This old saying that your parents used to repeat in the early morning, abruptly opening the curtains, is painfully true. The way you wake up will affect the course of your entire day. Understanding your biological rhythm and improving some healthy habits are the key factors for a great start.

If you often think you’d need 24 hours a day to complete all the tasks in your daily schedule, then you should probably just pay greater attention to your “time management”. Well, waking up earlier is the best way to improve it. Of course, it gets more difficult if you are working as a freelance or on your own.

Stop hitting the snooze button!

Stop postponing the alarm clock every five minutes, it has been proven to be more harmful than helpful. The best choice is buying a real alarm clock! Stop using your mobile, even those apps which are supposed to monitor your sleep and wake you up during the “most suitable moment”: they’re not working. It’s better to buy a traditional alarm clock and put it in a hard-to-reach spot in order to force yourself to get up immediately when it rings. Also, it’s better not to interact with your mobile at least right after you’re out of bed, since you’re probably going to stick to it all day long.

Don’t hurry

After getting up, take your time to do some relaxing activity. Read a book or drink a cup of hot coffee while breathing fresh air near the window or on the balcony if the weather is good. Some small rituals will help you to start your day with a clear mind and to gently wake up in order to face the day smoothly.

Get prepared

Marc Zuckerberg once said that the reason why he used to wear the same outfit everyday was because he had bought several identical items in order to save time getting dressed. There is no need to be so drastic, but still picking up your clothes the day before will let you save precious time in the morning.

Get some exercise

Keeping fit is important to your mind and body health. It is scientifically proven that doing some sport increases the level of endorphin in our body, relieves stress and donates us a feeling of well-being. Do some exercise, but don’t engage yourself in an intensive training. Riding a bike, going out for a run or doing some yoga is good enough. Find what fits you best.

Plan your day

Before starting to work, write down a schedule. Try to set priorities according to the importance and the time you need to accomplish every task. Planning is perhaps the most important step of the day so don’t neglect it.

 

If you try to put these tips into practice, your productivity will increase. Moreover, most important over all is not only to wake up early but also to keep a rhythm. Do it step by step, don’t try to change everything all at once and then never do it again. Little by little you will develop your morning ritual to begin the day at your best.