Morning Habits Drive Performance
- Brainz Magazine
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
John Michael O'Shea is the founder and head coach for One Purpose Wellness, a Dallas, Texas-based wellness solutions company that helps purpose-driven organizations enhance employee productivity and performance through high-engagement 100% virtual corporate wellness challenges and performance development coaching.
How you start your day directly affects how you perform at work. Surveys from the American Psychological Association highlight that people who begin their day with intentional habits report greater focus and less burnout. For employees and leaders alike, a purposeful morning routine is not just a personal wellness strategy, it is a workplace performance advantage.
1. Begin with mental clarity
The modern workday is full of distractions and competing priorities. Establishing clarity early helps employees and leaders respond with focus rather than stress.
Set priorities: Direct your energy to what matters most by writing down the top three objectives the night before your next workday begins.
Practice mindfulness: Just 5 to 10 minutes of guided meditation or deep breathing can reduce stress and prepare the brain for decision-making.
Positive thinking: Visualize success, imagine a successful presentation, or a smooth team meeting. This practice can boost confidence and reduce workplace anxiety.
Companies that promote these habits see improved concentration and fewer wasted hours on reactive work.
2. Move in the morning to build energy
Physical movement in the morning does more than improve health, it directly influences energy and focus at work. Moderate morning activity enhances mood and cognitive performance.
Workplace tip: Walking or stretching before commuting, or even brief movement breaks for remote employees, before logging on.
Simple routines: Ten minutes of stretching, yoga, or bodyweight exercises can elevate energy without requiring extra equipment.
Natural light exposure: Stepping outside early helps regulate sleep cycles and can help you feel more alert.
Employers who encourage morning activity see reduced absenteeism and greater employee engagement throughout the day.
3. Fuel with intention
A rushed morning often leads to poor food choices and reactive planning. By starting with deliberate nutrition and organization, you set yourself up for sustainable productivity.
Hydrate first: Drinking water upon waking helps you feel more alert.
Balanced breakfast: Protein-rich options like yogurt with fruit, oatmeal with nuts, or eggs help prevent mid-morning energy crashes.
When employees combine proper nutrition with planning, they show up to work ready to contribute at a higher level.
Final thought
Morning routines are more than personal rituals, they are productivity tools. Encouraging employees to start their day with clarity, movement, and proper fuel translates into improved performance, engagement, and workplace morale. For organizations invested in employee well-being, supporting these habits is not just good for health, it is good for business.
Read more from John Michael O'Shea
John Michael O'Shea, Seasoned Business Professional
John Michael O’Shea is a seasoned business professional with extensive experience leading and developing talent. Through his own struggles while advancing in his career, he realized he needed to implement change in his daily habits if he was going to achieve the vision he had for himself and his family. He dedicated himself to learning about the pillars of a healthy lifestyle, returning to school to earn a Master of Science in Lifestyle Health Science & Coaching from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Additionally, John Michael is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and is Wellcoaches certified as a Health and Well-Being Coach. He is the founder and head coach for One Purpose Wellness, a Dallas, Texas-based wellness solutions company that helps purpose-driven organizations enhance employee productivity and performance through high-engagement 100% virtual corporate wellness challenges and performance development coaching.
