Alarms, back-to-school, 50-minute Zoom calls and never-ending traffic. We know you long for the holidays Stella, but it is time to get your productive groove back. Enough with that snooze button, here are some tips from everyday citizens to help you get your mornings off to a good start.
Starting a brand new day begins with some affirmations and some motivational quotes for Durban mother of five and entrepreneur, Siphindile Zulu.
“Always start you day with a declaration or self-affirmation quote whilst you are still in bed to get your body and mind excited for the day,” she says.
Zulu wears many hats including, student and author.
“I wouldn’t be able to be present in all my roles if I did not have people that I trust that help me, I cannot do it alone, so I need the support.”
Health For Mzansi reader, Siphindile Zulu
The holidays served their purpose
The December summer holidays left Kelly Thela the founder of Young Wives SA and owner of K.Hair refreshed and ready to conquer the next 11 chapters of 2022. “Remember if you can think it, you can be it. It starts with your mind, if you think you are tired and not ready, you will be tired and not ready,” says Thela.
While Sandile Nene, a blogger, content creator and entrepreneur also based in Durban, says that a daily dose of a little self-introspection goes a long way.
“Personally, I look at the things I wanted to achieve the previous year and jot them down and see where I need to improve. The first week of January that is where I get motivated and get back on work mode.”
Health For Mzansi reader, Sandile Nene
Kea Modise-Moloto, is the editor of Arise Magazine and a business woman based in Johannesburg. Getting her morning started starts with planning at night.
“Tor there to be harmony and progress we must be intentional, and purpose driven,” she says. “To achieve we need to give more thought to our goals and activities involved to achieve those goals. We no longer stress much about work life balance, but we are more concerned about mental wellbeing, peaceful surroundings and being kind and Graceful to ourselves. All this work and preparation takes place long before ‘the great start to the morning’…” she says.
“I find that it works better to have my next day’s to-do-list and schedule already jotted down to read over before knocking off and imagine/visualise how it will all flow.”
Four tips to help you get back in the swing of things:
Get enough rest and plan your day
No more late nights, it is important to get enough sleep so you are refreshed to conquer the next day, advises Zulu. If you need to be somewhere in the morning, ensure that you have prepared for that meeting or even get a few things off your plate the night before by preparing lunch boxes and what to wear before you go to bed.
Appreciate the little things
The past two years with the pandemic have allowed us to be more appreciative of life. The fact that you are getting up in the morning should drive you to get out of bed and have a great day ahead, “One should have appreciation of being alive, being grateful for the chance to live out your life again,” says Zulu.
Be optimistic
Being hopeful and optimistic about the day is key for Zulu. “Always have the drive and thought to do your best in all that is presented to you, (whatever your hand finds to do, do so with all your might).”
Be mindful of what you eat
As cliché as it sounds, “You are what you eat.” To avoid being tired and restless all the time a healthy diet is vital and ensuring that you drink enough water and wake up feeling refreshed every single day without that snooze button.
