Never do this in the morning

Never do this in the morning
 
By Mel Robbins
updated 7:56 AM EDT, Mon April 14, 2014
 

Editor's note: Mel Robbins is a CNN commentator and founder of inspire52.com, providing daily "good news" stories and viral videos. She hosts "The Mel Robbins Show" Sundays from 7-9 p.m. on WSB 95.5 in Atlanta and News 96.5 in Orlando. In 2014, she was named Outstanding News Talk Radio Host by the Gracie Awards. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
 
(CNN) -- Most adults admit to the defeating habit of hitting the snooze alarm every morning.
 
Experts have been debating the pros and cons of the habit for years, weighing both short- and long-term effects on the body and mind. A recent article in the Wall Street
 
Journal, "Why You Actually Should Hit The Snooze Button," suggests an extra nine minutes of sleep can help certain types of people to "gently awaken the mind." I don't buy it, and never will.
 
Getting out of a warm bed is never fun, and it certainly doesn't become any easier after you've hit the snooze button several times. The truth is it's guilt that finally forces you from the sheets, yet you still don't want to have your feet hit the floor and seize the day.
So, the piece got me thinking ...
 
The snooze alarm might make you late or kill your plans to exercise, but it doesn't ruin your day. There's something else that you probably do (right before you push yourself out of bed) that is not only your worst habit, but completely horrendous for your well-being, happiness and success.
 
Think back to this morning: What's the first thing you did when you woke up?
Brush your teeth? Nope. Make coffee? Guess again.
You reached for your phone.
 
The question is: Why? You aren't even vertical yet. You haven't even started the day and there you are, cellphone in hand like the world won't start turning until you get lost in the screen.
Is there some text that's so important you must see it immediately? No. If there were a true emergency, you'd get a call. Is there an e-mail you need to send before you wipe the sleep from your eyes? Of course not, but you open your inbox anyway.
You aren't alone.
Recent studies suggest almost 83% of millennials sleep with their phones, and the Pew Research Center study found that 65% of all adults sleep with their phone on or right next to their bed (and that study was three years ago, so likely the number has grown).
So, why is reaching for the phone so detrimental?
 
Simple. There's nothing in your inbox that will help you take control of your day or serve your goals.
 
What are e-mails anyway? E-mails are everyone else's junk: things to do, things to buy, things to add to your to-do list, meetings to attend, places to be, reminders of deadlines. They amount to a long list of stuff that "other" people want you to pay attention to.
By checking your texts or e-mails first thing, you just let someone else set your priorities before you've had breakfast.
 
How you start your day sets the tone for your day, and by reaching for your phone you surrender control to others -- and your well-being, success and happiness takes a hit. Those e-mails seek your time, attention, help and brain space. It's no wonder you start your day feeling overwhelmed, sensing pressure and being in a reactive mode rather than a proactive mode.
 
I no longer sleep next to my phone. It's in the kitchen, close enough for me to hear the alarm and far enough away so that by the time I reach the kitchen, I'm not going back to bed. I turn off the alarm, and don't pick up the phone again until I've done a few other things to put myself in control and my priorities first.
 
If your phone doesn't receive e-mails, you aren't off the hook. I guarantee you either fire up the computer or tablet as soon as you leave your bedroom or as soon as you arrive at work. That means you check your inbox before you even get organized. Do not ever do that again. Before you read about a "25% off sale at Zappos," before a reminder alerts you that a PowerPoint is due, before a colleague turns you into her errand boy, take control of your day.
 
Don't check e-mail until you've had a chance to figure out your top three priorities for the day and perhaps, had a cup of coffee or tea with a clear mind.
 
Do a "brain dump" for five minutes by listing all projects, to-dos, reminders and priorities on a piece of paper. Then, highlight the top three things on the list to deal with today, things that matter most to you.
 
Forget about everything else you wrote down. This starts your day on the right footing. Next -- still without visiting that inbox -- open your calendar (I use an 8x11 size week-at-a-glance calendar) and find a 30-minute block in your day when you can focus on your top three things, uninterrupted.
 
It doesn't matter when that block happens. It can be the first 30 minutes at work, waiting in the car for your child's soccer practice to end, or after you watch a ball game tonight. Find the time and schedule it.
 
By not reaching for the phone and figuring out your three big priorities for the day, you've just taken control of your day and put your priorities first. You may now open your inbox.
 
