productive days, a very personal morning checklist
Κα΄α΄ΙͺΙ΄α΄
α΄Κ β It takes an average of 66 days to create or change a habit. Donβt give up now!
β Wake up at a predetermined time. Set your alarm clock early if youβre the type of person who might feel the need to linger in bed for a while before getting up. If possible, get an alarm clock that is not your phone.
β Open the curtains and, if possible, air the room for a while, without making the bed yet. According to a study published in 2006 in the journal Experimental and Applied Acarology, making your bed actually creates a comfortable refuge for mites. Researchers at Kingston Universityβs Centre for Immunology in England concluded that putting back the sheets or comforter as soon as you wake up creates an ideal environment for mites to grow. Air the room for a while.
β Stay hydrated. Drink water.
β If possible, avoid screen time until the end of the list. My mornings allow me to escape social media, messages and demands from work, friends and family. Itβs a privileged moment in which I avoid any unnecessary anxiety or negative thoughts.
β Exercise your mind, your faith, your creativity for a few minutes. For some, it is a combination of meditation and affirmations. As for me, I pray for a moment or two. I also sometimes write a few lines in my journal, although I much prefer to reserve this moment for my evenings. This is the time to get inspired: listen to your favorite podcast, read a little. (Donβt start reading new books until youβve finished the current one, even if the book is pretty boring.)
β Prepare your bag for the day. This is the time to pack your lunch box, your notebooks, your computer for work and all the necessary chargersβ¦ I never do it the night before.
β Be physically active for at least 30 minutes. If possible, an hour or two. Run, go for a quick walk, stretch, do yoga, use the equipment in your apartment or go to the gym.Β
β Wash yourself. Everyone has a different approach to it, depending on their resources and organization. Wash up or take a shower or a bath, brush your teeth and floss and if you have one, do your skin care routine.
β Get ready for the day. Get dressed and comb your hair even if you donβt plan on going out for the day. As someone who has suffered from mental health issues that have kept me in bed for days, getting ready in the morning subconsciously pushes me to offer myself a picture of me ready to face the day. Often, it also encourages me to go outβ¦Β
β Have a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, a glass of warm water. Try to eat before ingesting any form of caffeine. If possible, eat a full breakfast or a fruit, but never go out on an empty stomach. Again, try to stay hydrated and drink water.
β Finish by making your bed. While the study referenced above does not advocate doing this, I find that the discipline and rigor involved in recreating a physically βneutralβ environment allows my mind to unburden itself. For the sake of productivity, I suppose. For the same reasons, if possible, never leave your stuff lying around in your room (like letting it pile up on a chair or desk).
β Start your day, outside the walls of your precious home.Β
2087
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