With the second wave hitting us hard and fear & uncertainty creeping in, it is hard for us to maintain our sanity, be calm and stay positive. We feel stressed, overwhelmed and not sure how to handle the situation. In these tough times, what we can hope for is for things to be better, do our small bit in whichever way possible and be optimistic about the future.
The pandemic has taught us a new way to look at work and life. Here are 7 habits to make the best out of our current situation and make your mornings productive and filled with optimism.
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Start your day with a glass of warm water
It’s the best way to cleanse your body and flush out all the toxins. It helps in improving bowel movements and prepares your gut for the rest of the day. Focusing on nothing but sipping the water slowly in the morning silence and calm is an amazing mindfulness exercise and a great way to welcome the day.
Practice Meditation
15 minutes of early morning meditation can go a long way, leaving you with ample energy and optimism to handle the entire day. Years of practising meditation has proven to improve focus and productivity significantly.
If you are new to meditation, you could start off with 5 minutes of guided meditation and increase the time gradually. It will be frustrating in the beginning when you face distractions while meditating.
The essence of meditation is to “become aware” of yourself. So instead of fighting the distractions, you just need to let it pass by without any judgements.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
I Cannot stress the importance of a gratitude journal, especially in these challenging times. We all tend to overthink and plan about what we don’t have and how we can achieve them. In the process, we lose sight of what we already have and how we can appreciate them.
A gratitude journal is a reminder of the beautiful life you have despite the odds. Every day, spend a few minutes journaling one thing you are lucky to have and why. This will change your perspective of the world!
Read a book for 30 Minutes
Morning time is the best time to read. You have a fresh mind, and you are focused and ready to absorb anything like a sponge. Hence strictly stay away from reading controversial news, polarizing opinions and anything that triggers negativity.
Personally, I try to stick to non-fictional self-help/ biographies. Sometimes I also swap reading with 30 minutes of writing. Morning thoughts are clear and uninterrupted, and it’s easy to put them into words.
Workout for 45 minutes
You can choose any form of exercise. Yoga, running, Pilates, weight training, whatever floats your boat. The essence is to do it consistently. It is not to achieve the 10kg weight loss goal but just to feel good about yourself, your mind and your body.
Plan your day ahead
Planning your day ahead can help you prioritize what is essential and what really needs your attention. It will make you feel in control and give you room to accommodate any ad hoc and unanticipated events. Also, when you clearly know what you need to achieve in a day, you will be more productive and manage your time better.
Avoid checking your phone as soon as you wake up
Especially WhatsApp, Emails and Social Media. You would be living under a rock if you wouldn’t be checking your phone first thing in the morning! You feel the urgency to respond to emails and messages and check out what you missed on the gram while you were away. Before you know it, you have already lost more than an hour of your precious morning time in which you could have done all of the above.
Author Bio: Aina Raj is an internationally accredited coach who holds ACC certification from the prestigious International Coach Federation, USA. With more than 1000 hours of formal coaching, she has experience working with individuals across India and the Middle East. With over 8 years of experience in a corporate role, she specialises in career and life coaching for millennials.
