Science says: the most successful people are indeed morning people
Bad news for myself, this, but the most successful people really turn out to be morning people. Madness, I know. And for a night owl whose creative brain often gets activated after eight in the evening, this is definitely not convenient. I have really tried, you know, to join the club of early birds. In fact, almost daily I plan to get up really early the next morning. Then I go exercise before I start my work, prep my meals for the week, and I smash through a bizarre amount of work in the morning alone. You understand that nothing has come of that to date and that bothers me. Because although I have my life pretty much under control, there is still quite a bit of gain to be made in the first hours of the day. According to a study from the University of Toronto, morning people are not only more successful, they also have higher levels of happiness.
Time to do something about this then. Are you also ready for a more successful and happier life? With these three adjustments, you can already make great progress:
Start with the hardest item on your to-do list
Yes, that one that you normally postpone for about three to five working days. Early in the morning it is often the quietest and your focus is the greatest. Because you are not yet overwhelmed by phone calls or meetings, your mental reserves are high, making this the perfect moment to tackle the project that is most important to you. Additionally, achieving a goal before ten in the morning provides a mega great feeling of satisfaction.
Get moving right away
Yep, there is actual science that indicates that exercising in the morning is more than just an easy way to get it over with. According to research from Harvard Medical School, exercising causes your brain to produce a chemical that improves brain function. Moving in the morning thus increases your mental and physical endurance, gives energy, and stimulates motivation, which in turn leads to increased productivity and a wonderful feeling of happiness. And all that before lunch.
Plan your routine the night before
Do you also only discover at the end of the day what you need to do the next day? Or worse: that you find out on the day itself that your schedule is very different from what you thought before going to sleep. Well, then you are of course already 1-0 behind. Try to write down three things you want to achieve the next morning before you go to bed. These can be small things like congratulating someone or paying a bill, and big things like meeting an important deadline. When you wake up, make sure you do all three things before you do anything else. You can try your best afterwards, but you can't escape having a successful day. How nice!
Source: Inc.
Image: The Bold Type
