The way you begin your day can have a big impact on how the rest of the day goes. If you get off to a good start you are setting yourself up for a productive work day. If, however, you get off to a rough start, or a late start, or a hectic start, you’re more likely to find yourself playing catch up the rest of the day. In law practice, where you must consistently and efficiently turn out quality work, starting your day right so you can stay on track will be particularly important. To prepare you for that challenge, you should start developing your own morning routine in law school. Here are five tips to help you establish a good morning routine so you that can conquer the day!
1. Get up at the Same Time Each Day
Maintaining energy and focus throughout the day requires you to be well rested. A stable bed time and wake up time will ensure that you’re getting enough sleep each night. The key here isn’t necessarily the time that you get up so much as it is consistency – whether you’re a morning person getting up before the sunrise or a night owl who needs a later start time, your sleep and your daily productivity will benefit from getting up at the same time each day.
2. Don’t Start your Day Too Late
While consistency is more important than your specific wakeup time, you still don’t want to start your day too late. The early morning is often an ideal time to get things accomplished because you are less likely to be subject to interruptions and mental fatigue. Additionally, keep in mind that at most jobs you will be expected to be present in the office by 8:00 am or so. If you’re not already hitting the law school books by this time, consider adjusting your schedule to an earlier start time so that you can get used to working during normal business hours.
3. Go Through the Same Steps Each Morning
Going through a specific sequence of steps each morning will help you get out of the house quickly and efficiently. It can also help you avoid procrastinating – by going through a specific sequence each day that culminates in starting your work, you train your mind and body to expect to be working at that specific time. So truly routinize your day! Shower, get ready, eat breakfast, pack your lunch, take the dogs for a walk, or whatever else you need to do in the same order each morning. Continue your routine when you get to the office or your study location – grab your cup of coffee, set up your workspace, and start working. It’s not so much what you do as it is doing the exact same things in the same order. Although the occasional deviation is fine, you generally want to be strict when it comes to following your morning routine. If you’re disciplined about following this sequence of steps you’re more likely to maintain that self-discipline throughout the day.
4. Do Something for Yourself
A good morning routine should also set aside time to nurture yourself, so make sure your sequence of steps includes something that makes you feel good about the day ahead. Even doing something as simple as making the bed each morning can help you feel like you’ve done something beneficial. Working out, meditating, or taking a few moments to yourself in whatever way you like will give you a positive start to the day.
5. Get Something Accomplished Early
The sense of accomplishment you get from completing a task right off the bat can often motivate you to maintain the same level of productivity throughout the day. When it’s time to start working, make a list of everything you want to accomplish that day. Then, tackle the hardest task on your list first so that you can get it out of the way. Occasionally, however, you may find it more motivating to complete several of your smaller, quicker tasks so that you can get into a groove and immediately start crossing items off your to-do list.
When you have important work to accomplish each day, the last thing you need is to get derailed first thing in the morning. Get off to the right start with a good morning routine and you will set yourself up to have a successful, productive day.
For more helpful advice, check out these articles:
- Need to Get More Done in Law School? Try the Buzzer
- Making a Study Schedule for 1Ls
- 4 Benefits to Establishing a Law School Exam Routine
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