Morning Rituals of an Effective Social Media Professional

Working in social media is non-stop and your mind has to be prepared for anything: writing, editing, researching, creating, scheduling, escalating, tasking—so much can happen in a day.

Here are some ways you start off on the right foot and be prepared to take on whatever crisis emerges on social media.

1. WAKE UP EARLY

Okay so you may not be a morning person, but waking up at a “reasonable” hour is a good start. It doesn’t have to be 5am, but early enough for you to have some quiet time for your mental and physical well-being.

Waking up early helps you set the tone for the rest of the day. Giving yourself the luxury (yes, luxury) of waking up early is such a nice thing to do for yourself. You’re able to feel energized, fulfilled and productive even before you start your projects or get to work.

If you have a hard time adjusting to becoming a morning person, consider this app called Sleep Cycle. It helps you wake up at your optimized time (e.g. when you’re not in your deepest sleeping state) and helps you avoid feeling groggy when you wake up.

2. break a sweat

All you need is at least 30 minutes of physical activity. Exercising helps relieve stress and helps clear your mind. Find an activity that you enjoy whether it’s walking, hiking, running, yoga or circuit training—what it may be, engage in a physical activity that help you feel your optimal self and that you’ll look forward to doing in the morning. A quick morning walk can help stimulate your mind and help you identify solutions.

Exercising in the morning is more sustainable and easier to manage than exercising in the evening because there are far more distractions and excuses after a long day at work. 

3. quiet your mind

Meditating helps clear your thoughts, lets you focus on what you want to accomplish and can really help you set the tone for the rest of the day. Use this time to also express gratitude for things that have recently happened or that you wish to take place. Consider using the Headspace or Shine app to help you quiet your mind and check in with your thoughts and feelings.

4. stimulate your senses

Forget your cup of coffee or tea. The taste or smell of citrus is 100 times better than coffee. I incorporate citrus in two ways: a warm cup of water with lemon and with a citrus-smelling body wash. Doing both of these things in the morning can you feel refreshed and awake.

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5. enjoy a healthy meal

Waking up early also means you have time to do little things that make you happy. Nourish your body with foods that will keep you full and help you maximize your brainpower when you need it later.

Eat a nutrient-dense meal that can help you stay focused until lunchtime.

6. organize your ideas 

Exercising and meditating can bring up a lot of ideas and thoughts. Keep a notepad handy because you’ll want to capture them.

Keep a notepad, notes app or something nearby to capture ideas, solutions and inspiration that may come your way.

Related: Organize Your Content Marketing Ideas

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Stay Organized with a Content Calendar

This calendar has the foundational elements built into it that will help you be more strategic with the content and marketing activities you’re focusing on.

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7. relax your mind

Take a moment to relax your mind for a bit. This might look like drinking tea while setting an intention for your day, or it may look like doodling or drawing something in your notebook. Let your mind wander for a bit instead of scrolling endlessly on social media and reading emails. Leave that for later.

8. LISTEN TO A PODCAST

You should always try to learn new things and grow as a person. Podcasts are great for helping you achieve both of those things. My favorite podcasts that expose me to a diverse set of topics are the TED Radio Hour, Freakonomics, Invisibilia.

Related: The Best Social Psychology Podcasts to Broaden Your Mind

9. set email limits

Try to avoid email until you’re ready to respond to emails and take action.

I find that looking at email before I “officially” start my day just causes unnecessary stress.

Set a 15 minute timer on your phone and aim to read, clear and respond to as many emails as possible within a 15 minute timeframe. This timer may seem too short, but when you are working with laser focus on your emails, you’d be surprised with how much you can accomplish in this timeframe if you’re not multi-tasking with IM’s or anything else. Give it a try and see how it starts to get easier over time.

10. review your goals

Get into a routine of writing down your daily goals. I found this useful tip that breaks down your goals or to-do list into the 1-3-5 rule. It means one major thing before lunch, three medium tasks and five small tasks.

I usually have a Post-It note nearby to help jot down these items. Usually, my items are written out before I get to work or the night before, if not, the first thing I’ll do when I get to my desk is jot done my goals for the day. I’ll also transfer them to my Asana to ensure I can refer back to a project management tool to see what was completed and track my work.

Viola! Time to rock on as social media superstar.

Did I miss something? What are your favorite things to do in the morning?