We function at a million miles an hour just to make sure that we are perceived to be the most committed.

We check our phones the minute our eyes open in the morning, we work through lunch, and probably one of the worst ones, we check emails right before bed.

In a study compiled by sociologists Elizabeth Gorman of the University of Virginia and Julie Kmec of Washington State University they came to the conclusion that women say they have to work harder than men, even though the study revealed that both men and women experienced the same effect of marriage and parenthood on their daily working lives.

It’s ingrained in us to prove our worth more than men and something that we innately feel is a necessity to become successful in the business world.

However, by functioning on this low energy frequency constantly we are in fact sabotaging the very success we’re aiming for.

By not making time to reset and recharge we are not bringing our A-game to the table and as such we are in a perpetual cycle of chasing our tails.

For example, every wondered why some fresh face walks through the door and steals your limelight, or takes your promotion, while you’ve been there all along busting a gut?

It’s because they are functioning on a high energy level and so they are able to think clearer, be more productive, be more creative and think quicker than you when put on the spot.

So how do you get out from under this?

One of the quickest ways to start grabbing control back of your life is your morning routine.

Starting your day out with a calm, positive attitude will make you 100 times more productive than spinning your wheels from the minute you wake up. 

Here are my Top 5 tips for starting your day right:

1. It’s time to end your relationship with your snooze button – your alarm pulls you out of your REM sleep phase, so when you hit snooze and shut your eyes again, it sends you right back into a new phase of REM. Your brain stays in that phase long after you’ve forced yourself to get up. The result: You’re foggy all day, and your productivity takes a dive

2. Pack your bags the night before – so make sure your lunch, gym bags, evening outfit etc are all ready to go

3. Start a gratitude journal – write down at least 5 things you are grateful for that day. Focusing on what you’re grateful for changes your mindset and allows you to view things through the day from a more positive perspective 

4. Listen to a guided meditation on your way to work, this will help you to focus your mind and calm any anxieties you are feeling for the day ahead, plus a guided meditation is easier to remain focused on than trying to calm your mind on your own while on the train or in the car. If you are driving, please don’t close your eyes during your meditation

5. Spend 5 minutes prioritising your to-do list for the day when you arrive at work before you do anything else, this includes checking emails and making a cup of tea. You will inevitably get distracted and your to-do list will fall by the wayside only to cause you anxiety later in the day when you haven’t completed certain tasks you really needed to.

Let me also just clarify here that I’m not saying take your foot off the pedal and cruise, I’m saying take care of your physical and mental health so that you can be the badass success story you are striving to be.