b'HOLIDAY BUYERS GUIDE|8 Ways to Start Your Work Day off RightBy Courtney FeairhellerY ou dont have to be a morning person to start your workdayfast while sitting on your porch or deck. If outside isnt an option or the off right. All it takes is a little bit of planning and motivation.weathers awful, find a favorite spot indoors, whether its at the kitchen Instead of saying Just five more minutes, envision everythingtable or in a reading nook. Take this time to relax and contemplate the you can achieve if you wake up and arrive at work earlier. day ahead. Or even better, pick up a book youve been meaning to read If mornings just arent your thing or you need more than just a mochaor talk with family or roommates. Youll be in a great mood before the latte, try one or all of these 8 tips to start your workday off right. Noworkday has even started!matter what shift you work, this advice can apply to you. 5. Make a to-do listWhen you have a lot on your plate, smaller tasks 1. Prepare ahead of timeTheres nothing worse than running aroundtend to slip through the cracks. Thats why its always a good idea to cre-in the morning, trying to do a million things at once. Thats why yourate a to-do list first thing in the morning so nothing is overlooked. Jot best bet is to avoid the morning rush by preparing the night before. Makedown the list in a notepad or planner and keep it with you all day long sure your lunch bag, backpack, etc. is packed and ready to go before youin a tote bag or purse or use your smartphone as soon as something even wake up. Instead of mulling over what to wear when youre alreadypops in your head. Make sure to prioritize your tasks, paying special running late, pick and prepare your clothes out the night before. Thenattention to tasks that have closer deadlines or greater importance and you wont be frantically searching through drawers or crawling on theset reminders. This checklist will allow you to keep track of all youve closet floor trying to find the right top or a missing shoe. accomplished while also helping you plan out tomorrows tasks.If you have kids, ask them the night before if they need lunch money or6. Be nice to those around youYouve most likely heard the saying, your signature for a school trip. Of course, calamities may still ensue, butOne kind word can change someones entire day, and its 100% true. Even at least youll have some tasks out of the way. if you wake up with a killer headache or have a ton of meetings later that 2. Wake up earlyWe all have the best intentions the night before,day, make an effort to be nice to others. Its amazing how much a smile but when morning comes, that snooze button is oh so tempting. But it isor a Good morning! can help your mood and the moods of others. If very important that you wake up with plenty of time to spare. you live with someone, you could complement their appearance or bring If you have difficulty waking up in the morning, you may want tothem a cup of coffee. Not only are they more likely to repay in kind, but it invest in an alarm clock for heavy sleepers. Theres an alarm clock thatwill also have you feeling more positive about the day ahead.forces you to do a certain number of bicep curls, while another alarm7. Leave for work earlyThis may sound like a no brainer, as theres clock rolls and bounces around the room until you finally catch it.always traffic or bad weather to consider, but its very difficult to achieve. The earlier you wake up, the more time you have for relaxing, com- Something always comes up in the morning, and before you know it, pleting household tasks and planning out the day ahead. So, rememberyoure running late and rushing for the door. Its as if time is always to set your alarm and go to bed early so youre less likely to press thatagainst you. Beat the clock by setting up a morning routine and try to snooze button.stick to it as best as possible. Think about what tasks take you the lon-3. Squeeze in some exercise timeAll too often, we save our exercisegest and figure out how you can complete them faster or maybe do them time for the end of the day only to have it pushed back to tomorrow.another time. If you are easily distracted, set a second alarm to get your-But what if you exercised at the start of the day? It doesnt have to beself back on track. The earlier you leave for work, the more traffic youll anything intense. You could do 15 minutes of yoga, stretch with exer- avoid and the more time youll have to get settled when you first arrive.cise bands or maybe go for a short run. You could even have someone8. Start with difficult tasksFor most people, the best time to get join you for some accountability. It all depends on what works for you.stuff done is first thing in the morning. Your brain is fresh and alert Whatever activity you end up choosing, its sure to have you feelingafter a good nights sleep, and youre not recovering from a post-lunch energized afterward and, therefore, more productive throughout thefood coma or post-meeting anxiety. So, why not use this time to tackle workday! the hardest tasks? With the tough stuff out of the way, you wont be 4. Sit down and eat breakfastWhat better way to start your dayscrambling to finish everything at the end of the day. than sitting down for a healthy, balanced breakfast? Instead of eating atThe start of your workday doesnt have to be all bad. Try these 8 work ISTOCKyour desk, in the car or skipping breakfast altogether, eat a nice break- tips and youll be getting off to a much better start.n10 EDUCATION|2019| www.elitecme.com'