How do you start your day? Have you thought about your morning routine?
I am going to be honest here. Having a more beneficial morning routine is something I have thought about for several months now. I’ve read several articles about it, all with great ideas, but was not compelled to really make the improvements that I knew would be beneficial.
You see, I have had a routine. Get up, make coffee, handle the dogs, eat breakfast, and play solitaire until I wake up. This is a routine that gets me going but does nothing to set the tone of my day or help me accomplish my goals.
Yesterday, that changed, thanks to the wonderful members of one of my mastermind groups. Several of them shared the benefits of their morning routine and I realized that I have been missing a real opportunity to start my day in more powerful and empowering way.
I’m going to share with you some of the tips I’m using and that we discussed so that you can evaluate your morning routine to see if there are any changes that you can make that would make a difference to your productivity and success.
One tip that I know from Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich is that just writing down your goals is not enough You must repeat them to yourself every morning and every night. Write them down, put them where you can see them regularly (the bathroom has been the most popular location for them!) and repeat them daily. This is the most important tip on this list!
I do want to add that you need to spell out how you are going to accomplish those goals. As Dusty Springfield sang, wishing and hoping and thinking and praying is not enough. You need to
have a plan for accomplishing those goals. You need to think about the steps that you need to take to get where you want to go.
The reason for doing this is that we have the power to create our dreams but the first step toward that realization is to believe that our dreams are possible. (I am talking about dreams that while being a stretch, are not impossible. So, for example, if you are 50 years old, you are probably past the point of being a world class ballerina!) We learn through two methods. A sudden shock which reveals the need to change something in your life immediately, or by repetition. We can’t control sudden shocks but we can control what we do on a daily basis. And since our success is determined by our daily habits, we are blessed with being able to determine the habitual choices we make.
Deciding to regularly repeat our goals and the action steps we will take helps us overcome our fears and procrastination. It helps us start to believe that we can do what we need to do.
What you believe determines what you decide to do. Believing that you will do what you know you need to do is a critical step. Starting your day by repeating your goals and action steps is a great way to get you to believe in yourself, get you focused and propel you into action.
Another great tip that we discussed was to start your day by reviewing your daily goals. I do this the night before, which has really helped me a lot. Taking the time in the morning to take a step back and remind yourself of your priorities, instead of just diving into your to-do list, is a great way to make sure that you do the most important jobs first, before you get distracted.
Tip three is to start the day by doing what you know is the most important thing! Hold off on email, minor tasks that can wait, and as Brian Tracy says, Eat The Frog!
For example, writing requires discipline for me. As an A personality, I’d much rather be doing something active than sitting at a desk. Hence, writing this blog is the first thing I am doing today!
So, how do you start your day? If you’d like more ideas, check out two of my favorite gurus. Michael Hyatt or Darren Hardy
As always, I am here to help you succeed! Call or email me today to schedule a free 45 minute consultation to see if I can help move you to the next level on your journey to success and happiness.
