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WHAT'S NEW
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Manage your mornings
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Five easy steps to get your day off to a good start
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By Karen Hanna
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When was the last time you began a weekday morning doing something to start your day well? Many of us begin the daily dash early, barely making it out the door and slamming into the day without any time for ourselves. We're unlikely to get time out until later that evening, if at all. Instead of hurrying through your day, invest 20 minutes tonight and change your day tomorrow.
Decide when you can fit in 20 minutes during the evening.
You may be tired when you first get home and have other immediate priorities. But you're still in the rhythm of the day and it can be easier to keep going at that pace for a bit longer rather than trying to gear up again later. An alternative is to take 20 minutes before bed to prepare for the next day, as part of winding down from the current one.
Imagine you have a staff at home that ensures you get out the door calm, well-prepared and on time.
Then do what they'd do to make it happen. Choose and prepare clothes. Make sure toiletries are close at hand. Lay out breakfast necessities. Prepare a healthy lunch and snacks. Pack up what you need to take the next day and leave it by the door. Put a note by the front door with any morning reminders.
Make a checklist.
This is especially helpful if you live with others who head out the door when you do. Picture everyone at the door ready to go and then walk backwards, listing what needs to be done by who and when. Split the list between morning and the night before and get everyone involved in the successful exit. Kids can usually do more than we think -- and feel a part of things when they help put the checklist together. Keep it on the refrigerator, and update it as your routine changes.
Fully enjoy your 13 minutes.
It's good for your family, friends and colleagues if you take time for yourself first thing in the morning. The investment pays off in increased patience and resilience. Remember the instructions given on a plane before take-off: "If oxygen is needed, and you are travelling with others who need assistance, put your own oxygen mask on first and then help your companions." If you've spent time preparing the night before, you deserve these few minutes to yourself.
Keep the extra seven minutes in reserve.
Mornings bring unplanned challenges. The time you spent the previous night gives you a buffer to respond to last-minute details without delaying your planned departure.
No matter what the day holds, starting it right makes a difference. Spend a short time doing something you enjoy before the demands of the day intervene, and see the difference 20 minutes can make tonight.
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