According to the experts what you do first thing in the morning has the greatest impact on the success of the rest of your day. In this series we asked our soloist community what rituals they use to kickstart their systems before getting on with work for the day.
Do you action/plan/do anything specific to prepare for the morning the night before?
Yes – I write a list of top 5 things to do and I check in on what I have done/achieved that day.
What time do you wake up? And how do you do it? Ie, alarm, someone wakes you up or it just happens naturally.
Some days I wake up at 5.30am for a walk or yoga class otherwise up by 7am. Alarm is key wakeup call however my husband has to prompt me as I have a hearing impairment so don’t always hear the alarm.
What is the VERY first thing you do after you wake up? If you eat, what do you eat?
Have a glass of water and sometimes warm water with lemon then depending on what I have on for the day determines breakfast ie. if I have to go out for a meeting I have cereal with yoghurt, if it’s a have working day (strategy, article, proposal, workshop) I have a cooked breakfast like mushrooms with tomato and avocado on toast and with an espresso!
What is your first drink of the day? Where are you when you’re drinking it?
A glass of water and I stand at the kitchen sink while drinking it.
What part of your morning routine makes you feel the best?
When I go for a walk or do yoga then I’m calmer and more clear and have more focus.
What part of the routine could you really live without?
The early starts in winter are harder but love all the routine as helps me get into the day with purpose.
Describe your ideal morning…
Being able to read the papers or an article from start to finish in one sitting.