Text by Corina Tan
Effortless calm mornings seem to be the norm for certain people, while the opposite is also true for others. There are some organisation tips that experts recommend, ensuring a goof-proof, productive day for all. They basically start from the minute you wake you and how you go about setting your morning routine.
(Read also: Lifestyle Habits That Will Make You Look Younger)
Be the first to rise and shine
‘The early bird catches the worm’ is not just a popular phrase to encourage early risers. Getting up earlier than other people by a mere 10 to 15 fifteen can actually make a lot of difference in your morning routine. Those few extra minutes gives you time to set the day’s intentions, organise and get a head start.
Set realistic morning goals
When setting up a schedule for yourself, the routine should encompass the bare basics that you need to keep life running smoothly. Don’t try to schedule or change too many things at the same time, as you will burn out and feel like giving up before you’ve even had the chance to build your organisational skills.
Don’t check your mobile phone
Waking up to your mobile phone can mean that you are alerted to e-mails, messages and social media news that can pull you in various directions and interrupt your focus. Instead, immediately upon waking up, sit up in bed and take a few deep breaths for at least 30 seconds. This calms and centres your whole body and sets the tone to organise and plan the rest of your day.
Do a few things you love
Take five or ten minutes to meditate, do yoga, or listen to music. This puts you in a good mood, and the positive feelings will help you look forward to the rest of the day. When you start the day with good vibes, it is easier to feel optimistic about what lies ahead and approach every task with a can-do attitude.
Reply critical e-mails
Once you schedule a time to check your e-mails, be sure to also incorporate the time taken to reply to them. Some correspondences can be urgent and critical, so it’s good to give yourself the approximate time needed to get to those e-mails first so that they don’t weight heavily on your mind for the rest of the day.
Prepare food the night before
Planning your breakfast or lunch the night before saves time and enables you to concentrate on other important things. When food preparation isn’t planned, there are days when you may spend time thinking about what you want to eat or staring at the contents of your fridge. Once you have decided, you may need to rush and scramble to prepare those meals. If this task is done the night before, you can easily put aside the necessary food beforehand, and the following day will progress smoothly with time saved.
To-do lists
Another thing that you can do the night before, is to write down your to-do list for the next day. This gives you an outline of all the things you need to complete and in the order that makes the most sense. When the time comes, you may have to give your list a little tweak depending on urgent matters cropping up or changes that require you to rearrange some priorities. Your list should be your constant companion, keeping you organised just like your calendar.
Do what you don’t want to do first
Tasks that you do not like are usually pushed to the back of your mind and your to-do list simply because you do not want to do them. However, completing them first will ensure that you can have a productive day without the unwanted task weighing heavily on your mind. You will feel a sense of relief and freedom once the dreaded task is completed, which puts you in a better frame of mind to accomplish everything else you have set out to do.
Complete tasks in the same order
Once you have a routine set up for your day, repeat it in the same order every day. This repetitive sequence creates something similar to muscle memory for your chores. The more you keep to the same routine, the less you have to consciously think about it. What may seem like a challenge to adhere to initially, will soon feel like second nature.
Declutter
Daily decluttering is something that should be made a priority before you walk out the door to start your day. It could be something as simple as straightening your sofa cushions, pushing in your dining chairs, making sure your TV remote is in the right place, clearing up your kitchen counter, making sure your keys are all hung up and so on. Coming home to a clean and clutter free environment means that you can relax, have dinner, and be in the right frame of mind to plan for what may follow. The routine allows you to always be clear and focused to complete tasks and plan for the ones ahead.
Identify three things for a successful day
Some days don’t go as planned, and people who plan their day, know this. As much as you try to stay organise and do what you set out to do, interruptions, emergencies, and other ad-hoc circumstances may crop up that derail the order of how you want to get things done. This is why it is important to think of three things to accomplish that would make for a successful day. These things are to be scheduled with back up slots just in case life happens and the first allocated slot is taken up. At the end of the day, if you are able to accomplish those three things, you can still define your day as a good one.
