Starting your morning off on the right foot is an essential ingredient to the success of your day. For some of us, it’s harder than others to begin the day in a positive and productive way, but it’s a new year so what better time than now, right?
And why not take advice from some of history’s most successful people? Here are morning routines from some names you will definitely recognize. It might be time to incorporate some of these tasks into your daily routine.
1. Make a new resolution each morning.
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Let’s look to Benjamin Franklin for this one. One of America’s greatest figures followed the same routine each day: He arose at 5 a.m. and said to himself, “What good shall I do this day?” Make each day count, just like Mr. Franklin did!
2. Work from your bed.
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This one may sound a little odd, but look at the proof: The legendary French writer Voltaire regularly worked from bed and he was incredibly productive during his life, writing more than 50 plays. He was known to work 18 hour days, too, so he was clearly not a lazy guy.
Winston Churchill was also a prolific bed worker, working from there for hours each morning.
3. Take a walk.
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Is there anything more relaxing and mind-clearing than taking a long walk? I think not, and I’m in good company. Charles Darwin and Georgia O’Keeffe are two examples of brilliant minds who took morning walks in order to get the creative juices flowing.
4. Meditate.
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Morning meditation can help get your head on straight and help you focus on what you need to achieve throughout the upcoming day. It also helps reduce anxiety.
Philosopher Immanuel Kant was a huge proponent of meditating each morning before he began his work day.
5. Treat yourself.
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Even though it may feel like you’re procrastinating, doing something that you enjoy or that helps you relax each morning is very important. Before jumping into their work days, Freud had a barber trim his beard each morning, and Napoleon and Mozart spent a good amount of time primping and getting dressed.
You might also just sit on your porch and drink a cup of coffee and read the newspaper. If you fo whatever brings you joy before you get down to the daily grind, you’ll feel less irked about having to, you know, grind.
