Fake It Like a Morning Person

Every workplace has them. Those people who have worked out, showered, had breakfast, and are on their second cup of coffee by the time you’ve hit snooze for the third time. I know ReThinc has at least one.

I truly believe that mornings are the most crucial part of the day. So what can you do if you’re not a morning person? Here are 7 tips to help you embrace your morning.

Prepare the night before
In this case, a little goes a long way. Lay out your clothes, slip that coffee mug under the coffee maker, maybe even prep your lunch. Doing small things can help minimize your morning stress and start the day off smoother. For example, almost every night I take 10 minutes to prepare for work the next day (adjusting projects for the team to work on, check my calendar, and of course, clear my inbox).

Resist the phone temptation
If at all possible, avoid looking at your phone before you even get out of bed. I know it’s easy to just reach over and start scrolling through email, Instagram and Facebook. But that can do two things – 1. Suck you into staying in bed longer than you should (ask me how I know), and 2. Start your day off by mentally preparing for someone else’s agenda. Resist the urge to start “working” before you actually start work.

Exercise before work
Researchers have found that people who exercise before the workday report improved moods and an increased ability to deal with the demands of work. If you workout at night, try moving your routine to the morning. It will require you to get up earlier, but it can improve your mood and increase productivity earlier on in the day! And makes it easier to accomplish my next tip…

Shower…with cold(er) water
Maybe not the entire shower. Try the last minute. Not only will it accomplish the obvious of waking you up, but there are numerous benefits to a cold shower. It can decrease muscle soreness, calm itchy skin, and reduce stress levels. Check out the Wim Hof Method if you don’t believe me. I admittedly don’t take a cold shower, but I have been working more cold water in at the end (I’m up to 25 seconds of “cool” water).

Eat something
This one goes out to those that aren’t intermittent fasting. I’m still a strong believer that breakfast is a key factor in setting yourself up for a productive morning. I always have my cup of coffee before going into work, and then around 9am eat a breakfast bar. Your body has been fasting all night, help jumpstart your system with something to eat (eggs, yogurt, or protein shake are also good choices).

Make your bed
If you haven’t heard the incredible speech by U.S. Navy Admiral William McRaven, check out the video here. “If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another,” he says. “By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.” I really can’t say it any better.

Arrive to work at the same time every day
I know at ReThinc, we offer our employees flexible start times. That’s fine with us as long as you’re consistent and predictable. You should set a time to start working and hold yourself to it. This is particularly important if you work from home. Don’t waste time putting off work longer than you have to.

And just like that – poof – you’re a morning person! Not actually, but making small changes in your routine can really help make your mornings more productive. If you want some more tips feel free to reach out to me at stephanie.olsen@rethincadvertising.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Stephanie Olsen is agency principal for ReThinc Advertising. Her primary responsibilities at ReThinc can be summed up by the word “everything.” This includes but is not limited to: account executive duties, commercial printing, promotional items, accounting, and of course, HR.