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9 Things Successful People Never Do in the Morning
Mornings can be your biggest advantage to a productive day. They can also be your biggest time suck, setting you up to a day of yawning and distraction.
We asked the experts—nine members of the Young Entrepreneur Council—what mistakes we should avoid while starting our days. Here’s what they said.
1. Set multiple alarms.
Everyone has that friend who sets the 6:40, 6:50, 7 and 7:15 (just in case) alarms. Then they snooze the first two, wake up for the third, and the fourth goes off for five minutes while they are in the shower. Maddening! If you have trouble waking up to alarms, try different apps. Successful people manage their sleep so they wake up to their alarm the first time and are ready to attack the day.
—Matt Murphy, Kids in the Game LLC
2. Turn on the TV.
Successful people never find themselves getting distracted by the television or decide to watch just one show. Instead, they dive right into the tasks they want to tackle for the day.
—Peter Daisyme, Due
3. Get caught up in small decisions.
Successful people don’t waste time on small decisions, like what to have for lunch or wear every morning. Steve Jobs popularized this with his black turtleneck, and former President Obama would wear one of two colors of suits every day. Having fewer small decisions to make then makes it easier to focus on the big decisions.
—Brian David Crane, Caller Smart Inc.
4. Wing it.
The most successful people I know don’t just wing it. They have a schedule they abide by. It doesn’t have to be a minute-by-minute itinerary, but there is some sort of ritual they follow to start their day.
—Leila Lewis, Be Inspired PR
5. Stay in their pajamas.
As someone who runs a remote team, I have found that one of the most important things successful remote employees don’t do is stay in their pajamas all day. There is something to be said about changing into “work” attire even when working from home. It helps get you in the right frame of mind and allows your brain to understand that it is time to work.
—Jared Brown, Hubstaff Talent
6. Skip breakfast.
Having a belly full of healthy food is critical to powering your mind and body for the rest of the day. Too often, people skip breakfast and overeat at lunch, leading them to a total afternoon crash. Start the day off with some protein and healthy fruits and vegetables, and your energy levels will stay far more consistent when you’re ready to work.
—Ross Beyeler, Growth Spark