Have you ever woke up in the morning, wishing the night could be just a little bit longer? Have you ever gone through that feeling, of not willing to wake up and do something, because the days seem all similar? I did. Days like that, where I don’t find motivation is hard. Let’s admit it. The good news there are ways to tap into the power of our brains in order to help us be satisfied at the end of the day, and energized at the start of the day.
In this blog post, I’m going to share with you first how can we tap into our brain and how it works, and then 2 habits I developed to start my mornings right.
Like everybody else, when I first wake up in the morning, the first thing I used to do is: grab my phone and scroll through Facebook, check my messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, and other social media platforms. Then, after some time, I stop and wonder why I’m doing this when I should be getting ready for breakfast or the rest of the day.
I discovered that there is a neuroscientific explanation of this behavior. it occurs because it has become a habit.
Did you know that there’s actually a part of the brain that notices any trends we’re making and is responsible for habit-forming?
It’s called the Basal Ganglia. It is a part of the brain that plays a crucial role in habit-forming.
That explains why I pick up my phone as soon as I wake up every morning; I’ve developed a habit of doing so.
While this portion of the brain can form and track bad habits, it can also form and monitor good habits. The basal ganglia are extremely strong. When we started repeatedly doing something, the basal ganglia picks it up. That’s when we begin to do it almost naturally, with little or no mental effort, as it’s not the prefrontal cortex that is responsible for it.
So why am I speaking about habits? We are the type of person we are because of our behaviors and habits. And our attitudes and actions have a significant impact on our self-esteem and confidence.
This means, if I want to become resilient and productive, I have to focus on my habits and behaviors that will help me become that person.
I remember when I was job searching and had a friend who, like me, had chosen to leave her job. She asked me: “How can I get through the days when I’m stuck at home without a job?”
My answer was that I developed habits, that help me, especially in times when life is hard. I kept moving forward, making progress, and working on my goals.
So, let’s dig into the two habits that helped me…
Acknowledge yourself
Everyone requires acknowledgment, and the most important acknowledgment is that which we give to ourselves. Recognize everything you did or accomplished throughout the day, including the smallest details.
In this regard, I once spoke with a mom who told me that when she received acknowledgment from her boss, she was overjoyed and became even more inspired to work even harder.
And while this is a positive thing, we must not depend solely on the appreciation and praise we gain from others because not everyone will acknowledge or appreciate everything we do. So the most important thing is to give acknowledgment to ourselves.
There are two ways you can do it:
- Write down all of the wonderful things you accomplished that day, as well as ideas for how you can improve.
- Doing the mirror exercise– Do this before going to bed. Take a mirror or stand in front of one. Look at yourself: say your name, and praise yourself for all you accomplished that day, whether it was in your personal life, job, or company.
I used to use the writing technique, but after becoming a mother, I found it difficult to find the time to write anything. As a result, I do the mirror exercise more often. Before going to bed, it makes me feel more fulfilled and satisfied.
And that is extremely important. When you end the day happy & accomplished, it sets you up for tomorrow. Your brain will give you a signal to keep doing what you’re doing in order to have more happy days.
Set your goal
I keep mentioning it, to decide ahead of the day, what goals you have for tomorrow. What one little thing can you do better? What’s the thing that you want to get done first?
Setting a goal for the day before you start allows you to be more organized and effective. And when we set our goals the day before, while we sleep, our brains start already working on making those goals true. . And so, you wake up in the morning, wired and ready to take action with enough clarity and determination.
These two habits have not only an impact on your productivity, but also a major effect on self-esteem.. It has proven to be extremely beneficial to me.
Give it a shot. Block 10 minutes in your Calendar today and do it! 😉
If you like more of these tips, then check this: Getting over the lack of energy to get things done.
