7 Ways to Set Your Day Up for Success

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Are you feeling a bit stuck? Have you set yourself plenty of goals but can’t seem to find the energy to achieve them? Are you feeling overwhelmed with everyday life and want things to change?

If this is you, don’t fret. We’ve all been there, and we will all be there again at some point. In order to help you get over the hurdle, here are seven ways you can set your day up for success and feel better, with a bit of effort.

1. Start the Night Before

The most important thing to remember about starting your day right is that it actually begins on the evening before. If you go to bed late and hungry, if you don’t get enough sleep and wake up on the wrong side of the bed, you won’t be setting anything up for success.

Here’s an outline of a great evening routine to adopt:

• Stop looking at screens at least an hour before bed.
• Journal or meditate to calm your thoughts.
• Go to bed on time, giving yourself enough time to rest and recover.
• Plan out your tasks for tomorrow.
• Set out your outfit and anything else you might need.
• Prep a delicious breakfast in advance.

2. Wake Up with Ease

How you get out of bed can often determine how well your day goes. Start by investing in a better mattress that will support your sleeping needs. For example, if you are a side sleeper, you will not like a mattress that has been made for those who sleep on their backs, and you may wake up tired and grumpy.

Try not to hit the snooze button, as it will be more difficult to get out of bed every time you do. Invest in an alarm clock that will wake you up gently with light and sound instead. You can also pair a smartwatch app with your phone and allow it to wake you up at the best moment.

3. Don’t Dive Right In

Once you get out of bed, don’t immediately start working or dealing with your chores. Give yourself at least 15-20 minutes to wake up, and use them wisely.

Depending on how much time you have, this is your time to do your skincare, do some journaling, exercise, stretch, practice positive affirmations, and the like. In short, do something that will put you in a good mood, without any stress. You can dance around your house to your favorite tunes, cuddle with your pet, or read a bit of a great book, for example.

4. Fuel Your Mind and Body

Eating a good breakfast will help you feel good about the day ahead. Most people will benefit from eating protein and fats for breakfast, but some people prefer carbs and don’t suffer a sugar crash afterward. Try out several different healthy breakfast options before you land on the one that works best for you.

Have your morning cup of coffee or tea and enjoy it thoroughly. Try not to rush out of the house and take it with you. Allow at least those first couple of sips to be pure joy.

5. Look Over Your To-Do List

Once you feel you are fully awake and ready for the day, you can take a look at the to-do list you made for yourself the day before. Think about your tasks and in what order you want to do them.

Make sure these lists work for you. Write them in a way that suits the way your mind works. If you think clearer in the morning and prefer to write your lists then, do it that way. It’s all about figuring out what makes you more productive.

6. Start with the Most Difficult Thing

Instead of putting that thing you are dreading off all day, tackle it first. Eating the biggest frog at the beginning of the day will make you feel lighter and much more accomplished.

If you keep delaying something you find difficult or don’t want to do, the thought of it will keep hanging over your head the entire day. Better to get it out of the way as soon as possible.

This tactic can be applied to your work tasks and your personal life, too. For example, you can schedule a dentist appointment for the morning or start working on the most annoying work task as soon as you get into the office.

7. Adjust the Day

Sometimes, the day simply won’t go as planned, no matter what you do. You may wake up with a headache, there might be more traffic than usual, or you might just feel low on energy and be in a bad mood.

When this happens, don’t try to push yourself too hard to stick to your plan or behave as usual. Adjust your routines and plans as needed. You’ll only end up frustrating yourself additionally if you expect yourself to be at your best.

The same goes for when you wake up feeling great and energized. If you’ve planned a light day, do something from tomorrow’s to-do list or something that’s not even on the list yet. It will make your weeks much more enjoyable.

Wrapping Up

Try out these habits and routines to set your day up for success. You’ll need to tweak them and adjust them to the way you prefer to do things, though. Don’t think of this advice as set in stone, but rather as guidance you can build and expand on.