Certainly, you’ve heard the tales of accomplished CEOs and leaders and their morning routines. They typically wake up super early, do a bunch of stuff and then head out on their day. Is a 4:30 AM wake-up call what you need to be productive? Are night owls lost to a life of inefficiency? Hope for a productive morning is not lost.
Here are some ways to tackle your day head-on.
Help tomorrow today
To help my mornings start well, I actually plan out my day at the end of the day prior. When I get going in the office, I already have a list of priorities and then it’s just a matter of fitting them in based on need and creativity level.
Before going to bed, I pick out my clothes for the next day and set them aside so I don’t have to think about it when I wake up. These routines just build more space and mental freedom for you to start the day off right. When I wake up I don’t have to worry about clothes, what I am going to do, or where my keys are.
I live by the motto, “Always help out your future self.”
Earlier is better
Now, I’m not going to tell you that you need to start getting up three hours earlier in order to maximize your day. I will say that you probably could benefit from getting up earlier, even if it’s just 30 minutes.
The main point about rising earlier is that you build in space for yourself. It’s 100% you time. This space gives you some margin to take care of yourself and set the stage mentally for the rest of the day.
Set an alarm if needed and avoid the snooze button. Many studies and reports say that hitting snooze does more damage than it helps. Once it’s time to get up, go ahead and do it. Procrastination is not your friend here.
What do you do?
If you look up routines of top business leaders you’ll often see a common thread that they do some, if not all, of the following: Breakfast, prayer/meditation, exercise.
- Having a good breakfast helps your body get going for the day. It can be as complex as the “part of a complete breakfast” ensemble or as simple as fruit or a breakfast smoothie. Listen to what your body wants in the morning.
- Prayer and meditation can also be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Some people keep thankful/gratitude journals, others pray, others study, and others just are mindful to be present in the moment. Find that right balance for you.
- Exercise is a topic I’ve covered numerous times at PTB. Just from experience, I will say morning exercise is easier at the start than at the end of your day. You don’t have a list of excuses and drama from the day to get in the way of completing your routine. Good exercise will benefit your body and mind as you rock the day.
People also use this space to write, create, work on a special side project, call loved ones and catch up on the news and other items. Fill it with what matters most to you and make adjustments as needed.
Take small steps
Just like any other habit that you are building, it takes time. Don’t get discouraged if your routine doesn’t instantly take off for you. Try a few days a week and then step up your routine from there.
Find other people in your business and personal life that you admire and ask them what their normal routine is. You may gain valuable insight and can model your progress after those around you.
Start your day off right with a good morning routine. Your mind and body will be fresh and you’ll find new energy and focus as you conquer the day.
Make a better tomorrow.
-ZH
