How to be more productive (My morning routine)

I hate to admit this but my productivity level has greatly decreased the past few months. Somehow the day seems to go by without accomplishing things I need to get done.  I’ve decided to set a morning schedule to allow me to set a productive tone to my day. I honestly believe how you start the day sets the tone for the majority of your day. Here are a few things I’ve been incorporating into my morning routine as of late.

 1) Wake up early- I wake up 20 minutes early. Keep in mind, I’m still sleepy during this time. However, when my 20 minutes is up. I am alert, oriented and ready to start my day. As opposed to waking up, sleepy and getting ready for work. 

2) Refocus and Regroup- In my 20 minutes, I let my mind wander, refocus and think about  things I need to get done during the day.  This would be a good time to pray, meditate, exercise, or do whatever makes you feel centered. I am currently reading this devotional my friend gifted me last year. I use this time to check my blog, bank accounts, emails and social media accounts before I leave bed.

3) Visualize and Plan out your day- Now that I am awake and alert, I spend the next 20 minutes getting ready for work, thinking of things I need to get done through out the day to add to my “to do list”.

4) Eat Breakfast/Hydrate- I don’t always eat breakfast, but I always (at least for the past month) fill a tumbler with ice water and lemon to keep me hydrated in the office. 

 5) Work on bigger projects first- I’ve read various  articles on productivity and they all recommend completing the hardest tasks first, and I totally agree. Because my work can quickly accumulate, from completing assessments to treatment plans and writing case notes; it’s easy to fall behind on paperwork. I’m learning to be consistent on completing tasks I dread the most, that way I know I can knock out case notes in ten minutes or less.

I realize my productivity isn’t going to increase/improve without some effort on my part.  With proper planning and consistency, a morning routine can improve a lack luster day into a more productive one.     Do you have a morning routine? Have you found morning routines to be helpful or do you tend to go with the flow?