Mornings can feel challenging when you’ve got a mammoth day to get through ― whether it’s work-related or just general life admin. You can do many things to keep yourself energized, but you might find these tips helpful if you need to excite yourself for a busy day.
1. Work with your ‘hypnopompic’ state
During the hypnopompic, your brain creates alpha waves, making it an excellent place to explore the mind in a relaxed state. This is a natural state of hypnosis you experience just before you wake fully, explains Leah Larwood, a clinical hypnotherapist. “Once you have an inkling that you are surfacing from sleep, try to hang onto the thread that connects you to sleep and wakefulness,” she says.
“When you wake, just roll back into the position you were in and try to re-enter the relaxed, sleepy state you were in ― at this point, use it to explore what comes up for you on that day.”
Larwood says this state is good for discovering new insights, finding clarity, or inspiring creative projects. You’re more connected to your unconscious mind and more likely to have those beneficial lightbulb moments. So if you wanted, you could drop a burning question: How should I approach this work meeting? Y
2. Open the curtains straight away
Lindsay Browning, a psychologist, neuroscientist, and sleep ambassador for And So To Bed, says as soon as you wake up, open the curtains wide to let light into your bedroom.
“Bright sunlight will help your circadian rhythm know that it is morning and make you feel more alert and ready for the day,” she says.
3. Write down what you’re worried about
Are you dreading certain things about the day, like a big meeting, complex task, or difficult conversation? The first 20 mins after you wake are a window of opportunity, Larwood says. “You’re still experiencing the relaxing world of alpha waves and have a strong connection with your subconscious. Try writing it down.”
“Start with something specific,” she continues. “Write your question or statement at the top of the page and use that as a springboard for exploring what’s on your mind. In the end, make a note of any findings or insights. Try some free writing around how you’re feeling. Write unedited for 15 minutes. Often you can start to unravel what’s going on and sometimes discover the final piece to the puzzle.”
4. Or make a to-do list for the day
Don’t like journaling? Get productive instead. “Prioritize things based on whether they are time-critical, important, or nice to do,” Browning says. “Start with tasks that are time-critical and important … and then get to the rest.”
Another method is to make “4D decisions” with your to-do list, says Alkta Patel, a lifestyle physician and general practitioner. “I look at my to-do list every morning and convert this into a two-by-two matrix to make 4D decisions. Write your tasks in the best quadrant: Do – Defer – Delegate – Delete.”
5. Organize the day depending on if you’re a ‘lark’ or ‘owl.’
If you’re a “lark” who tends to be to bed early and rise, then tackle the most difficult tasks of the day in the morning, when you will be at your peak functioning, Browning says. Leave the more mundane tasks for later when you feel tired.
If you’re an “owl” who wants to go to bed later and get up later, your peak work time will likely be later in the day. Start your working day by tackling tasks that do not require much brainpower (like email checking), and leave the difficult jobs for later in the day when you will be more alert.
