Making time at the start of another work day can sometimes be problematic. In between actually getting the motivation to get out of bed, taking care of things (and people) around the house and preparing for the daily demands at work (and just trying to get there on time), the morning can be a constant reminder that there are simply not enough hours in the day.

Starting your day off right not only means you will be more inclined to focus on the tasks at-hand, but you will be able to enjoy the day instead of just getting “through” it. Hopefully, these important morning tasks help you fully take control of your day.

Source: essence.com

Get Enough Sleep

A good and productive day starts with getting enough hours of sleep the night before. Although everyone has their own length of time they need, studies have proven that at least six to eight hours of sleep will help fuel the average adult. Being restless could be the beginning of a very long day, so try getting these much-needed hours instead of staying up and watching re-runs you’ve already seen is key. They may be tempting, and that last scoop of ice cream at midnight sounds like heaven, but fueling your body with sleep is the most effective way to enjoy your night and be fully prepared for what comes the next day. Your body will thank you for it in the morning.

Breakfast is supposed to be the most important meal of the day, so why do so many of us skip it?  We fill up on bitter office coffee and donuts, then by 11-12, we’re ravenous, so any thought of a healthy salad is overridden by cravings for a big, juicy barbecue-bacon cheeseburger with an old-fashioned malt shake to wash it down.

Black ladies–and yes, I’m talking to you–we can not continue to dismiss the dangerous obesity rates we’ve got going on, for two simple reasons: 1.) Do you really want to lose your breath going up a flight of stairs, or poke yourself with insulin everyday?  How’s a stroke going to affect your concentration? #justsaying. 2.) Black women are so, so beautiful–the skin, the hair, the lips, the hips, the booty, the eyes–all uniquely exquisite.  But when you’re 20,50,100 pounds overweight, your entire body–from the face to the feet–are distorted, and the REAL, fit you is buried under all that cellulite.

So back to breakfast.  The goal is to have a good amount of protein, vitamins and fiber to hold you through until lunch time so you’re not so ravenous that you make unhealthy food choices just to satiate your hunger.

If eating heavy, go for it in the morning.

Your body burns more calories per hour while you are active and moving around, which is likely to be in the morning and afternoon versus the evening.  Therefore, you should save the higher calorie, heavy meals for breakfast and lunch. For dinner try light fare such as a salad or soup.