Jen's Tips for a Stress Free Morning

With 24 hours in a day, I’d argue that the most important hours in your day start the moment you wake up. Imagine if we all focused more on how we want our day to unfold, we’d be living a more intentional life.

The moment our eyes open, it’s easy to let the inevitable stress of the day take over, but if you take the time to consider the morning hours as yours, you may discover yourself more calm mid-day as well as find you have the sensation of more time.

I’ve created my own morning routine that has enabled me to conquer days full of closet designs, company meetings and client introductions (and that’s only the beginning). If you’re in need of a morning refresh, read on for my best tips on how to make the first hours of your day a little less stressful.

Have something to look forward to

Whether it’s your morning coffee or a phone call with a friend, it’s important to have things to look forward to. I’m very lucky in that many aspects of my job are exciting and new (like meeting with a new client or designing a brand new space) but I also make sure to add something personal and fun to my daily schedule throughout the week!

Write out everything that’s on your mind

Journaling can help you focus on the things that matter. Write down whatever is on your mind in the morning and keep thoughts and worries from swirling around in your head throughout the day. I love to focus on things I’m grateful for and that helps to put me in the right mindset for my day.

Set an intention for the day

Having an intention set for the day ahead is the easiest way to hold yourself accountable. When I’m going from meeting to meeting, it’s easy to let the schedule of the day take over but when I can look back on my intention, it helps me to refocus. How do I want to feel today? What would I like to accomplish?

Delay emails and social media for 30 minutes to an hour after you wake up

All of this is to say, your morning is YOURS! I stay away from my inbox and social media for the first moments of my morning because when I open them up, I'm now on someone else's schedule besides my own.

Start with the hardest thing on your to-do list

It feels great to cross things off my to-do list - it’s one of life’s many pleasures. When I’m resisting something on mine, I try to deal with it right away. This way, it’s not something that carries over for a long time and I feel better once it’s done.