thinking I can get anything done while lying in bed. I have a desk with no desk chair, so take that as you will. Do your work at the kitchen table or even on the couch, but stay vertical!

Light Breakfast:

I know I cannot focus when I am hungry (/hangry). Take a second and get yourself a quick breakfast to tide you over until you have accomplished your goals. If you have to leave, throw a granola bar or a yogurt in your bag and actually eat it.

Natural Light:

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If you can help it, try to avoid fluorescent lights in favor of a window. Fluorescents make me sad and natural light is one of the easiest ways to wake up.

Lists:

Lists are my favorite. I get way too much joy from checking things off of my to-do list. They are very handy for keeping your priorities in order and will help your morning brain remember what you need to get done.

Put Away Your Phone:

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Twitter can wait. I know, it pains me too, but I have never accomplished anything while looking at Twitter. Social media is a productivity sucker, but a great reward for accomplished tasks.

I would love it if you joined me on my journey to productivity and away from my slug-like habits. It is much easier not to do something than to do it, but taking the extra effort is part of the fun.