When You Wake (2 Tricks for a Better Day)

The old me used to start the day by hitting snooze, and letting the fears and worries about my day run wild. I’d start to drift off, then hit snooze instead and then dread getting up. Then I’d get to work late, rushing and feeling frantic. You get the drift.

Instead, try these 2 tips for a MUCH better day:

ONE: The new me wakes without hitting snooze. (Snooze just gives you crappy sleep, leaves you groggy and makes you start your day on the run, fueled with adrenaline which will end up making you feel drained. Not good.)

If that feels insurmountable, switch your brain over to action (and away from all the reasons you don’t want to get up) and simply count back from 5-1. Life coach and author, Mel Robbins came up with it when she was depressed, broke and without work. She calls it The 5 Second Rule. It truly activates a different part of your brain and helps you take action. No joke, we all know of times when we all don’t want to get up - but interrupting that pattern of thought to instead taking action is what is going to make your day better.

TWO: Then I prime my brain to think of what is going well. When I don’t have time to journal, I give myself a minute and intentionally think of at least 5 things that I am grateful for - from small little things (butterfly sunset, free lunch at a conference) to big things (the house we live in, James’ cooking, safe flights, etc.). It cues your mind to look for more good things that day so you’ll be ready for tomorrow morning with 5 more great answers! This way, you still know all the tough stuff in life, but you more readily see the good. We are evolutionarily primed for negativity (look for the tiger that could eat you!) so negativity is natural, but it makes us feel like crap.

I promise that with getting right up and priming your thinking that you will start your day feeling MUCH better. Isn’t it worth a try?