How My Morning Routine Sets the Tone for a Busy Work Day

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #GoldPeakLattes #CollectiveBias

I'm not naturally a morning person, but I discovered that waking up early is a game-changer, even on days I'm scheduled to teach in the afternoon. Depending on the location of my assignment, I often need to leave my home an hour or two in advance. 

That quiet time before the rush offers some significant benefits that help me mentally prepare for the day ahead:

1. Cultivate Calm for the Day Ahead

No matter how much I prep the night before, mornings can sometimes feel chaotic. I've noticed that when I wake up earlier, I'm not immediately plunged into that hustle and bustle. This quiet time, whether I'm enjoying it alone or with my partner, allows me to feel calm, relaxed, and in a great mood. It's truly amazing how much better I can handle even the morning rush hour traffic when I've had that space to center myself.

Some excellent ways to spend this quiet time include meditation techniques and mantras, gentle exercise such as stretching or yoga, reading, writing in a journal, or practicing positive affirmations that boost your confidence.

How do your mornings typically go before work? Do they usually run smoothly, or do you find them more often on the chaotic side?

2. Energize for the Day's Demands

As I mentioned, I'm not a morning person by nature, but early starts are a necessity. I need all the help I can get to kick into gear. On days I'm substituting, I usually whip up a quick and simple breakfast—think toast, turkey bacon, fruit, and one of my new go-to drinks: Gold Peak® Vanilla Chai Tea Latte. I love that it's made with real sugar and tea and comes in two delicious flavors, Gold Peak Chai Tea Latte and Gold Peak Vanilla Chai Tea Latte. Gold Peak Vanilla Chai Tea Lattes. It gives me the boost of energy I need to help keep my mornings going. There are also two coffee flavors, Gold Peak Salted Caramel Coffee Drink and Gold Peak Almond Toffee Coffee Drink. The convenience of them being ready to drink straight from the bottle means no more trips to the coffee shop for a cold brew or chai tea latte.

You can find all four flavors at your local Walmart store.

3. Plan Tasks and Events Without Interruption

Without my planner and alarm reminders, I can easily become an anxious, forgetful mess. When I have peace and quiet, it's much easier to plan and remember what needs to be done. Having a flexible daily plan in my planner acts as a guide, helping me stay on track throughout the day

4. Boost Productivity

When I get an early start, eat, and begin my day, I'm much more motivated to tackle tasks without procrastinating, whether it's tidying up or diving into a new blog post or video project. Getting a head start and accomplishing things early feels incredibly satisfying. I find myself unintentionally motivated to keep up the good work simply because I enjoy the feeling of productivity and checking tasks off the list in my planner.

My Morning Routine: A Simple Structure for Success

I like to keep my morning routine straightforward, building on prep work from the night before to ensure a smooth start to my day.

Evening Before

• Prep Work: After dinner, I'll often put in a load of laundry if needed. Then, I shower and lay out my outfit for the next day. This simple step saves so much time and decision-making in the morning!

Morning Flow

• 5:45 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. (Flexible Start): My alarm time adjusts based on my substitute teaching schedule. Once up, I take care of the basics: brush my teeth, wash my face, and drink a glass of water.
• Breakfast & Planning: While I'm having breakfast, I take a few minutes to check the online system for any substitute needs if I'm not already scheduled. I also do a quick check of my email and review or reorganize my daily planner. This helps me visualize my day ahead.
• Quick Chores & Self-Care: I'll fold that load of laundry I put in the night before. Then, I make sure to squeeze in about 5 minutes of stretching—it feels absolutely amazing and helps me wake up! After that, I get dressed and I'm ready to go.
• Commute & Learning: My drive to work is reserved for listening to audiobooks. It's a great way to make the most of my commute and usually starts my day with some positive input.

Off-Days

• Flexible Focus: On days I'm not teaching, my routine largely stays the same. The main difference is that instead of checking for substitute openings, I dedicate that early morning time to working on a blog post or video project.

If you often find yourself feeling a bit frazzled in the mornings and could benefit from better time management and planning to get your day started smoothly, I highly encourage you to try adjusting your sleep and wake times. I hope that by sharing my routine and the benefits of an earlier start, I can inspire you to make positive changes to your own morning routine.

Thanks for reading!
-Britney