Four Tips to be More Productive in the AM

If you’re anything like me, you hate mornings. I’m such a night owl, it isn’t even funny. I would rather work from midnight to 8 AM than from 8 AM to 4 PM – and some days, I do! That said, not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to work during the hours they find most productive. Namely, if you have a family or a part-time job, you probably have to be up in the morning most days.

You might as well get some work done if you have to be awake. Being productive during mornings, however, can be a challenge. How do I do it? Here are some tips:

1. Get dressed.

It may sound silly, but actually getting dressed, rather than lounging around in you sweats, really does a lot for your state of mind in the morning. At least, it works for me! It just makes me feel fresh and more awake, giving me as much of a boost as a cup of coffee, but you know, without all the calories.

This picture was taken when I was in college at about 8 AM before a Penn State game. This is not what I recommend for breakfast to be productive in the morning.

2. Eat or drink something.

I’m not a breakfast person. I usually don’t like to eat until after I’ve been awake for a few hours. On mornings when I need a pick-me-up, though, I force myself to eat something. You don’t have to make an omelet. Even just a few spoonfuls of yogurt or half of a banana will do the trick. You just want something to tell your body that you’re awake. Food does that. (Do as I say, not as I do. Beer is not a good options in the morning. Trust me.)

3. Walk outside.

This tip comes AFTER you are dressed! The fresh in the morning is a great wake-up; for some reason, it totally gets me out of that sleepy state of mind. Take your dog out, go get the morning paper, or just stand outside with your coffee for a few moments.

4. JUMP out of bed.

Literally. When your alarm goes off, count to five in you head, and then throw back the covers and spring out of bed. It may feel silly, but that’s my little trick for morning when I REALLY need to wake up! Hey, it works. Try it!

Please…comment below – what are your best wake-up tips? Trust me; I need ‘em.

A version of this post, written by me, was first published on b5media’s Bizzia website. It is reposted here with permission.