CTT #142: Tips to Jump-Start Your Day

It’s Tuesday! Grab your cup and let’s start chattin’.

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that we’re on week 2 of math/career boot camp for Next Generation Scholars. In addition to brushing up my math skills, I’m multiplying enthusiasm with individual-focused career and college prep. Math is for life! I know the students are getting that message, and I’m grateful to the community and school members who are coming to share these sentiments with the students. I have a college professor leading the math sections, and she said something super profound on one of the first days:

Learn from your mistakes. If you make a mistake while figuring out a problem, don’t erase it! Make a note to yourself about why it doesn’t work, and then move on to solve the problem.

– Lisa Feinman

I love this – you learn from your mistakes. You grow from your mistakes! It’s important to embrace them. I love that we’re able to share this with our students at the math boot camp.

Speaking of mistakes, I spent lots of years making a BIG one. I wasted whole mornings. When I graduated college and started working in the “professional world,” I had to be at work at 8:30. I lived within walking distance of my first job, and could roll out of bed at 8:05 and be there, ready to go. This was GREAT to me at the time, because I could maximize sleep. I would stay up late (for no good reason at all), and I could still make it to my big-girl job on time.

This was great, until it wasn’t. I’d eat something in the mid-afternoon, or devour sugary coffee drinks, because I’d be so sleepy from staying up late. And then, I got really into fitness and got licensed to teach Zumba. The only class they gave me at first was the 7:00 a.m. class, before work. I was determined to teach, so I made myself a morning person.

Then, I got really into running. With my schedule, running in the morning before work was the best option. I found an awesome running partner (who I miss so dearly), who would get up at 4:15 or 4:30 with me to run. We trained for a half marathon together, logging so many miles before sunrise. For year-round runners, it SUCKS to run in the heat of summer, and sometimes early morning or late evening running is the only option to log miles in the heat.

So, I became a morning person. I discovered the “5 a.m. club” by Robin Sharma and started developing an awesome morning routine. I could have FULL DAYS before most people I know woke up in the morning. I love feeling productive and getting things done before noon.

I want to share some of that magic juju with you. Here are my top tips for jump-starting a great day.

5 Tips to Jump-Start Your Day

1. Read. Morning is my best reading time! I save articles that look interesting for my morning routine. If I don’t have any articles, I’ll grab one of the three books I’m reading and dig into a chapter or a section. I have also used mornings to study for fitness exams. It’s the best time, I’m not yet distracted by the happenings of the day.

2. Move Your Body. Maybe it’s a walk (bonus: walk your dog), maybe it’s a series of stretches, or maybe it’s a HIIT workout — just get that body moving first thing in the morning. This will set the tone for a productive day. My morning workouts are the best for creativity. I get so many ideas on a morning walk!

3. Prioritize Tasks for the Day. I’ve started making my to do list at the beginning of the week, when I have a little time to group tasks. Each morning,  I’ll look at my to do list and write a top 3 for the day. No matter what, I want to accomplish those three items. I have several jobs, so my list varies day to day, but I always create a priority list each morning.

4. Drink water. Maybe it’s a glass of water, maybe it’s warm lemon water – whatever floats your boat – but fluids first thing are so good to get the brain and body ready for the day. I say water vs. coffee, because I’ve found that drinking coffee 2-3 hours after waking has a stronger impact on me vs. gobbling it at first light. I’ve also found that water first thing in the morning can feel similar to caffeine!

5. Eat – but not right away. Each person is different. I used to wake up FAMISHED every day. Now, with working out 2-3 classes in the evening, I’m almost never hungry first thing in the morning. I have better HIIT and cardio sessions when they are fasted, and first thing in the morning. I’ll eat usually 2-3 hours after waking, but of course if I’m hungry, I’ll eat sooner than that. I shared my go-to morning smoothie on insta!

BONUS: One thing at a time. This is crucial for a productive, happy morning. Don’t overwhelm the brain or body first thing in the morning, if you can help it. Trying to do too many tasks can be stressful, and sets a negative tone for the day.

Are you a morning person? What’s your morning routine?