Believe it or not, everyone has exactly the same amount of time each day, that is, 24 hours. Some would argue that time itself moved a lot slower when they were in high school as opposed to how it moves in college. If only I could find the science to prove it, I would totally support that argument. This past summer, for me, felt like it lasted for three weeks instead of three months.
It can be extremely vexing to people when life blasts on by, especially if you have a huge to-do list that you want to get done. Life is a funny game that loves to throw random “assignments” on our path, and sometimes we throw the most important things we need to complete on the back burner. Our minds go haywire with all of the information coming at us through email, texts, phone calls, social media and whatever else. It is hard to keep the mind grounded with all of the clutter, and time seems to speed by when we get caught up in it all.
I realized that stepping completely away from the craziness of life is not very realistic; however, it is possible to temporarily do so. The way that people can do this is by simply taking a new approach to how they start each day. Most of us – not just millennials – wake up and immediately reach for our cell phone to scroll through new posts on social media platforms. We also tend to do this right before bed. There is something bound to roll across the screen that will either positively or negative affect our mindset for the day. I don’t know if you have checked lately, but the news can be pretty disheartening. Of course, it is important to stay up-to-date with current events, but there are better ways to begin the day so that the mind is better grounded as you progress through the day. Here are three fantastic practices to start incorporating for a more peaceful and productive day:
1. Instead of lying in bed for a few more minutes after you open your eyes, get out of bed and try this:
Sit in a chair or on the floor. Open the windows to let some light in and sit in silence for a few minutes before allowing anything hectic to overwhelm you. Sitting in silence will allow you to recognize the beauty of the present moment and develop a clearer state of mind that you can carry throughout you day. If you want, you can also listen to a guided meditation. There are great free smartphone meditation applications available free for download.
2. Grab your notebook to write down goals or results that you are committed to achieving for the day.
Not only should you write down the goal, but you should also write why you would like to achieve it. Recite the goals to yourself if you can without waking your roommate up. The next best step is to visualize yourself accomplishing your tasks for the day in the most positive light possible. Visualize everything that you plan on doing going well whether it is taking an exam or focusing in class. This will support your mental state with self confidence of a situation before it even happens.
3. Whether you do a DVD workout in your dorm room or drive over to the gym, exercise is a fantastic opportunity to jumpstart the mind and body in the morning.
Too often, we tend to be sedentary creatures that sit at desks completing work or watching something on a computer screen. Doing things like yoga, HIIT, weight lifting, Tabata or dance is the key to productivity and happiness for many people. I always have a clearer sense of being after a workout and my energy levels are boosted for the remainder of the day.
Of course, there are countless other ways to improve productivity and mental clarity each day. These are some of my favorites that have truly helped me accomplish my personal assignments and have a more positive outlook on life. See if one or all three of these practices aid your state of mind during your day tomorrow.
