Strategies for Starting Your Day Off Strong

As a freelancer, you likely have some flexibility already built into your schedule, so use it to your advantage! There’s a reason why the most successful people swear by their morning routine. Having a plan for how to start your day doesn’t just give you physical structure - it also helps you approach your day with a sense of focus and calm. ​

As a freelancer, you likely have some flexibility already built into your schedule, so use it to your advantage! Putting together the right morning routine for you is easier than you think - here’s how to get started: 

1. Do something enjoyable as soon as you wake up. 
The first thing you do in the morning should be something that makes you happy. Reaching for your phone within the first 30 seconds of being awake can overwhelm your brain with texts and emails that definitely could have waited. If you’re not a morning person, get up early enough that you can have some time to just be. Sip a cup of hot tea, put on some soft music, read a chapter of your current favorite book, or do a refreshing morning yoga routine - whatever brings you joy. Even if you have to get up slightly earlier, starting the day this way will be worth it. 

2. Accomplish something (even something simple) first thing.
​When thinking about your morning routine, not only do you want to keep things calm and peaceful, but you also want to start your day off on the right foot. Consider doing something that makes you feel accomplished. Whether it’s exercising, checking off something on your to-do list, or even just making your bed, starting your day with a little accomplishment gives you the confidence to take on the day. 

3. Aim to get up before the sun does. 
Maintaining a sleep/wake schedule that is compatible with your body’s natural circadian rhythm is one of the simplest ways to keep you feeling alert and capable. Most of us experience our peak energy levels during the first half of the day, so the earlier you get up, the more hours of energy you have available to you. Try keeping the same sleep schedule even on weekends. This can help you sleep better and feel more alert throughout every day of the week. On a similar token, make sure the room you sleep in is dark and quiet, and the room you work in is bright and energizing. 

4. Plan your day with the hardest tasks at the beginning. 
I recently discovered the phrase “Eat the frog first” and have found it incredibly helpful for task prioritization. The “frog” is the least enjoyable or most time-consuming thing on your to-do list each day. Whether this is exercising or a work task you don’t particularly enjoy (or both!), tackling the frog early in the day when your mind is fresh and you have more energy will help you accomplish it more easily than if you had put it off until later. Often, the task is really not as difficult as it’s built up in our minds to be, but if we procrastinate that sense of dread grows unnecessarily and by the time we do sit down to do it, it feels impossible. Always plan your day with harder tasks first, easier tasks second. You’ll find it makes a big difference! Interested in becoming a prioritization professional? Consider downloading our time management e-book to learn more. 

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