Making the most of your mornings starts with identifying healthy habits and making time for them each and every day. As presenters, we know that some mornings we have to be on our A-game, finishing a long list of last minute tasks before a big pitch, speech or presentation. But, if we are honest, generally we also have mornings where we tend to hit snooze and take a while to get into a rhythm.
Whether you’re an early-riser or a night-owl, an unwavering morning routine helps kick-start your day. According to Harvard, our bodies have limited reserves for fueling our productivity. Studies have shown that when our energy and self-control are depleted, our motivation wavers, making it difficult to focus on tasks and follow through to completion. Let’s look at three positive habits we can implement easily to any morning.
Delight
If you are excited about what the day will bring, chances are you will rise a bit easier. Finding a single item that you can look forward to goes a long way toward making the most of your mornings. Do you love coffee? I have a friend that is utterly delighted by the look and feel of a properly frothed latte. She has a small hand-held milk frother and it is probably her most used kitchen utensil. Just the little bit of extra effort that goes into preparing her morning latte fuels her motivation to get out of bed. What might that be for you? Tea? A morning walk? Watering your plants? Find what works for you and stick to it!
Accomplishment
Have you ever added something to a to-do list just to cross it off to feel like you’ve already accomplished something? There is some wisdom to that! Making the most of your mornings starts with tackling one important task first thing in the morning. Once you’ve prepared your latte, why not enjoy it while putting away the dishes from the dishwasher? Or, if you’re already watering your plants, go ahead and prune them or pull weeds. Bonus points for tackling something you’ve been putting off or the biggest item on your to-do list!
Connection
A new day is a great opportunity for connection. Taking time in the morning to be intentional about relationships can help foster community. Let your barista know you like their new hairstyle. Pop-in to a co-worker’s cubicle and say good morning. I’ve known a few people to have a chat with the same friend every morning on the way into work. Send a Marco Polo to someone who lives far away, or that you may not see as often if you work from home now. Finding time to contact the outside world is critical to making the most of your mornings during a quarantine or pandemic situation like many are in these days.
Once you’ve found the things you can do each morning to delight, accomplish and connect, your day will likely follow suit. Success breeds success–it’s been proven. If once you’ve gotten your day rolling, you find yourself stuck on presentation roadblocks, connect with us! We would love to help! At Ethos3, we have a full line of presentation design and training services to make you feel even more accomplished.
