The life of an entrepreneur never ends. With a constantly evolving market and never-ending competition you can’t let your guard down even once. In order to stay on your toes it’s imperative that you’re working at maximum efficiency each day. So where do you start? You guessed it – your morning routine.
Here are four morning routine hacks that will supercharge your workday.
Be an Early Riser
It’s no secret that the most successful entrepreneurs typically rise between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. every morning. The main reason for this is that the early mornings are truly the only time of the day that you have all to yourself. As the rest of the world (timezone more specifically) sleeps you can take the time to finish some deep work before the real workday begins.
If you rise at the same hours as everyone else it’s common to immediately get roped into communication with others. Whether they’re members of your team, friends, or even family they all serve as distractions for your “me time”.
Banish The Snooze Button
To be quite honest I don’t know why the snooze button was even invented. It’s the single worst morning habit that nearly everyone of us is guilty of using. When you rise in the morning you want to be ready and energized to tackle the mission ahead. When you hit your snooze button you’re really just wasting time.
According to the Sleep Foundation you need to be asleep for at least 90 minutes before it’s considered good sleep. Hitting the snooze button to catch another 10 or 20 minutes of sleep really isn’t doing you any good. In fact, it’s often detrimental as it will throw off the rhythm for your entire workday.
Eat a Healthy Pre-Made Breakfast
If you want to start your day right you need to eat right. If you want to sustain high levels of energy throughout the day it all starts with your first meal. First off you need to start by drinking at least 16 oz of water since you’re body is naturally dehydrated throughout the night.
When it comes to the meal itself I strongly recommend the oh so tempting sugary options that we’re presented with daily. You should stick to healthier high protein options that will keep you energized all day. That means try to avoid sugary cereals and sugar in your coffee. Stick to things like greek yogurt, eggs, and fruit.
In addition you should also try to pre-make your breakfast the night before. For example you can throw some greek yogurt, fruit, and granola in a Tupperware for easy access the next morning. That way you can quickly get some food in you without having to prepare anything.
Start the Night Before
This morning routine hack starts the night before but can really make all the difference. Like most things in life you’re much better off prepared than not. Just as you prepare for your meetings everyday you should also prepare your mornings and day to follow.
I suggest making a list of things you need to do in the morning before you start your day. In addition you should always check your calendar and identify three major actions you need to take to push yourself or business forward. If you can’t identify those three then you may consider adding one. If your calendar looks empty day to day then it’s probably a sign that you aren’t getting yourself out there enough. Regardless you should make a plan and address any necessary changes the night before rather than the morning of.
Final Thoughts
Some people just aren’t morning people. Unfortunately for them, how you spend your morning typically dictates the rest of the day. If you’re having trouble getting the gears turning early in the day I suggest using one or all of the above morning routine hacks to get going!
Renzo Costarella
Renzo Costarella is an entrepreneur, avid learner, and startup enthusiast currently living in Silicon Valley. He consults for several startups in the Bay Area and is pursuing a few ideas of his own.