Ever wish that there were more than 24 hours in a day? That was my wish for the longest time because I always had trouble finishing everything I needed/wanted to do within my normal day’s routine. My work schedule was pretty much a normal 9-5 shift so if I wake up and go to work that would mean I would have to do my other things such as: going to gym, running errands, groceries, cooking, cleaning…etc in the hours between 5 and going to bed normally around 11. Who feels like doing all of that after a long work day when you are drained and just want to relax?

After realizing that routine was not working I knew I had to change things up. I decided to make better use of my mornings by waking up earlier which for me I decided a good time was 6:00AM giving me almost 3 usable hours before work (Less than 10 minute commute). So what do I do with my 3 hours?

• Take time for Breakfast (30 min)- Your elders were not lying when they said breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I take about 30 minutes to sit down and eat a hearty and healthy breakfast including a cup of coffee which also saves you money by not making that Starbucks trip every morning.

• Workout (45 min- 1hour) - I take about 45 minutes each morning to either do a cardio workout or weight training. I create a set schedule for my week to know exactly what muscle to work out each day or how much cardio I need to do.

• Shower / Get Dressed (30-40 min) - Ever been in such a rush that you put on the first pants and shirt you see and run out the door to later wonder what you were thinking wearing what you were? In business or in any other field for that matter taking a little bit of time to dedicate to yourself and make sure you are presenting yourself in the best possible image will go a long way in improving how others perceive you.

• Planning the Day/Week (30 min) -
  Why wait until you get to work to figure out what you need to do? Take a few minutes and plan your tasks for the day or week which will allow you to hit the ground running once you get to work. This is also time dedicated to planning your week outside of work. Organize necessary errands and chores throughout the week so that they don’t bunch up or get postponed.

I may be waking up earlier with this schedule, but I have found that I have so much more energy to tackle the day and my level of productivity has completely skyrocketed compared to before. The exercise and proper breakfast give me an energy boost, and taking time to plan and get ready give me a mental edge that I did not previously feel.

How do you manage the time in your mornings? What other tasks do you accomplish before going to work? Comment below!