Let’s face it: getting motivated in the morning hours is easier said than done. Even if you consider yourself a morning person, you may struggle to muster up the motivation and energy to start your day.
Fortunately, a few simple changes to your routine may be all that it takes to get motivated and stay motivated. And when that happens, you’ll realize that your entire outlook on your day changes (for the better, of course).
Regardless of what your typical day looks like, knowing how to get yourself motivated in the morning is critical. You need a plan that you can rely on, day after day, to get your mind and body ready for what lies ahead.
Here are 10 of the best ways to get motivated and moving in the morning:
HOW TO GET MOTIVATED IN THE MORNING
1. Prepare The Night Before
The biggest mistake you can make is waiting until the morning hours to decide how to motivate yourself. Your preparation should start the night before. This means many things, beginning with taking the steps necessary to ensure a good night’s sleep.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Most adults need 7 or more hours of good-quality sleep on a regular schedule each night.”
So, if you don’t get a minimum of seven hours of quality sleep each night, you’re starting your morning in a bad place. When you’re tired, you’ll find it difficult — if not impossible — to stay motivated. But when you’re rested, it’s much easier to pop out of bed with the idea of conquering everything your day will bring.
Another great way to prepare the night before so that you can maximize how motivated you are on the next day is to visualize what a successful productive tomorrow will look like for you. Once you establish a strong image in your mind, then intend to make it so. Do this, and you’ll surely wake up with a bit more pep in your step.
2. Start With a Shower
It’s hard to get motivated when you’re lying in bed, thinking about everything you have to do. A shower can go a long way in waking you up and putting you on track to starting your day with a motivated mindset.
If you really want to give yourself a push in the right direction, experiment with cold showers. This will wake you up, increase circulation, improve your immune systems and so much more.
So, if you really want to get your day moving along, jump in the shower and wash away those mental cobwebs, and start your day with a fresh start.
3. Identify Something to Look Forward to
A lack of motivation is often related to a day full of the “same old, same old.” Rather than fight this uphill battle, identify something in your day to look forward to. Some ideas include but are not limited to:
- Breakfast or lunch with a friend or colleague.
- A meeting at work that you’re excited about.
- An activity that you have planned for the day.
- A phone call with a family member or friend who you’ve been waiting to speak with.
You get the point. When you have something to look forward to, it’s easier to get out of bed and attack your day. So, strive to break up the monotony in your day to day schedule by including activities in your schedule that will get you moving.
4. Eat an Energy-Boosting Breakfast
How do you plan on getting motivated if you don’t have any energy? How do you plan on staying motivated if you’re zapped of all your energy by the time you reach your office?
An energy-boosting breakfast is essential to motivating yourself. Experiment with these foods in the days to come:
- Oatmeal
- Greek yogurt
- Eggs
- Berries
- Almond butter
Tip: consider cutting down on the amount of sugar and caffeine you consume in the morning hours. This will give you an energy boost shortly after consumption, but it can also lead to a crash within a few hours. At that point, if you don’t supplement with more sugar or caffeine, you’ll struggle to continue with your day.
Related: Fitness and Success
5. Turn the Lights on and/or Open the Blinds
When it’s dark and you’re in a comfortable bed, you’ll probably want to stay put all day long. Combat this by turning on the lights and/or letting natural light into your bedroom as soon as your alarm goes off.
This gets you out of nighttime mode and into daytime mode. It tells your mind and body that it’s time to get moving.
Tip: sleeping with the blinds open allows you to be naturally awakened by the sun. Also, sleeping in complete darkness (i.e. without nightlights) can help you sleep deeper and as a result, help you feel more refreshed and energized upon waking up.
6. Get Dressed Right Away
One of the best ways to hold yourself back in the morning is to delay the process of choosing an outfit and getting dressed. When you’re in your pajamas, you’ll feel comfortable. You’ll feel like staying in them for the rest of the day.
It’s a difficult habit to get into, but getting dressed as soon as you get out of bed — or out of the shower — is a must if you want to boost your motivation.
Tip: don’t ever put your pajamas back on after getting a shower. This can undo all of the steps you’ve already taken to get motivated.
7. Mix Things Up
A morning routine can go a long way in helping you get motivated and moving in the morning. At the same time, it can result in boredom and a sense that every day will be the same as the last one.
Look for ways to make minor changes to your routine. Ideas include:
- Changing what you eat for breakfast.
- Eating breakfast at a local cafe instead of your home, or vice versa.
- Taking a different route to work.
- Working outside as opposed to in your home office.
- Carpooling with a co-worker on certain days of the week.
A routine is a good thing, but don’t be afraid to interject new ideas every now and again. This will keep your mornings fresh and exciting.
Related: Motivational Mantras
8. Make Your Bed
When you make your bed, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment early in the morning. This also shows you that the nighttime hours are in the past and that it’s time to move on with your day.
If you neglect to make your bed, it can be tempting to crawl back under the blankets and get some more rest. Should you get into that habit, it’s a difficult one to break.
9. Never, Ever Snooze Your Alarm
Speaking of bad habits to break, once you start snoozing your alarm it takes a lot to get back on track. Even if you know you have extra time in the morning, you’re better off spending it another way. An extra five or so minutes of rest isn’t going to do much for you.
Tip: place your alarm or smartphone on the other side of your bedroom, as opposed to a bedside table. This forces you to get out of bed to turn your alarm off.
10. Exercise
Even if you only have 10 or 15 minutes in your schedule, you can still find a way to exercise. Ride a stationary bike, run on a treadmill, or take a lap around the block.
Not only does this wake you up and get you motivated to take on the day, but it can also help you lose weight, improve your mental health and well-being, and reduce your risk of heart disease. And that’s just the start!
Bonus Morning Motivation Tip:
Here’s one last and final tip on how to get motivated in the morning. This is a power tip that many high achievers use to reach their goals, and all it requires you do, is go over your goals before you fall asleep each night, and then once again right before you wake up.
This strategy requires you to have inspiring goals written down that you can easily review each day. The Goals should be S.M.A.R.T. goals, and should truly excite you when you think about what it will be like when you achieve them.
This tip will work without fail, so long as you’ve put in the work to put your goals down on paper, and employ the discipline required to review your goals daily. So, if you really want supercharge how you feel each morning, employ this high achiever strategy.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a handful of power tips on how to get motivated in the morning. There’s no doubt that if you apply just a few of these tips, you will increase your motivation. So, give the one’s that interest you most a try and see what happens.
If you find success in one, keep doing it, and consider adding more as you strive to maximize your motivation and productivity to reach your goals.
Till you reach your aims,
STRIVE
PS – If you enjoyed this write-up on how to be motivated in the morning, chances are you’ll also find value in this article on How To Motivate Yourself Everyday.
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