Can getting up earlier help you become more productive?
What should you do during your first hours of the day?
What if you aren’t a “morning person.”
I have decided to include some posts on productivity in the next several months. This is a happy, healthy, healing blog, and I firmly believe being more productive can increase happiness. Through my new business ventures, I have learned many new things that I would like to pass on to you.
I have always been an early riser but never created extra time in the morning for a ritual, until recently!
The more I read about successful people’s habits, the more I realize that most of them follow some routine. If you are a business owner or thinking of starting a business, this post will increase your chances of success.
Drink Water First Thing in the Morning
We wake up each morning, dehydrated. The best practice is to drink water as soon as you arise. This serves several purposes:
- Increases energy levels: Increased hydration boosts the oxygen received by the brain. This will make you more alert and increase energy.
- Helps eliminate toxins: Increasing water intake will result in more urine output, which flushes toxins from the body while we sleep; our immune system goes into repair and recovery mode, including removing toxins. Many people begin the day with a cup of coffee that has some beneficial effects, but this can cause more dehydration.
- Helps improve skin health: Drinking water on an empty stomach hydrates the skin and increases elasticity. This helps to reduce wrinkles and keeps your skin looking healthy. Water can also help to clear up acne and other skin blemishes.
- Decreases headache frequency: Many headaches occur as a result of dehydration.
Enjoy Some Quiet Time
This is a new revelation for me. I have always rushed to get things done and rarely took the time to stop and reflect on other aspects of my life. Spiritual health and gratitude are critical. Here are some activities to calm your mind. This doesn’t have to take more than a few minutes, but it is time well spent.
- Pray: If you believe in a superior power, the morning is an ideal time to pray. If you wake up before others in your house, this can be a very peaceful practice.
- Meditate: Meditation has many benefits.
- It can reduce stress.1
2. Meditation has also been shown to help decrease symptoms of various anxiety disorders.2
Another study concluded that mindfulness meditation can have long-term beneficial effects in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders.3
3. Meditation has been shown to relieve pain through several brain mechanisms.4
Our state of mind affects our perception of pain.
4. Meditation can improve sleep. Sleep is a vital part of the productivity equation.
We all need an adequate amount of sleep to function at a high level. Meditation has been shown to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.5
- Recite self-affirmations: This can train you to think positively about important things in your life. You can either find some that fit your personality on the internet or create your own. Here are some of the self-affirmations I recite.
I trust that I am on the right path.
I use my experience and talents to help others become healthier.
My drive and ambition allow me to reach my goals.
I am confident in my ability to create a stable source of residual income that will allow me to retire comfortably.
I am grateful to have people in my life who love and support me.
This process will help your subconscious mind begin to create more positive thoughts.
Visualize yourself where you want to be: Spend some time with your eyes closed, imagining you in your successful future.
- Visualization is used by athletes and business people to install positive images into the subconscious mind. Picture yourself in the place you would like to be in the future. This can be a powerful tool. If you are able to visualize and accept something, you have a much better chance of acheiving it.
Exercise
We all know the benefits of exercise. To be happy and healthy, you must exercise.
Moving gets your blood circulating and improves mood. Exercise helps with weight loss, sleep, energy level, and so much more.
I try to do another activity while exercising. My next goal is to purchase an exercise bike to do my prospecting while I pedal. I spend at least 30-45 minutes prospecting in the morning each day.
Another idea is to listen to a book or motivational talk while exercising. Whatever you do, be sure to get this in. If you would prefer to exercise later in the day, that is fine; just be sure it gets done.
Read Books on Self Improvement
Many people have written books on how they became successful. These books are available for a few dollars in most cases. There is no reason to develop a new way of doing things if you can learn from someone who has already figured it out.
Spend a few minutes each morning reading self-help or inspirational books. If you aren’t a reader, start by reading a few pages each day. If you do this consistently, you will be able to read many books per year.
Books are available on your phone as well. I listen to books on audible every single day.
I do this while driving to and from work. I have learned a great deal by making this simple change.
Journaling
Journaling has many benefits. It helps you become a better writer, solve problems, and set goals.
Writing down your successes and failures can lead you in the right direction. Journaling also improves memory and mood.
We have all heard of mindfulness. Journaling gets you there. It forces you to examine your thoughts and feelings.
There are many tools to help with journaling. I use the Five Minute Journal iPhone app, which I purchased for only $4.99. This app helps me focus on the positive aspects of my life.
Five minutes in the morning and evening is all it takes with this simple tool.
Work on Income Producing Activities (IPA)
If you own your own business, the morning is a great time to complete tasks that lead to revenue. As mentioned above, I spend 30-45 minutes each morning prospecting for new team members. This gets one thing crossed off of my task list for the day. I suggest working on the most critical items on your “to-do list” as early as possible. This gives you a jump start on your productive day.
Mornings don’t have to be a drag! You can learn to love this time of your day. Develop a routine that works for you using the elements listed above. I strongly suggest drinking two 16 ounce glasses of water shortly after you wake up.
Getting up earlier can increase productivity. You can train yourself to be a morning person. If you do things often enough, they become habits. Trade your bad habits for good ones.
Resist hitting the snooze button. If necessary, move your alarm clock across the room, so you have to get out of bed to shut it off. Immediately brush your teeth and drink your first glass of water. This should give you the energy you need to move to the next task.
The rest is up to you. If this isn’t your thing, start small. Get up 45 minutes earlier and try it out. I think you will find this very beneficial.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me anytime.
Have a great week, and stay safe!
Michael J. Brown, RPh, BCPS, BCPP
Mr. Brown is a Clinical Pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy and psychiatry.
Feel free to send Michael a message using this link.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click on, or make a purchase through a third-party link.
- Goyal M, Singh S, Sibinga EM, Gould NF, Rowland-Seymour A, Sharma R, Berger Z, Sleicher D, Maron DD, Shihab HM, Ranasinghe PD, Linn S, Saha S, Bass EB, Haythornthwaite JA. Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Mar;174(3):357-68. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018. PMID: 24395196; PMCID: PMC4142584.
- Carmody J, Baer RA. Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. J Behav Med. 2008 Feb;31(1):23-33. doi: 10.1007/s10865-007-9130-7. Epub 2007 Sep 25. PMID: 17899351.
- Miller JJ, Fletcher K, Kabat-Zinn J. Three-year follow-up and clinical implications of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1995 May;17(3):192-200. doi: 10.1016/0163-8343(95)00025-m. PMID: 7649463.
- Zeidan F, Martucci KT, Kraft RA, Gordon NS, McHaffie JG, Coghill RC. Brain mechanisms supporting the modulation of pain by mindfulness meditation. J Neurosci. 2011;31(14):5540-5548. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5791-10.2011
- Martires J, Zeidler M. The value of mindfulness meditation in the treatment of insomnia. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2015 Nov;21(6):547-52. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0000000000000207. PMID: 26390335.
