Health
Austin  |  Aug 15, 2019

Optimizing Your Daily Routine to Be Your Best Self

It’s summertime, the suns out, the days are long, and you’ve been crushing it on a regular basis. We’re so proud of you! But fall is fast approaching and as John Snow would say “Winter is coming”. With that comes the all to familiar desire to lounge in your sweats, binge-watch the best Netflix has to offer, and pretend every day is a refeed day. But this year is different! This year YOU’RE different, and you refuse to watch your hard-earned progress be drowned in a vat of pumpkin-spiced latte’s. We’ve got your back! Below we’ve put together a list of 8 daily practices that are sure to keep this success train rolling year after year, CHOO-CHOO! Take the next month to get these habits dialed in and we guarantee your future self will be thanking you.

8 Secrets to Optimizing Your Day and Life

Habits are everything, and the routine you create for yourself will be the ultimate decider on how you live your life. Your sleep schedule, activity level, and of course the foods you consume, all have a major impact on your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. By creating a routine that even Tony Robbins would be proud of, you’re guaranteeing future growth and success. Let's get started!

 

Start Your Day Early:

First impressions are everything, so go ahead and impress yourself every day by getting up before the sun. By waking up early, your typical distractions are limited, plus you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy some peace and quiet, sip your morning cup of coffee (black or buttered I presume?), and prepare your mind for the amazing day ahead! Sounds like a win-win to me.

 

Stay Off Your Devices:

Don't check your email or social media the moment you wake up. We know it’s tough, your best friend definitely sent you a funny dog video and we ALL want to see it, but start your morning with a win by exercising some self-control and resisting that urge. You don't realize the amount of time wasted each morning when that one dog gif inevitably turns into a vortex of videos you can’t seem to look away from. You can better spend that time squeezing in a quick morning run, doing some meditation, preparing a to-do list, or whatever else you think best gets you ready for the day.

 

Make a Daily To-Do List:

Speaking of to-do lists! A to-do list will not only force you to prioritize important tasks in an optimal way, but it will also help keep you on task as you go about your day. Before you go to sleep or right after you wake up, jot down a list of your daily tasks and organize them into actionable steps. But do be realistic with your to-do lists. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, and neither will the amazing future you’re headed towards. Save your life goals for the dream board, your to-do list should be filled with achievable tasks that you will absolutely have done by the end of the day.

 

Start with the Worst:

We will do anything to avoid something we don’t like. The worst task tends to be the most important, so begin your day by doing your most dreaded task. Once it’s completed, you’ve created momentum, your productivity will be higher for the rest of your day, and you can spend more time on things you like doing (like finally watching that dog video we were talking about).

 

Take Breaks Throughout the Day:

Your brain needs rest. Working non-stop will only exhaust your mental energy, increase your stress, and derail your productivity. The Pomodoro technique is incredibly useful when planning breaks. Here’s how it works:

  1. Choose one task
  2. Set a timer for 25 minutes
  3. Work until the timer rings
  4. Take a 5-minute break
  5. Repeat 1-4 times, followed by a 15-minute break

This technique helps eliminate burnout, manage distractions, and create a better work-life balance. Thanks, Pomodoro!

 

    Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!

    Stop giving yourself excuses. Don’t say “I don’t like exercise,” “I’m too tired to exercise,” or “I don’t have enough time.” Prioritizing exercise is equally as important as prioritizing what you eat. There’s nothing better to relieve stress and refresh our mind than exercise. You don’t have to commit to 2-hour gym sessions either. YouTube has thousands of great exercise videos that you can squeeze in throughout the day. Whether you’re a die-hard gym rat or love 10 minute YouTube videos just find something that you can enjoy and stick with.

    If you still can’t seem to get yourself moving, then try picking up a hobby that forces you to move. Hiking, basketball, rock-climbing, and even gardening are all excellent forms of exercise in their own right. You may not be dunking like Lebron anytime soon, but you’re moving on a daily basis and that’s what really matters.

     

    Eat Productive Foods:

    Your body and brain need the right foods to stay energized. Overloading your body with sugar, carbs, and caffeine will give you a temporary boost of energy, but will ultimately lead to massive energy crashes. Avoid processed foods and fuel your day with healthy, whole foods that keep you full and energized. Here are some foods that you should incorporate into your diet:

     

      Get Out of Your Chair:

      Usually, the end of summer means heading back to the office after a long vacation or heading back to school - both of which means sitting for hours on end. But sitting down all day, every day is literally killing us. Sitting for long periods can increase the risk of colon cancer, breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, strokes and heart attacks. Try to get out of your chair every 20 minutes or so. Walk to the water fountain, invest in a standing desk, or start a random dance party. Anything to get your body moving! (The dance party is highly recommended)

       

      Get Your Beauty Sleep:

      Many people feel the need to overwork and stay up all night in the name of productivity. But as much as we like to see you crushing it at all times, your body needs its rest too. Lack of sleep can result in poor judgment, mood swings, decreased energy levels, inability to retain information and more. So do your body a solid and get at least 7 hours of quality sleep a night. And when we say quality, we mean QUALITY! Here are some ways to improve your sleep every night:

      • Go to bed and wake up at or around the same time every day (yes, even the weekends)
      • Avoid the blue light that comes from your phone, laptop, and TV before bed. If you need to get work done later in the day, invest in some blue-blocking glasses (our Co-Founder Tim LOVES his)
      • If you’re a light sleeper, invest in some earplugs and blackout curtains to make sure you’re not waking up before your alarm goes off
      • Read a book before bed instead of rewatching GOT again, it’s guaranteed to calm your mind and make falling asleep that much easier


        And that’s that! While Fall may bring many great things such as sweater weather, pumpkin spice flavored everything, and Halloween, don’t let it come with bad patterns that you’ll just have to undue next Summer. Focus on making these daily routines truly ingrained habits, and you’ll start seeing results sooner than you think.

        Alright champ, that’s all we’ve got for you! Until next time,

        The Mammoth Fam

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