Five Morning Pick-Me-Ups to Get You Going

Waking up early is the norm for any go-getter, whether it’s to beat traffic during your morning commute; get some work done before going to the office; accommodate that global conference call; walk the dog; take your child to daycare; or just to have a little more time in your day.  And so, to be able to attack that lengthy to-do list, “I need my morning coffee” becomes a mantra we say all too often.

Because there is such a voracious demand for the jolting, inky-brown drink that does, after all, have health benefits (in moderation — minus the jittery vibe that comes after the third cup), there are coffee shops on every street corner, and offices that have their own mini coffee-bars to help enforce morning productiveness and revive any zombie-like state.

But that first moment when your alarm goes off – when it’s so early, and in some cases, still dark outside – your first instinct is to press the snooze button.  How do you resist and instead motivate your brain to throw off the covers, knowing there is a treat in store (the old “carrot and stick” trick)?  Read on, and absorb these tips to help you kick butt as a morning hero, sans your caffeine sidekick.

Get Inspired!
Within the first five seconds of waking up, get your creative juices flowing with a surge of inspiration.  Start by feeding your mind: read an uplifting quote or look at your “dream board” (also called a vision board).

A dream board is a visual scrapbook of your ideal life that you can make easily and use continually.   Why it’s so powerful: our minds think and remember in pictures — after all, visuals  can communicate much more quickly than words or thoughts.

So as you imagine your perfect future, write down what it looks like,  and then cut out a picture from a magazine or brochure that represents it.  A dream board shouldn’t just be filled with tangible, material things; it should also include things you want to accomplish, as well as ideas about the person you want to be. The goal is to create a visual representation of your ideal life.  Be as creative as you’d like.

Get Moving with Music
Wake up feeling charged and awaken your senses via a music playlist that will stimulate and  exhilarate your mind.  Music that is upbeat and fast-paced will prepare you to take on the day and make you want to start moving.  And, of course, listening to music you truly relish and prefer is the best choice to elevate your mood, since thinking about how much you appreciate the artist and belting out the tune — or humming along, depending on how awake you are! –  guarantees a much-needed spark for your brain.

If you’re already in work mode, classical music and Baroque-period tunes can have a measurable impact on productivity. “Ambient electronica” and its sub-genres — chillout, downtempo, and ambient house  — are soundscapes that are evocative yet unobtrusive and repetitive in a good way.

Do Short Rounds of Exercise
Exercise naturally boosts energy levels, provides mental clarity, and actually makes you happier via the production of neurotransmitters and endorphins.

You don’t have to go to the gym for a full workout or run a mile – just a few sets of short, intense intervals, such as jogging in place, combined with a bit of yoga or stretching will do the trick.  (Read here about the overlooked perks of the latter.)  Fifteen minutes is more than enough time to kick-start your metabolism and stimulate your brain so you are ready to start your morning off right.

Eat Something Healthy
They say breakfast is the most important meal, for good reason.  Your body uses these calories and nutrients throughout the morning, providing the energy you need, and giving your brain  vital nourishment to optimally carry out mental processes the rest of the day (for example,  those two-hour, PowerPoint-heavy presentations that are a corporate-life staple).

So, the bottom line is that your brain and body will perform better all day when you put the right fuel in it.  Quick and easy options for when you’re constantly on-the-go include healthy brain foods like whole grain cereals, oatmeal, fresh fruits, whole wheat toast and eggs.

Plan Your Day
This may sound simple, but it’s a big one.  A little bit of good planning goes a very long way. Here are the steps:

• Before you start work, whether in the office or from home, resist the urge to check your emails. It’s highly unlikely that something work-related needs to be answered before the workday even starts.
• Instead, use those 5-10 minutes to plan out your day.  Think about what you have to do, what you’ve been putting off doing, and what you’d like to do.
• Then think about the important projects you need to work on, and plan to spend at least the first hour of the day doing exactly that.
• The next step is to look at small — yet urgent — tasks that need to get done. Plan to knock those out, either all at once, or complete them during any gaps in your day, such as when you’re waiting for a response back from a client or coworker.

Try these simple morning pick-me-ups, and you’ll find yourself more awake, with less burnout during the day.  And don’t forget one last crucial element:  making sure you get enough sleep to begin with (eight hours is usually the magic number).  Getting a good night’s rest will help with your morning wake-up, and leave you feeling more refreshed.

So let us know: besides a cup of joe, what do you do every morning to get that extra dose of energy?