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So, it has only just occurred to me that I don't really talk about what I do.
So, it has only just occurred to me that I don't really talk about what I do.
I'm a digital creator which means that I make content online for money. Part of that means that my mornings aren't exactly as smooth as I'd like them to be. But, in a perfect world, this is how I modify my mornings to get the most of them.
Wake up early
This is a bit of a no brainer but, over the years I've learned that the snooze button is the root of all evil. Those extra 15 minutes may feel nice but they'll never be enough. Presently, I get up at 6 and I'm out the door by 7. That's a full 2 hours before I really have to be working. I do this because I need time to prepare, research, and catch up on the world before work.
Wake your brain up
By wake your brain up I mean don't just let your body do all the walking and talking. Let your brain get involved too! When I have time, say on a Saturday, I'll do about 30 minutes on Duolingo, my favourite language learning app (I'm learning German!). If I don't have time, which is usually the case, I'll turn on a news podcast and listen to that while I get ready. It forces me to pay attention, formulate thoughts and opinions and retain information. This lets my brain catch up with my body.
I once read that the act of making coffee was a great way to wake your brain up. Drinking it is obviously idea, but making it can also help to get your mind in tune with your body.
List-it!
I love making lists. I use Trello for my digital lists and outlining but nothing really beats good ol' fashioned pen and paper. On a work day I'll make a list of the tasks I want to complete that day. On the weekends my lists are a lot longer and include things I want to do over two days. These things often included phrases like "content analysis", "article writing" etc etc. Crossing them out is not only fun but super important for that all important sense of accomplishment.
Read the news
I'm a journalist so I feel kind of obligated to read the news. That being said, don't just read about the things you already know. Read about stuff that you'd like to know more about. My favourite mobile apps for news and "information" in general are Feedly and Pocket. My favourite desktop news aggregate has to be Newswhip (but that's definitely flawed).
Go for a walk
Whenever I'm stuck for ideas I grab my keys and wallet and just go for a walk. (Not a long one, mind you). While I'm on that walk I pose the questions to myself that had me stuck and the ideas tend to flow more freely when I'm crossing a busy intersection. It might cost you a few precious minutes at your desk but creativity is often the most important part of task completion.
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