 
I'm just not a snooze alarm kinda gal. I prefer to rip the bandage off and push myself out of bed as soon as I hear the alarm
 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/14/opinion/robbins-morning-habits/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

Think back to this morning: What's the first thing you did when you woke up?
Brush your teeth? Nope. Make coffee? Guess again.
You reached for your phone.

Not this girl.  I wake up before any alarm wakes me up. I think I'm psychologically trained to wake up before a sound goes off. I don't like to be woken up with an alarm.  I certainly don't check any emails until I have got dressed in full winter gear and taken the new little pup outside.  Then I turn music on and then I look to see if any important emails are on the phone.

It's not good to have electronics near your head when you are sleeping.  People have become obsessively checking their email on phones. 

Speaking of phones. I watched a guy yesterday (young guy early 20s) on his phone, ear buds in his ears, crossing the street - illegally - where they was 3 lanes of traffic on that side, looking at his iphone and pushing something. He wasn't even aware I was inching up to hit him and that traffic was abounding towards him. What a dumb A$$. Can you imagine hiring him in your company?  

 

I set my alarm to go off at 4:30 and always wake up at least 2-3 minutes before it goes off. I go downstairs and feed the squirrels and the cat then morning rituals as everyone else does, then get dressed and ready for the day. No electronics near reaching distance from the bed for me. Very simple.  :okjh:

When do you eat or have your coffee? Before or after squirrels?   

I have one cup of coffee at about 6:30   . Then after I exercise I  usually have a banana and an apple or a pear or whatever other fruit I have.    

That's your breakfast? Fruit?  

Yes, fruit in the mornings for breakfast. I eat a few more fruit during the day and snack  on veggies :appetite:


between a light lunch and dinner.    

Don't you know why they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day?  Fruit is sugar.  The body does not build muscles with sugar.

I think there should be a new thread created called don't do this in the morning with regards to food.

I also believe food nutrition should be taught in the schools.  You wouldn't have the issues we face today sucking up the health care systems. Much of what happens with disease is self induced with poor nutrition and unawareness of how our body works and needs those for manufacturing cells, bones and muscles.

 :spring1:

I know but I remember learning that in high school we did have classes on nutrition. I also have bagels and cream cheese at times too. I do indulge in a breakfast skillet every now and again. I love eggs sandwiches too, so not 100% always fruits I do mix it up from time to time.  :juggle:

When you went to school they didn't understand nutrition they way they do now. Bagels and cream cheese all carbs and fats.

Fruit is sugar. Fruit by itself his the blood stream gives your pancreas a sign "hey too much sugar in the blood", and send out receptors to increase insulin to lower the blood sugar.  You get a high then a crash (hence the insulin surge).

Too much insulin (besides putting on weight) creates havoc in the body with tissue, muscle and cell development and repair.  Fruit is an OK thing but not a great thing.

You will find Nathopaths know farm more about what the body does with certain foods that ANY doctor or most traditional nutritionists out there.

You would be surprised what is known now and how we were all lead to believe the old school nutrition guidelines.

He's a kicker. An egg a day will not give you high cholesterol. WOW..yes you can eat them again. Want to loose weight take in more protein eat more egg whites. Want more B vitamins that we need for much of our health eat the yolks. I was watching a program recently that duck eggs were the best for vitamins.

Egg yolks contain more vitamins, both the type and number compared with the egg white. Each egg yolk contains seven vitamins, such as vitamin B6, B-12, A, D, E, K, and folate. Vitamin A, D, E and K are only found in egg yolk only, not in the egg whites. - See more at: http://letsgohealthy.blogspot.ca/2013/02/egg-yolk-benefits-you-must-know.html#sthash.H0HpiZ6G.dpuf


 :polk:

This is great, I should have you make me a menu for the week.  :juggle: I would certainly be well fed.  

I can do menus, I just don't cook it. You're on your own. 

I have done them for friends who wanted a new "meal plan" (I don't like the word diet) so they can have some of the things they love but get the right type of food for their goals.

I can too. Cooked in the military for 71/2 years. I do not like the word "diet" either sounds very final because the first three letters are "die".      

I usually read emails/news with my coffee. As far as breakfast, usually eggs, low fat ;meat, and 1/2 English muffin ... (home made so about half again larger than Thomas' .. Oatmeal or homemade granola on alternate days.

Saint, you're hired.  I'll make the menus and you can work your magic.

  

Kevin, did you bake your muffins yourself? 

 I baked my own bran muffins this week.  I'm not much of a baker.