Why the first 10 minutes of your day are the most important
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Make breakfast? Have a shower? Scroll through Facebook? If it’s the latter, you’re making a big mistake, according to trends forecaster and business analyst Michael McQueen.
Talking to news.com.au, the author of Momentum: How to Build it, Keep it, or Get it Back says those first 10 minutes of your day are crucial when it comes to starting the day out right.
“A lot of people operate on autopilot so jump straight on the phone, but this means they instantly start spending the day reacting and they’re not in the driver’s seat,” McQueen explains.
Even a quick “like” of your friend’s Facebook picture or responding to your daughter’s text message can have a harmful impact on your day. Why? “Straight away the day has been directed by someone else.”
Instead, keep your phone far enough away from your bed that you aren’t tempted to grab it first thing in the morning. Forget about checking your emails or reading the news online and do something more productive.
“Something simple like making the bed or being grateful for what you achieved the day before can make all the difference,” McQueen suggests. “The idea is it’s you deliberately doing something rather doing something unintentionally.”
It’s all about the domino effect – start the day with a positive action and you’ll set into motion a positive chain reaction. “It’s not really known why something like making the bed works, whether it means you feel less chaotic or have a better sense of wellbeing, it’s just something positive.”
So, tomorrow morning, instead of hopping on Facebook to see your sister’s new photos or to read Over60, take 10 minutes to do something proactive.
“My advice is get up, connect with people you love, feel grateful and reflect on what you’ve achieved the day before not focus on what you have to do today. Exercise, get moving and clear your head.”
Tell us in the comments below, what’s the first thing you do in the morning? Do you make sure your phone or tablet is far away from you in the morning?