“O, Sunlight! The most precious gold to be found on Earth.”
– Author Roman Payne
Wellness Tip:
Get Morning Sunlight Into Your Eyes
Want to feel energized all day and sleep better at night? Do this every morning: get some sunlight into your eyes. “Especially on cloudy days, you want to get out and get as much light energy, or photons, in your eyes as you can,” says Dr. Andrew Huberman. ☀️
His tips:
- You don’t have to stare directly into the sun, but do let the light enter your eyes and avoid wearing sunglasses.
- Artificial lights are not a good substitute. Even if you wake up before the sun comes up, get outside once it has risen.
- Aim for about 5 minutes on a clear day and 10 minutes on a cloudy day.
Check out this video of Dr. Huberman for more details, and give it a try for yourself.
Productivity Tip:
Set Personal Development Goals
Question: How could you get more out of your job? How could you use it to grow and improve your skills?
Too often, we get caught up in the daily grind and forget about setting personal development goals that help push us forward – both in our careers and as people.
There are a lot of skills you can develop at work that will carry across to anything you do – like time management, resilience, people skills… Independently of your employer, you can use your job to develop these things!
Have you set goals that are clear and measurable? Do you have it in your calendar to revisit them regularly (e.g. monthly or quarterly)? Read up here and let us know how you go!
Routine Breakdown
Tania Stanly, Podcast Host & Founder of Hustle Up Academy
“I am a working, single mom,” says Tania Stanly. “I do not have the luxury to sleep 8 uninterrupted hours of sleep.” After rising, she:
- Does 10 minutes of meditation, focusing on her breath.
- Sits and observes her surroundings and how she feels. “The sound of the birds tweeting, the sunlight through the leaves… how the air feels on my skin…”
- Opens windows & lights incense (part of a KonMari cleansing ritual)
- Spends quality time with her daughter.
Why it works:
- Meditation has dozens of health benefits, while consciously observing yourself and your surroundings is a form of mindfulness.
- Research on incense is mixed: some scents have been found to reduce anxiety, other studies suggest the smoke can cause oxidative stress. That said, incorporating small rituals into your day can have big benefits.
- Better family relationships lead to higher well-being.
“As we start each day fresh, we can better focus on what is in front of us, where to prioritize our time, and, ultimately, increase our productivity,” says Tania. How’s your routine going?