The Next Chapter

It’s a sign of the times when young professionals get up in the morning, brush their teeth and rush out the door to get to work on time. But did you realize that designing the right morning routine can make the difference between living your best life and half a life?

Let me tell you what I mean: the more time you give to yourself in the morning – the better, within reason. The controlling factor here is not the right food, clothing or hygiene habits but the right time. To give yourself a chance to avail yourself of all the benefits of a healthy life, you have to have a complete appreciation of what they are, and only time can provide you with the fermentation of thought necessary to give you this awareness. The play of time around ideas (and ritual) can be a birthing ground for creativity and contemplation, leading to an enhanced perception of what the rest of your day can be. That can, in turn, enable you to make the kind of decisions throughout the day that are vigorous, productive, and innovative.

For example, get enough sleep—not the kind regimented by an alarm clock, but natural sleep where you wake up from a fertile dream world (your mind at rest) and merge into the dawn of a new day. It’s not strictly a matter of time since you can attain enough hours of sleep either way, but more of a matter of the quality of your sleep.

Another example might be the importance you give to your first food intake. Don’t wolf down a couple of pop tarts and a coffee and run out the door. All that sugar and processed food is more likely to give you a stomach ache rather than propel you through the morning feeling physically replenished. The correct food intake in the morning isn’t just about your stomach and whether or not you feel full; the right foods nourish your brain and emotional stability as well.

It’s essential to take your time with breakfast; have that morning cup of green tea as you contemplate relaxing and spiritually uplifting music. You’d be surprised at what a difference it can make to your performance at work when you start your day with an elevated sense of well-being. That’s right, take your time – relax.