Turns out “hitting the ground running” isn’t just a catchy phrase. It’s also a key trait of successful people. They use the first hours of the day to take care of their priorities, take care of themselves and overall set the tone of the day. So, how can you use your morning more productively? Let’s check out a few things suggested in 12 Things Successful People do before Breakfast based on information from What Most Successful People Do before Breakfast by author Laura Vanderkam.
1. Wake up early
Vanderkam’s research shows that 90 percent of 20 polled executives wake up before 6 a.m. They know that time is valuable. So, you should use any non-office time you have to your advantage, because when the rest of the world is awake, you are at its beck and call.
Type-A personalities who demand a lot of themselves might benefit from taking a bit of time to calm and clear their mind through meditation at the start of their day.
2. Workout before it loses its appeal
The longer you wait to workout, the easier it is to put it off, and put it off, and put it off … you see where this is going. Working out first thing in the morning knocks it off your to-do list early, before the rest of the days tasks get in the way. But, exercising in the morning has so many more benefits. According to 6 Benefits to Being a Morning Exerciser, it also promotes more consistency in your routine for better results, improves your productivity, boosts your metabolism, promotes your sleep and encourages you to make better diet choices. It’s a win-win!
3. Work on top-priority work or personal projects
Early morning usually offers quiet time, devoid of ringing phones, emails and overall interruptions. It’s an ideal time to focus on projects that really need your undivided attention. Trying to come up a great pitch for a marketing project? Early morning hours are a great time for thinking without coworkers chiming in. Writing a novel? Do it before work, instead of after, when you are still wound up from your day or thinking about what to make for dinner.
4. Network over coffee
“Especially if you like to make it home for dinner, the mornings can be a great time to meet with people for coffee or breakfast,” says 12 Things Successful People do before Breakfast author Jenna Goudreau.
5. Get centered
Sometimes people take their early morning time to get centered and grounded. Type-A personalities who demand a lot of themselves might benefit from taking a bit of time to calm and clear their mind through meditation at the start of their day. In addition, making gratitude lists of the people, places and opportunities that you are thankful for can also be a way to center yourself before you head into the office.
What are a few more things that you can do before breakfast? Goudreau suggests spending quality time with family, connecting with spouses, checking email, planning time and reading the news.
Interested in how successful people use their weekend time? Check out What The Most Successful People Do on the Weekend.