Welcome to everyone who’s new to the blog! We managed to crash the server again briefly this morning. I guess that’s a good problem to have. Since we’re thinking a lot about what people do #beforebreakfast, I thought I’d share some reader stories about morning rituals, and how people start the day right.
This one is from Shannon Little, 25:
I don’t have to leave my house until 7:50 a.m. to get to work on time, but I wake up every morning at 6 a.m. It’s not because I enjoy 6 a.m., but because I find that a semi-leisurely morning leads to a calmer and more successful day. When I first wake up, I go for a walk or bike ride for about 30 minutes. I then come back home to shower and get ready for my day. I sit down to watch 10-15 minutes of the Today Show with my breakfast and coffee. Usually I have a few minutes of free time, where I start some laundry or clean-up a bit. Mornings set the tone for the rest of your day. I find that if I wake up with just enough time to get ready and rush out the door, then I still feel somewhat frantic and rushed for the rest of the day. I can never slow down. However, if I only see work as part of my day, and I allow myself some time before work, as well as after, then I can slow down and think. I am just as productive, if not more, but I am also calmer and in the right state of mind.
What do you do first thing in the morning, or during your first spurt at work, to set the tone for the rest of your day? Please share stories in the comments or email me at lvanderkam at yahoo dot com. And please check out “What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast” — available in the e-reader format of your choice.