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5 Ways to Get Off to a More Productive Start Each Morning

Ever have “one of those mornings?”

You know what we mean – a morning where you wake full of enthusiasm, determined to make a great start and get a ton accomplished by 10:00 a.m. …

…only to watch those good intentions quickly evaporate?

Whether it’s the shoes that aren’t where you thought they’d be, the traffic snarl you didn’t see coming or the overflowing Inbox that greets you, it’s tough to stay positive and productive when your morning doesn’t turn out like you planned.

True, we all have inefficient mornings on occasion. But if you find yourself saying, “Where did the time go?” every day, a few small changes to your a.m. routine can help you get off to a better start:

  • Leave work with a clear idea of what you need to accomplish the next day. Lay out your top five priorities and plan to tackle your most challenging or unpleasant task first thing. Over the course of your day, you’re likely to get distracted with urgent requests and unplanned activities. If you check-off at least one big “to do” before things get hectic, you’ll feel great about the progress you’ve made by lunch.
  • Forward-think. Sure, it makes sense to lay your clothes out the night before; but think beyond wardrobe. Before your day winds down, prepare as many details as you can for the following morning. Check-in with family members to make sure they have what they need, ready to go. Consider what the weather and commute conditions will be like. Prepare a mental checklist of what you need to take with you to work – and then get as many of those things together before you head off to bed.
  • Plan and prepare meals. Eating a great breakfast is essential to having a great morning. Your brain needs more than a cup of coffee or an energy bar to function at peak efficiency. If you find that breakfast takes too much time, prepare it the night before. Set the table. Load the blender with smoothie ingredients and put it in the refrigerator. Set out pots/pans/cooking utensils along with pre-measured, shelf-stable ingredients. Bottom line, do whatever you can to make a healthy breakfast a quick, efficient, nutritious start to every day.
  • Spend a few minutes with your family. Even if you’re really busy, carve out time for each person you love. Those little “in the moment” conversations will help you connect, sustaining you for the first few hours of your work day.
  • Leave your smart phone in another room as you get ready. Sound controversial? It is – but you should give it a try. Why? If you continually re-check news and social media, start text conversations with friends, or review work emails while you should be getting ready, the multi-tasking can backfire. It’s fine to check your phone when you first get up and address urgent issues. But while you’re trying to get ready and get out the door, stay focused on accomplishing your morning routine.

Another great way to get off to a better start? Make sure you have the staff you need to support your organization. Whether it’s a last-minute call-off or a big new project you have to tackle, our CT staffing services quickly deliver the right people to make every work day a great day.

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