Does every day seem like you’re just catching up with the day before? Do you feel like nothing is getting accomplished and you’re just bigger a bigger hole with no chance of getting out?
While we might not be able to make an immediate change there are a few things in the morning before you even start the day to ensure it gets going in the right direction or at least you can mark one thing off your list even if nothing else gets done that day. Here’s five ways to improve your life in the first minutes of your day.
1. Don’t Get on Your Device.
I need to practice what I preach here, but many of us find ourselves checking email, Facebook and Instagram before we even get out of bed. Somehow that five minutes turns into 10 and then next thing we know we are 20 minutes deep into Facebook, the kids aren’t up yet and you have to move into mom mode on superdrive to get everyone out the door and hopefully before the tardy bell rings or your boss starts looking at your empty desk.
I know it’s hard to believe, but the world will wait for your to read Facebook when you start going for the day. However, if you do have the kind of job that expects you to read your social media or at least a few emails, try to build that into after you’ve had your shower or while you’re hard at work on number 4.
2. Make Your Bed.
I hate this one, but it works. Several years ago I came to the conclusion that if there was nothing I could get done that day at least I had made my bed. It’s the first thing you get out of and the last thing of the day you get into, so you should make it kinda special. I let myself slide sometimes, especially on the weekend, but I’ve never regretted walking in after a hard day and seeing that bed made up just for me. It’s like that lovely feeling you get when you walk into a hotel room, but better, since no one expect you to pay for it the next morning.
Need a new mattress? Here’s the tips on how you can find the right one for you!
3. Plan Your Day.
Many people think that getting on their device is helping to plan the day; actually the only thing it does is help you pile on more to-dos without actually getting the ones under it complete. So get out a piece of paper and write down FIRST what you need to accomplish today. Then write down the things you’d like to accomplish, but it won’t kill you if you don’t. And then write down the “I wish…” list, the things you know you won’t get to, but want to and build in just 5 minutes that day to think about how this list becomes the “Must Do” list.
A few years ago my bucket list included a trip to Italy, but it just seemed like it would never happen, but that’s because I wouldn’t sit down and plan it. One day I just decided to put the date on the calendar and that night I would look for a ticket just to see how much they would cost. In two hours (about the time it takes to watch two episodes of Mad Men), I figured out I had enough points to fly for free, I had found a few hotels for super cheap and I had enough time to ask my mom to watch the kids. That quick I was able to make my bucket list happen. All because of five minutes.
4. Move, even if only a little bit.
I’d love to say I start everyday with a workout, but some days just don’t allow for the spin class or even 20 minutes on the treadmill. But getting out of bed to do a few stretches (think sun salutation) to get the blood flowing, will do your body wonders. If you are going to be in the car or at the desk for most of the day make sure to concentrate on the hip and back area. Let them move around since they will be stagnant most of the day. If you don’t take care of your core, you’ll be hunched over and creating many more problems for your body down the road.
Check out The Mom Workout for real exercises to work your body and get your list done!
Or you could be curling your hair while you do squats or a few ab exercises while you apply your makeup. Just because you aren’t sweating doesn’t mean it won’t make a difference. Plus even just a few endorphins will give you the feeling of a happy day…and that’s never bad before the day even begins!
5. Eat Breakfast.
Why is this one so hard when breakfast is so good to eat? However, I never make time for breakfast for me even though I make breakfast for the kids everyday. However, my waiting to eat until lunch actually was making me fatter by slowing down my metabolism and basically sabotaging my own day. While I understand sitting down to bacon, eggs and pancakes isn’t part of the AM schedule, but a delicious hand-held one you can take in the car makes eating a healthy, nutritious breakfast possible.
There’s a lot of things you can do if you’re in a rush:
- Smoothies and shakes are always a great quick option with lots of protein
- Breakfast Taco Enchiladas can be made in advance, frozen and then warmed up for a hearty breakfast
- Healthy doughnuts are a homerun in our house and take no time to cook!
For me, I LOVE the new Jimmy Dean Delights Applewood Smoked Chicken Sausage with egg whites and sharp cheese on English muffin. At 300 calories or less, the entire Jimmy Dean Delights line with flatbreads, sandwiches and bowl choices makes it convenient to get a tasty breakfast with protein (the important part of any meal) in just a few minutes in the microwave. So the next time you go to your grocery store and pick up waffles for the kids consider picking any of the different Jimmy Dean Delights sandwiches for the whole family. (If you can score the maple pancake and turkey sausage griddlers or cinnamon glazed french toast and turkey sausage griddlers, you’ll definitely get high fives from the kids!)
Five minutes may not seem like much but it can make a big difference to your day and your happiness.
Do you have any suggestions or thoughts what you can do to change your life in five minutes?
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