Not every day can be a great one. Things happen. People can be rude. We can’t control everything. But there are somethings we can control. Our daily habits set the tone for our day.
Wake up early. Not too early. Just earlier than the rest of your family. I know it sounds crazy, but getting up to start your day in peace can have a huge impact on your state of mind. When I started doing this 2 years ago it changed my life. I can take care of myself before I have to take care of my family, and it feels great to walk out the door to work already having checked things off my list.
Shower. Trust me, I know how difficult this is when you’ve got young kids. I’ll admit to skipping my shower when my schedule got tight or I hit snooze a few too many times. But you know what? Something feels different on those days. Not only does a shower perk you up and make you more mentally alert, but knowing you put effort into yourself gives you an extra boost of confidence.
Get dressed. Like showering, getting dressed requires effort. Go ahead and put on yoga pants and a t-shirt, but make sure they’re clean and intact. Put on a bra (even a sports bra or other comfort line) and fix your hair. Don’t worry that there will be cereal in your bun in an hour. Don’t let yourself spend that day in clothes you’d be embarrassed for your kids to be seen in.
Eat breakfast. Eating the last few bites of your kids’ cereal doesn’t count. Pour your own bowl. Have some protein, too. Get your energy going so that you can not only get through your day, you can rock it!
Spend time outside. Sunshine is good for you! It energizes you, it wakes you up, and it gives you a boost. Go for a walk. Eat lunch outside. Heck, just park far away from your office. Besides the effects of good ol’ sunshine, there’s something to be said for a simple change of scenery. A cubicle, classroom, or even your own home can start to feel like it’s closing in on you after a while. Take a break and go outside.
Move. Americans sit entirely too much. In our cars. In our offices. On our couches. Get up! Put on some music and dance. Go for a walk (2 birds with 1 stone!). Do something productive like vacuuming, dusting, cleaning out your closet. Make it your goal to get up at least once an hour.
Go to bed early. If you’re going to wake up early, you need to go to bed early. Think about it, when you’re up until midnight, are you being productive? Or are you just surfing Facebook and watching cat videos? And if you’re being productive, are you doing your best work? The fact is that after a day of work and taking care of my 5-year-old, I’m tired. I just want to watch HGTV and put my feet up.
