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Do you consider yourself a morning person or a night owl? Or maybe both Whether you do your best work in the wee hours of the morning or when the world is still at midnight, it is possible to set yourself up for even more success by doing a few things in advance.
Many of the world's creatives found that it was the small things they did each day or night that made a difference. With proactive planning, you're sure to get a head start the next day.
Here are 5 evening hacks for feeling twice as awesome in the morning.
1. Let the Sunlight In
Jump-start your body's circadian rhythm by allowing some natural morning sunlight in. If you sleep with the shutters down, make this small change. Opt for mesh curtains. They'll allow some of that glorious sunlight to stream through in the morning. You can naturally adjust your body clock to wake with the daylight.
"There is no one to disturb you and it is cool or cold and you come to your work and warm as you write," said Ernest Hemingway. It's reported he preferred to get up at 6 a.m. and do his best work.
2. Have Your Instant Detox Ready
Place a glass of water (with an extra slice of lemon for boost) on your nightstand. It's the first thing you see the next day, reminding you to rehydrate. Hydration is essential for producing new muscle and blood cells. Drinking water gets your oxygen flowing and your body charged for production. When you detox first thing in the morning, you're also taking control of your metabolism, and that boosts your immune system. There's no better way to start the day.
3. Plan Your Day Before You Fall Sleep
Theme your days like Twitter's Jack Dorsey, or just write down your to-do list for the day. Whatever your strategy, planning the night before will save time in the morning.
Leo Babauta of Zen Habits says it's all about making small steps every day toward your goals. "Having a morning routine is that not only does it instill a sense of purpose, peace, and ritual to my day, but it ensures that I'm getting certain things done every morning … namely, my goals."
When planning your day, check out the helpful features from Rocketbook, our reusable notebook. Digital notes enable you to make notes of all the next day's plans, then review them first thing in the morning before sending them off to your cloud space to get done.
4. Avoid the Urge for Screen-Time
Wasting minutes or even hours before you sleep? Staring at your screen and can't stop? It's a universal problem. Hey, even we're guilty of that.
At the Harvard Medical School, it was scientifically proven that wavelengths from our tech gadgets prevent our bodies from producing melatonin. That's the necessary hormone that encourages a good night's sleep. Obviously, if you're not sleeping enough hours during the night, you won't be your awesome self the following day.
5. Keep a Journal
At the end of each day, make time to reflect. Think about the events of the day, and write down your feelings about them.
... What did you learn? What made you frustrated? What inspired you?
As you settle down for the night, take all of those wandering thoughts and give them a home on the page. Don't worry about whether they make sense or not. The point of this habit is to offload whatever is weighing on your heart and mind. The next day, you'll feel as if some of the burdens have been lifted, your mind a little more prepared to take on the new day's challenges.
Don't forget to save your notes to the Cloud! They'll come in handy later when you're tracking your personal growth and progress...or for that awesome autobiography you're planning on writing in the future!
So, which of these five tips do you plan to implement right now? Say goodbye to cranky, groggy mornings and hello to a happy, more productive you.
