Morning routine for success, start your day the right way

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD
Dietitian at VMH

Successful people develop routines so they can reduce friction in their lives and focus on what they do best. For example: Steve Jobs wore a daily uniform of a black turtleneck, blue jeans and white sneakers. His goal was to make as few daily decisions as necessary, as he had too many other important decisions to make. This simple routine clearly paid off, as he made the company Apple very successful.

Another habit of super successful people, according to Forbes, is that they utilize the early morning hours to exercise. Early rising is a common trait found in many CEOs, government officials and other influential people, such as Margaret Thatcher, Frank Lloyd Wright and Robert Iger (the CEO of Disney). If you are planning to make some positive changes to your life in 2018, the best way to start each day is with a “Morning Routine for Success.”

This is a simple morning routine for success that may help you reach your New Year’s resolutions quicker and easier. Your morning routine for success actually begins the night before with a little planning. Start by setting your alarm clock an hour earlier than you would normally. If you tend to hit the snooze button, plan to put your alarm clock on the other side of the room.

Decide what you will do for exercise in the morning. It may be marching in place to music, doing an exercise video, riding an exercise bike or dancing to some music. Get your exercise area set up so you don’t have to think about it in the morning. Finally, place your exercise clothes for the morning in your master bathroom or other area where you can quickly get dressed without waking others.

When your alarm goes off in the morning, count backwards from three to blast yourself out of bed. I know this sounds silly, but it works. Do not look back at your bed, but go directly to the bathroom and get dressed in your exercise clothes. Pour yourself a big glass of water and start exercising.

Most people will want to exercise for 30 minutes in the morning, but you can go longer if you are enjoying it and have the time. Spend a portion of your exercise time (10-15 minutes) doing a little gratitude work. Think about how grateful you are for everything in your life and be grateful for all of the amazing things that you are attracting into your life.

Drink at least 20-32 oz. of water during and after your exercise to rehydrate your body. Eat a healthy breakfast that includes whole grains, fruit, vegetables or high quality protein. Examples:  a green smoothie made with almond milk, frozen fruit and spinach; oatmeal with chopped nuts and berries; whole grain cold cereal with milk or milk substitute and fruit; vegetable omelet with salsa.

Now that your mind will be alert and your blood circulating, make the plan for your day with the most important task to be completed first. Visualize your day running smoothly with everything going your way. You will be amazed at how committing to this one-hour morning routine for success can positively impact your life.

To learn more, plan to join the Veterans Memorial Hospital’s new eight-week weight loss class beginning January 15 that will teach the healthy lifestyle choices needed to lose the weight for good. The class will be offered Mondays from 5:30-6:45 p.m. starting January 15 and running through March 5.

Feel free to call Jill Fleming, RD/LD, Dietitian at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 568-3411, Ext. 567, to register or for more information.