how to start the same morning habits of successful high performers

this article was created by stackcommerce. while postmedia may collect a commission on sales through the links on this page, we are not being paid by the brands mentioned.starting the day off well is one of the most important things to having a successful day. morning habits of sleeping in or instantly grabbing the phone to scroll through email could end up costing you more at the end of the day.waking up feeling rejuvenated is much more than just getting your caffeine quicker and these four habits are crucial to becoming a successful high performer.

making sure to get enough sleep

getting enough sleep has long been known to keeping your mind sharp and focused, but for the two out of three canadians who report that they do get enough sleep, the quality of sleep may be the culprit to feeling sluggish in the morning.the problem with poor sleep quality is how much it affects the next day’s productivity. poor sleep may inhibit judgment and lead to more distracting thoughts throughout the day. reducing work productivity only creates more stress and many senior executives have learned the importance of getting more shut-eye.the relax melodies sleep & relaxation app combines soothing sounds, bedtime stories, breathing techniques, body-mind exercises, and more to improve your sleep quality. a one-year subscription is on sale now for $29.99 usd — marked down from $60.business insider calls it “the most positively reviewed app in the history of the apple app store,” and the guardian says, “it’s like a gps directing you how to fall asleep.”

exercising to boost energy

coffee is not the only thing that boosts energy in the morning and working out could even be more effective when it comes to waking up. while cortisol is often called the stress hormone, it is also the same hormone that keeps you awake and alert and its peak production is in the morning.exercising in the morning will put anyone in a better frame of mind later in the day for business or any other mentally-challenging task. many higher-ups know to take advantage of this morning window, like virgin group founder richard branson, who wakes up at 5 a.m. to exercise every morning.the betterme home workout & diet app is designed to be personalized to anyone’s lifestyle and acts as a personal trainer from your phone. for $39.99 usd, the app includes personalized exercises, meal plans, water and step counter, and yoga or walking workouts that will help the morning workouts play out with ease. betterme is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on 87,900 ratings.

a better mind space

instead of grabbing the phone and scrolling through emails or instagram, mornings are better suited for getting your mind ready for what lies ahead. meditation can help increase your attention span and focus better on tasks and has many other benefits. starting the day off with meditation like huffington post co-founder ariana huffington can reduce stress and anxiety that will only otherwise take your day downhill.learn how to sharpen your mind and boost mental toughness with the fitmind: neuroscience-based meditation app. for $49, fitmind will train your mind by combining ancient techniques and western science. this approach is taught at fortune 500 companies like uber, as well as addiction centres, schools, and government organizations. fitmind boasts a 4.8 out of 5-star rating on the app store.

create your own morning-specific routine

another good habit to create in the morning is to read.reading stimulates the brain and is the perfect alternative to grabbing the smartphone first thing in the morning and can improve focus, concentration, and even memory.disney executive chairman bob iger is known to get up early to read anything from newspapers to longer books but not everyone has to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to get the same benefits. the12min micro library app has hundreds of books and a variety of reading material that can be consumed in 12 minutes. make the most of your time and consume more information with a lifetime subscription currently on sale for $39 usd — marked down from $346.