Mornings can be a time for creativity and excitement, or a time for exhaustion. Some of us identify as “morning people” while others are not. However, when we wake up doesn’t matter as much as what we do with the time. Creative people live life in different ways, but perhaps none is more important than what they do in their morning hours.
1. Mindfulness
Taking time for mindfulness in the morning is one of the most important habits that a person can adopt for their creative progress. Recent studies show that taking time to meditate makes people more creative and enhances mental clarity.
Specifically, “open watch meditation“ is conducive to creativity. This type of meditation helps to clear your mind, instead of thinking about a single concept, person, or object.
2. Stay Offline
People have little time to focus and stay creative in the morning, so wasting your time on mundane activities can affect your creativity. Avoid tasks like checking emails and social media first thing in the morning, and instead focus your time and attention on more rigorous and creative tasks.
3. Be Deliberate in Your Choices for the Day
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once said that when he woke up and looked in the mirror, he would think, “If today was the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m supposed to do today?” The answer was ‘no’ for too long, so he knew he would have to make a major change in his life. You can apply this to your own life as well. Write down what you want to do for the day. If you take pride in the list and are happy with the direction your life is taking, you can rest assured that you are living as intended.
4. Exercise
Exercise is a great precursor for creativity; not only does it trigger endorphins and circulate blood in our brain, but it also helps break up the monotony of sitting and working, leading to more creative ideas. American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour plays an hour-long tennis match in New York City at 5:45 AM almost every morning. According to The Guardian, the Russian composer Tchaikovsky “estimated that he had to walk exactly two hours a day and that if he returned even a few minutes earlier, he would be in great misfortune.”
5. Create a Routine and Stick to It
No matter where you are in the world, having a morning routine is a great method to start your day off on the right foot. Writer Haruki Murakami praised the virtues of morning continuity, writing: “Repetition is what becomes the key; it is a form of hypnosis. I hypnotize myself to reach a deeper state of mind.” However, as everyone who has made a New Year’s resolution knows, it’s relatively easy to create a routine or goal for yourself, but sticking to it is another story. In addition, dental professionals can determine specific health issues that may cause pain in your face, mouth, and jaw. They can refer you to an orofacial pain specialist who can help you understand this particular dysfunction and help you resolve it.
While it’s easy to make excuses for breaking habits, sticking to them requires dedication, focus and patience. By honing these traits, you’ll be building a better life for yourself, which will serve to enhance your creativity.
6. Plan Your Morning the Day Before
Creating to-do lists and a morning routine before your alarm clock goes off can help you get out of bed and start your day without wasting time. It also reduces the amount of analytical thinking we do in the morning, allowing us to think in a more abstract way. Taking the time to craft weekly routines will endow you with a sense of purpose and focus, and allow you to get your day started positively.