Buzz
When your alarm rings in the morning, dedicate those nine minutes of snooze time to stretching, self-assessment, and setting intentions for the day ahead.
Previously, I’ve discussed the benefits of a “morning brain dump”, where you spend the early hours jotting down insights your mind may have produced during sleep. If you struggle to make this reflective practice a habit, the solution could lie in your phone, smartwatch, or even a traditional alarm clock.
Inc recently highlighted 22 simple daily habits to enhance our lives, featuring advice from Anese Cavanaugh, an author and leadership expert. She recommends dedicating a set time each morning to mindfulness and using your alarm’s snooze feature to carve out that space.
Cavanaugh outlines how to make the most of those crucial nine minutes:
Start by tuning into your body—assess how you feel, identify any areas needing extra attention, and decide if exercise or rest is necessary. Next, focus on your mind: reflect on unresolved issues from yesterday, solutions that seemed just out of reach (sleep often aids problem-solving), and what you aim to achieve today. Finally, connect with your heart and spirit: acknowledge your emotions, evaluate your mental state, and pinpoint areas requiring care or nurturing. This is when I often uncover solutions to lingering problems, gain clarity on my feelings, and experience heightened intuition.
I’ve found mornings offer a renewed outlook on issues I’d been fixated on the previous night, especially after a good night’s sleep. It’s also beneficial to spend a few moments mentally and physically preparing for the day, rather than immediately reaching for your phone to check emails or, as many do now, your sleep data.
Feel free to hit snooze, then use that time to stretch, reflect, bond with your partner, or jot down any overnight insights your mind may have generated.
You might discover this practice more rejuvenating than a brief nine-minute nap.
