Most successful small business owners understand the importance of their morning. They know it can boost their mood and set them up for the day if they do it right – and they understand that if they don’t have a good morning routine, their day may begin with stress and frustration.
But how do you set up a successful morning routine? It can feel difficult, especially if you have children or start work early.
Luckily it is possible to set up a good morning routine; you just need to follow a few simple rules. Here are eight morning routine tips for small business owners.
Morning Routine Tips For Small Business Owners
Aim To Wake Up At The Same Time Every Day
If you want to have a productive morning, aim to wake up at the same time every day (or at least on working weekdays!). Various studies have found that people tend to sleep better when they have a consistent sleeping routine. So after a few days of doing this, you should notice that you wake up feeling more refreshed.
Waking up at the same time every day also makes it easier for you to establish a morning routine that doesn’t involve rushing around. This means that you don’t have to rush around, which will reduce stress levels. It also means you are more likely to get a few things done.
Meditate For Five Minutes
Mindful meditation is a great way to clear your mind and put you in a good mood for the day ahead. You may think that there is no time to meditate, but even five minutes of meditation has been scientifically proven to help improve your mindset.
And meditation doesn’t need to be complex or difficult. Simply find a five minute guided meditation, and listen to it while sitting upright in bed. This is free, simple and quick to do – just make sure to use headphones if you have a partner who is still sleeping!
Set Goals For The Day
Once you have finished your meditation, set one or two goals for the day. This could be finishing off a work project, or it could be having a difficult (but essential) conversation with an employee. Write this to do list down so that you don’t forget about it if you get busy later on.
Either Don’t Work (Or Work With Intention)
The morning is a good chance to do some easy work if you’re not too busy. For instance, you might like to reply to a few emails while you eat breakfast. This is a good way to get some work out of the way, but only if you’re working with intention. If not, it is easy to end up doomscrolling through work projects, which could make you feel stressed or overwhelmed.
So if you do decide to work, do it with intention. And if you’re busy (perhaps with children), save the work for when you arrive at the office. This allows you to fully focus on your work – and it also means you will be more present with your family while you are still there.
Listen To The News Or A Podcast
While you are making breakfast or driving to work it can be beneficial to listen to the news. If you find the news a bit doom and gloom (which it definitely can be!), consider switching to a podcast. This could be a small business podcast that makes you feel motivated and excited to get to work, or it could be a fun podcast that boosts your dopamine. Either way, this will help you to walk into work with a positive mood!
Exercise
There are lots of benefits to exercise; it boosts your mood, it improves your health and immune system, and it can even help to relieve stress. Sure, most people don’t have time for a full 30 minute work-out – but even five minutes of stretching or walking the dog can get the blood flowing and help with your physical and mental health.
So if you can squeeze in five minutes of exercise, give it a go – and if you’re too busy in the morning, don’t worry. The goal isn’t to do every single thing on this list; it is to choose a few things that work for you and your schedule.
Have Breakfast
We’ve all heard the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”. And while this is debatable, there are definitely some benefits to eating a healthy breakfast when you get up. Not eating can result in low energy later in the morning, which can lead to unhealthy (or expensive!) snacking to keep you going.
If you don’t have time to make breakfast, consider preparing something the night before (or just have a healthy cereal). If you do want to prepare something the evening beforehand, we suggest overnight oats or a boiled egg with fruit on the side. Both are super quick and easy to make.
Get A Good Night’s Sleep
If you sleep well the night before, you will wake up feeling rested and ready for a productive day. This will help you to have a more positive outlook about the day ahead.
So try to fall asleep at a reasonable time. If you struggle to fall asleep (night owls unite!), do calming activities before bed (such as a hot shower or bath with lavender oil) to make you feel sleepy. Just make sure to set an alarm clock for the morning before you go to sleep!
Avoid The Snooze Button
It can be temping to hit snooze for a few extra moments in bed, but in reality there aren’t many benefits to hitting snooze. This is because research has found that once you’ve woken up to the sound of your alarm clock, it is very difficult to get any more quality sleep. This is because your restful sleep has been disturbed, and now you can only snooze lightly (which doesn’t have the same benefits of restful sleep).
So try to avoid hitting snooze in the future if possible. Instead set your alarm five or ten minutes later, so you can get a little extra high quality sleep, and then try to get up for meditation or a morning cup of tea.
Drink A Full Glass Of Water
Hydration can help improve health. Drinking water is essential for a good morning routine, because it makes your focus stronger and helps to increase productivity. So have a glass of water with your breakfast, or drink a cup of water before getting out of bed. Whatever works for you!
Say Positive Affirmations
Positive affirmations can help with your mindset and your mental health. So while you get dressed or do your hair, listen to some positive affirmations on YouTube to get the positive energy flowing. Alternatively, you can say a few key phrases on repeat while you get ready. Some good phrases to use include;
I am happy.
I am capable.
Everyone deserves to succeed.
I can do anything I set my mind to.
I am not defined by setbacks.
My future is bright and exciting.
Most Importantly… Be Consistent!
If there is one thing you take away from this list, it will hopefully be the importance of consistency. Waking up at the same time every day can improve your sleep and mood, and having a solid routine makes it easy to set long-term, healthy habits.
So try to wake up at the same time each day, and try to do things in the same order. This may feel difficult to begin with, but after a few weeks you will adapt to your new morning routine – and you will reap all of the benefits that come with it!
