Want to nail your morning routine? Here’s how you can do it

Ironing out your morning routine could get you ahead of the job seeking game 

For most people, finding a sense of routine has been one of the most important things getting them through the chaos that has been 2020. 

While not all of us are born morning people, the couple of hours between waking up and officially starting your day are pretty important, especially if you are on the hunt for work. 

If your current morning routine consists of hitting snooze on your alarm a hundred times before you’re forced out of bed, you may want to reconsider and start your day a little differently so that you can charge full steam ahead into the career of your dreams. 

To help us out, we asked Lois Freeke from NGO Recruitment for some of her best tips on creating a morning routine, and sticking to it.     

Switch on your brain 

Going to bed at the same time, waking up at the same time, eating well, and throwing a bit of morning exercise in the mix is a great way to kick start your brain into gear for the day ahead. 

“Trying to have healthy eating, sleeping and exercise is obviously going to help your mental wellbeing, especially when things can seem overwhelming, and you’re out of work,” Lois says.  

“Exercise is a really big one, because it is a mood booster, so you’ll immediately feel more productive. Doing it in the morning is also a good idea because life is less likely to distract you at that hour.” 

Prioritise 

Searching for a job should be treated as a full-time job. So before you start working for the day, get your priorities in order so that you can have a fulfilling and productive day. 

“Having a bit of a schedule for activities is really important for jobseekers. The morning is a great time for viewing and prioritising tasks by checking your emails, job alerts, and upcoming interviews, or job application deadlines to make sure that you haven’t missed anything,” she says. 

Don’t set your sights too high 

Unfortunately forming habits take time and effort, and if you try and set your sights too high, you probably will fail. Remember that 2020 has been a very stressful year for everyone, and that may be compounded by the fact you’ve found yourself out of work. 

So start small, and grow from there.  

“We’ve got to build in rewards and we’ve got to build in relaxation. Don’t feel like you have to achieve everything in the couple of hours before you start work,” she says. 

Think about why you’re failing 

If you find yourself fast slipping back into old morning habits, go back to the drawing board and reflect on what it is you’re struggling with.  

“Maybe you don’t enjoy the exercise you’re doing, or you don’t have anyone to keep you accountable to sticking to that routine like a running buddy,” she explains. 

“Physical distancing restrictions have made that tricky, but there’s lots of online communities out there to give people that sense of community and connection during these times which are really great motivators.”