Fall Back: Powering Through Those Gloomy Mornings

If you had to give a list of your top ten favorite things in the world, chances are waking up to a cold, pitch-dark morning and trying to jump start your work day wasn’t on that list.  It can be hard to get your engines going when 7 a.m. looks like it might as well be 7 p.m.  Thankfully, we have Daylight Saving Time to the rescue to give the sun a chance to get above the horizon before our day starts, but here are some more tips on powering through those cold, gloomy mornings of fall and winter.
Avoid the snooze temptation… it only makes it worse.
Nothing looks more appealing in the morning than that little button that promises to cease the terrible noise of your alarm and give you some extra sleep.  But truth is, chronic snooze-hitters are just dragging out the inevitable.  That lackluster sleep you get when you know you only have ten more minutes to snooze isn’t worth the chaotic rush it will put you in when you are running behind later.
Dress for success.
Especially on dreary days, your favorite sweatshirt and cozy Uggs might look overwhelmingly appealing, but it’s important you still dress for success.  Dressing the part is critical in establishing the go-getter mindset important to starting your day off on the right foot.
Make the most of your commute.
We know.  It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s Monday, and you don’t want to go to work.  But now you’re already in your car, so it’s time to get over it and make the best of the situation.  Just like the commute home gives you an opportunity to wind down from work before you are with your family, try to use the commute to work to wake yourself up and put yourself in a good mood. (We know it can be hard with traffic, but just try!)  Whatever piques your interest, whether it is catching up on your morning news or listening to your favorite jams, utilize that car time to get yourself out of your morning funk before you clock in.
If you know you’re going to need coffee, get your coffee.
Zoning out in a meeting with your boss and saying, “Sorry, I didn’t have my coffee this morning,” just isn’t going to cut it.  If you know you need a little bit of java to get you going, get your caffeine fix and get on with your day.
Morning person or not, a positive attitude is key.
You’re only going to be as successful and happy as you allow yourself to be, so throw that notion of “morning person” out the window and BE a morning person.  Mornings are an optimum time for productivity and setting the momentum for the rest of your day, so adjust your attitude if needs be and prepare for a great day!