Does the early bird really catch the worm?
I admit, it was hard. I mean, really hard. Setting my alarm to 6am was hard enough but then having to actually get up at that time seemed impossible. Until, I quickly realised I had more time for myself that way, I actually had time for exercise and I could take on even more business. It was Sir Richard Branson’s advice that got me started, he said: ” Waking up early is a habit, which you must work on to maintain.” So how exactly do the incredibly successful deliver on this task every single day?
1. Move your body.
Dedicate time to moving your body, it is when our bodies are at their peak so take time out and kickstart your productivity with a load of endorphins. It isn’t easy to manage a multi-billion dollar empire but Oprah insists it comes down to her focus each day, she gets up at 5.30 for a morning workout session. Anna Wintour is another powerhouse who wakes up early, this time for an hour of tennis.
2. Write your intentions down.
Write down what you plan to accomplish that day. It is easier to visualise your goals and achieve them once you have seen them jotted down. Don’t just write your to-do list but actually invest in your tasks, write down what you want to get out of the day and how you want to feel by the end of it.
3. Think strategy.
Once you have written down your list, map out a strategy on how you will get there. If you intend to feel appreciated by the end of the day, think of a way to actually go about it. It will help you prioritise and stay motivated. Develop solutions to the problems which could crop up along the way too.
4. Create a ritual.
Consistency encourages productivity. Having one or two tasks you complete everyday in the morning, by choice will calm you and keep you at ease. You will start feeling purposeful and will look forward to getting up this early. Trust me. Jennifer Aniston wakes up at 4.30am for her hot water with lemon and meditation class. If she can do it, so can you.
5. Stay connected but without devices. If your emails are the first thing you see in the morning or if you often wake up to a phone call, you need to change. Not only will this hinder your productivity but will have you feeling stressed and all over the place. Connect with your partner and have a real conversation, take a leaf out of Barack Obama’s book and read the papers, even David Karp, the founder of Tumblr doesn’t check his emails until he is in the office.
6. Get up an hour earlier.
The snooze buttons can have some serious effects. When waking up, you need to get up and feel the day. Plan ahead for when you intend to get out of bed, set an alarm and rise when that alarm goes off. The quality of sleep you get or don’t get will play heavily into the next day’s success.