1.
OPTIMIZING
voun
MORNING VE
ROUTINE
JANUARY 2016
FOR GREATER WORKFLOW PRODUCTIVITY

2.
Just as breakfast is the most important meal of
the day from a nutritional standpoint, a
structured morning routine is the best way to
ensure the rest of your work day goes smoothly.
Studies have proven the positive link between
the way you start your day and your levels of
energy, concentration, and productive output by
the time you leave the office.

3.
Perhaps that explains our society's fascination
with the morning routines of highly successful
people—how could they consistently achieve
so much valuable work in a single day?
Here are six tweaks to your morning routine
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4.
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Steve Jobs would stare in the
mirror each morning and ask
himself one question: '‘If today
was the last day of my life,
would I be happy with what I'm
about to do today? ” This is a
powerful question to ask
yourself, because it forces you
to take stock of how you're
spending your time and energy,
and whether those choices are
making you happy.
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5.
GET YOUR
BLOOD
FLOWING
Whether you like to log an hour on
the treadmill first thing like Bill Gates,
walk the dog, or bike to work, getting
some form of exercise before sitting
at your desk all day is a no brainer
with proven results.
Successful entrepreneurs routinely
talk about the importance of
exercising before hitting the office;
statistics polling the morning routines
of successful professionals have
found that 78% prefer to start their
day by getting their heart rate
pumping.

6.
EAT
A FROG
Mark Twain was the original time
management expert. The prolific author
had this advice on how to kickstart your
productivity in the mornings: "Eat a live
frog first thing in the morning, and
nothing worse will happen to you the
rest of the day. "
While few health experts would advise
a diet of live frogs for breakfast, what
Twain is really saying is to tackle your
biggest tasks early in the day, when
you're less likely to run out of steam.

7.
GET OFFLINE
While checking your email and social media feeds first thing is as tempting as it is mindless,
resist the urge in favor of some contemplative time. Not only does this allow you to get in touch
with what that frog for the day might look like, it also clears the digital chatter to allow you to
start your day with a sense of calm focus.
Tumblr CEO David Karp has a policy of not checking his email until arriving at the office. Others
prefer a few minutes of meditation or mindful yoga. Find what works for you, but be sure to
allow for some away from text messages, tweets, and all other digital distraction.
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8.
GET YOUR
SYNAPSES
FIRING
A common theme in the morning
routines of successful people
usually involves some form of
mental stimulation to put your
mind in work mode in a seamless
way. Bill Gates likes to listen to
educational videos while walking
on the treadmill, killing two birds
with one stone. Others prefer
podcasts on their morning
commute.

9.
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Holding yourself accountable to your
morning routine will go a long way in
helping you stick with it.
Whether it's laying out the next day's
outfit, preparing a healthy breakfast to take
on the go, or going to bed a little earlier,
your morning success depends just as
much on your evening habits. By reflecting
on what's working about your morning
routine, you can finetune it for even better
productivity enhancing results.