2020-03-17 3 Things You Should D

I don’t know if it’s my creative sensibilities that have always drawn me to the night rather than the morning, but I always struggle to do anything productive in the first hour after I wake up.

Keep Screens Turned Off for 30-minutes

This is the main change I’ve made in the last week, and I’ve already noticed a huge difference in my attitude for the rest of the morning. We’re so wired to immediately check our phones, want to make sure we haven’t missed anything in those few hours we were asleep, and it’s a practice I’ve finally stopped.

Read

And for me, the most pleasurable way to start my day is reading physical books. Again, physical books, not E-readers! I keep at least three in my drawer beside my bed at all times, always rotating throughout the weeks. I told some friends recently that I read one book a week, and they were shocked. They asked me how. I said I read for at least thirty minutes after I wake up, and I usually read for thirty minutes in the bath at the end of the night.

Meditate

I went on a meditation hike for the first time in my life in September, and it was one of the most gloriously calming mornings I’ve spent in a long time. I walked with my mother through a forest and enjoyed short and long meditations throughout the hike. I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day.

That first hour after waking up is absolutely crucial to the success of your day. Give some of these things a try… and see what works best for you!