17 Things You Should Never Do When You Start Your Day
Nothing feels better than waking up happy and motivated. Ideally you’d get out of bed, start making breakfast, and are excited to start working. Unfortunately, not all my days start like that. Not by a long shot.
We know that how you start your morning shapes the rest of your day. Simple things like finding motivation or having a nutritious breakfast can make or break your day.
If you want to set yourself up for success, here’s a list of things to avoid when starting your day.
1. Hit the Snooze Button
Waking up in your cozy bed can invite you to hit the snooze button and lie down a bit longer. However, hitting the snooze button can lead to more fragmented sleep, which can make you feel more tired during the day.
As soon as your alarm rings, get up and turn it off. Begin your routine immediately to stay productive. I’ve noticed I feel more tired and lazy when I hit the snooze button.
2. Check Emails
It’s tempting to check your phone for emails and messages as soon as you wake up. No matter how much you want to prepare, never open your work emails until you clock in for work.
Checking work emails can lead to stress and frustration, as you already see how busy you will get. A great trick is to only look at your phone once you’re ready to start your day.
3. Check Social Media
Aside from work emails, you shouldn’t check social media right after you wake up. While you might find funny memes, you could also come across upsetting news or stressful messages.
Checking your phone first thing can distract you from what you want to do and add more stress to your daily routine. Starting your day without it helps you stay focused and calm.
4. Drinking Coffee Immediately
I used to drink coffee as soon as I woke up. I thought it helped me become energized, but it turns out I wasn’t doing my body any favors.
You shouldn’t drink coffee before breakfast as it can cause a spike in your cortisol, which is already naturally higher in the mornings. It caused me to feel more anxious and jittery, and it stopped right after I started to drink my coffee after breakfast. Every morning, eat your breakfast and drink a glass of water before you start on your first cup of coffee.
5. Focus on Yesterday’s Issues
Waking up and immediately dealing with yesterday’s problems only makes you stressed. It’s easy to dwell on past issues, but try not to focus on them, especially if the issues are out of your control.
If a problem might affect your day, shift your focus to something positive instead. You’ve already done everything you can to solve it yesterday, so it’s no sure thinking about it now. Do what you can to start the day with a better mindset.
6. Avoiding Self-Care
When I first started working, I had a habit of setting my alarm super late. I’d have 10 minutes to shower and get dressed, 5 minutes to put my breakfast and lunch together, and I would be out of the door within 15 minutes. It’s super tiring to rush through your morning like that; more often than not, I’d lay on my bed until I was going to be late for work.
While old habits die hard, I no longer eat my breakfast in the car and sprint out of the house on most days. I prioritize myself every morning. I eat my breakfast, brew my favorite coffee, or take a slow shower.
7. Over-Committing
Creating a to-do list before you start work is helpful and makes you more organized. However, over-committing to too many tasks only leads to stress and frustration at the end of the day.
No matter how motivated you are, don’t over-commit to what you can do for the day. Leave some areas in your calendar for unexpected tasks or meetings. That way, you don’t disappoint yourself by not completing your list.
8. Sitting for Too Long
Not everyone gets up right after turning off the alarm. Some sit at the edge of the bed, trying to wake up, staring at the floor, or checking their phone.
No matter how tempting, don’t sit too long. Try to get up right away and make the most of your morning. What feels like a short break can easily turn into 20 minutes of sitting.
9. Not Making Your Bed
My favorite thing to do when I wake up is to make my bed. Fixing my bed gives me a sense of accomplishment as I clear out a chore as soon as I wake up.
It gives you that dopamine hit when you first wake up, which can lead to a productive day. When you do something that makes your room look better, you’ll feel good about yourself and gain motivation for the day.
10. Skip Breakfast
Some people skip breakfast to lose weight or if they’re in a rush. I’ve been guilty myself; for years, I didn’t eat breakfast and just drank coffee until lunch. That’s until I found out that no matter how busy you are, you should never skip breakfast. You can always pack something in your bag rather than go with an empty stomach.
Always prepare a good, healthy breakfast for the day. I like to toast bread and prepare eggs with tomato or avocado if I’m feeling fancy. If the weather gets warmer, I’ll often make a smoothie, and if the weather gets colder a warm oatmeal breakfast keeps me happy.
11. Eat Junk Food
Not all breakfast food is good for you. Even if it fills you up, junk food can cause blood sugar spikes.
Always aim for a healthier option, as breakfast is your fuel for the day. If you’re in a rush, grab an apple or make a smoothie that you consume on the road, but make sure to eat enough to stay full and energized throughout the morning.
12. Rush Your Morning Preparation
The last thing I want in the morning is to rush and leave important things behind. It’s been more than once that I needed to go back in and rush to get my laptop, my charger, or my phone. You name it, I forgot it.
To avoid the morning rush and forgetfulness, prepare everything the night before. Place items you need on the counter and choose your clothes ahead of time. The extra 5-10 minutes you save should be enough to get the day going smoothly.
13. Stay in Your Pajamas
Working from home gives you the flexibility to wear anything you want. But even if no one sees you in your pajamas, changing and keeping yourself motivated will make a difference.
Changing into regular clothes instead of staying in pajamas can shift your mindset. It helps you focus on work and separates your home life from your work life, even if you work remotely.
14. Not Having a Routine
It feels chaotic not having a routine or structure to start your day. Structure keeps you organized and avoids confusion about what you need to accomplish for the day.
Establish a daily routine. Plan your meals, shower, work, and finish errands with a set schedule. A timed routine encourages you to manage your day efficiently.
15. Skip Exercise
It’s essential to keep yourself healthy. Besides nutritious meals, it’s helpful to squeeze in a quick exercise every day. It doesn’t have to be long; a quick 15-minute workout is usually enough.
When you exercise in the morning, you keep yourself awake and energized. You’ll surprise yourself with how much a quick exercise can impact the rest of your day.
16. Be Too Negative
Nothing good will ever happen when you’re too pessimistic about life. Instead of looking at the things that go right, you focus on things that can go wrong.
Try to avoid thinking about the negative things that could happen. It only brings your mood down, so divert your attention to something more joyful.
17. Ignore the Positives
Along with being too negative, you shouldn’t ignore the positives in your life. Whether it’s a comfortable home, good friends, or your favorite breakfast, recognizing these small joys can improve your mood.
When you ignore positive things, you’ll not see how good life can be and enjoy it as much as you can. Embracing the bright side helps you feel better as you go throughout your day.
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