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How to Achieve More in the First Hour of the Day

Jun 2, 2016 | Lifestyle, Running | 17 comments

Charlie Watson

So only the second day of blogging everyday in June and I’m late…I’m blaming my lack of laptop battery, a delayed flight and lack of wifi here in Stockholm. But better later in the day than not at all, right? Over the next few days I’ll be sharing my adventures here in Stockholm – so far I am loving it!  Keep an eye out on Twitter, Snapchat (therunnerbeans) and Instagram for more action.

Today’s post theme is about making the most of your mornings, and achieving more in the first hour of the day. I love getting up early in the morning, I’m so much more productive first thing than late at night so I don’t find it too difficult setting my alarm for the pre-dawn (ok, 5.45-6am) to ensure I don’t miss out. Weight Watchers asked me to share my tips with you guys to help you maximise those morning hours as part of their ‘Power of Positive Thinking‘ series – you can follow along with the hashtag #WomanKind.

Life is waking up an hour early to live an hour more

Starting your day in a positive way sets the mood for your entire day. Don’t let the time before work/life become wasted hours. Here’s how to make the most of your mornings, get a workout in, eat well or catch up your current affairs.

  • Don’t Snooze

Those 5 minute snoozes do not add to your quality sleep, nor do they reduce your tiredness, so eliminate them! Think how much time you’ve wasted in the past by hitting your snooze button ‘just one more time’, and giving yourself ‘just 5 more minutes’ in bed? Skip the snooze by turning your light on straight away or jumping out of bed. Or try one of the Lumi alarms that gently wakes you up by gradually increasing the light level – lifechanging!

When trying to become a morning person, don’t try to change your waking up time from 8am to 6am, you’re setting yourself up for a fail. Instead try making it 15 minutes earlier every few days, until 6am becomes your norm!

Charlie Watson

  • Set Up the Night Before

If you’re not a morning person, don’t trust your bleary eyed self to get all your things ready for the day ahead. Packing your bag, laying out your gym kit, writing your to do list are all jobs that you can do before going to bed to speed up your morning, giving you more time to do other things(!), and should ensure you don’t forget anything.

  • Create a routine

Have you got a morning routine? If not, it’s time to create one.

Get up, put the kettle on to make a cup of tea or hot lemon water, get into your gym kit, eat a banana and head out of the door? Or something that works for you and your own schedule.

Creating a routine should ease the morning stress and rush, as well as ensuring that you don’t skip any of your newly integrated healthy habits.

Raspberry-Overnight-Oats

  • Prep your breakfast (and packed lunch) in advance

What better motivation to hop out of bed than a delicious breakfast, ready to go? Like these easy but tasty overnight oats.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but the most missed. Many people believe that they’ll save calories by skipping this meal, however studies show that you actually end up eating more throughout the day. Don’t use lack of time as an excuse!

Making a packed lunch from dinner leftovers or weight watchers recipe will ensure you’ve got something to keep you on track at lunchtime rather than heading for the vending machine. And will save you money. Win, win.

  • Get off your phone

Ever felt FOMO on a Monday morning after flicking through Facebook and everyone else’s weekends look more fun than yours? It doesn’t make you feel great, plus it’s a huge time waster. Do you really need to watch that cat meme before heading to work?

Ditch that mindless phone scrolling and read the news, squeeze in a YouTube workout video, or meal plan for the week ahead. Feel awesome and accomplished, all before 8am!

What are your top tips? Are you more of a morning or evening person? 

17 Comments

  1. Chiswick mum

    But you are here, second day of blogging everyday in June – well done! Love that you are now a morning person. Top tip is probably to get to bed at a regular time each night. The hours before midnight are the most beneficial I think I remember reading.

    Reply
    • Lee-Anne Fox

      I’ve read that somewhere too! “An hour before midnight’s worth two after” Sounds like a grannyism, but probably true!

      Reply
      • charlotte

        I think my Granny actually did tell me that. It’s the hours before midnight that count!

        Reply
  2. gfeliciano

    Love the post! Changing my wake up time to get a workout in before work has done wonders for me. It has changed my weight-loss and also my productivity level at work, I no longer show up as if I woke up and sprinted out the house late. I feel as if without a morning routine that includes a workout or some kind of work, leaves me getting to work foggy and just not ready for action.

    Keep up the daily blog! I hope to be doing a 31 day challenge in July!

    Reply
    • charlotte

      Ooh good luck with the challenge!

      Reply
  3. amin

    FIRST hour is important for the whole day. We know , morning shows the day. IF first hour is good so the whole day or task is the best. I always get up early from bed and enjoy sweat nature as well as run to or fro

    Reply
  4. Happy Fit Mama

    I loathe the snooze button. I have never used it and will never, ever. I had a roommate in college who would hit it for an hour before waking up. Worst sound ever!!

    Reply
    • TaleOfTwoRuns

      I hear you…. If someone does (not pointing any fingers but my partner does it A LOT) it it makes me wake up grumpy and with a headache!

      Reply
    • charlotte

      That sounds horrific! Surely it’s just interrupted crap sleep for an hour?

      Reply
  5. runninginthemidlands

    I find it really difficult to wake up and get going in the morning. My Lumie lamp really helps!!! I recommend getting one to any other ‘snoozers’.

    Reply
    • charlotte

      I love my Lumie – game changer!

      Reply
  6. Amanda Brooks (@RunToTheFinish)

    I seriously feel like we are sole sisters (ha get it…yeah hope you laughed or we aren’t). I am such a get it done in the morning person and I just love the great content you keep sharing. How can we live closer?!

    Reply
    • charlotte

      I laughed out loud in the street when I read this! Yes I wish we could, just got to get a visa somehow and I’d be there in a flash! Thank you so much for your constant encouragement!

      Reply
  7. Pamela Hernandez (@ThriveFit)

    Morning for sure. Staying consistent helps me a lot. Basically the same bed time, same wake up time all week along

    Reply
  8. Laura

    I hate mornings. I don’t function well at all, so I absolutely have to prep everything the night before. I’m a ‘get up, get ready, leave the house’ person. I have my work clothes ready to put on, my gym bag packed and ready to pick up, my lunch and breakfast prepped and in the fridge ready to go straight in my bag. I can’t eat straight away, but after the hour-long drive to work I’m usually ready to eat my breakfast and get on with things. The drive is pretty much my ‘me time’ to get ready for the day.

    I’m much more lively and positive in the evenings, so that’s when I do all my exercise.

    Reply
    • charlotte

      I found it on Pinterest – should say in the photo credits at the end! Not sure where the original is from, I love it!

      Reply

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