Masterful Mindsets ~ Mighty Morning Routine
“You’ve got to wake up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” ~ George Lorimer
Question:
Do you have a morning routine? What does a good morning routine look like? Do you have to do it every morning? If you don’t have enough time as it is, how can you add a morning routine?
Action Challenge:
I love receiving emails from readers about Masterful Mindset topics. And this past week, I had an overwhelming response from people emailing me about the most recent post on how to Organize Your Day for Maximum Efficiency. The majority of the questions have been about “To-Do” lists and wondering what a good morning routine might look like. (The questions above are all from readers.) So, I’ve decided to extend this little “series” on Time Management and answer some of your questions, because I think it definitely hits a sensitive spot with so many people who are feeling overwhelmed and over-extended.
We begin today with how to create a mighty morning routine…
First let me say that there’s no one size fits all routine. Each individual is different so your lifestyle and your needs are going to be different. For example – If you are a spiritual person then prayer or meditation might be a very important part of your morning routine. But how you do it will be individualized. If nature is what inspires you and where you find your spiritual connection, then get outside each morning to begin your day. But if you prefer soft music to calm your mind and a journaling exercise to clear your head, then maybe you’ll want to start there!
Most importantly, a morning routine is not supposed to make your day more hectic. Quite the contrary, it should make your day begin calm, energized and focused. And again, how you choose to set your morning routine can and should vary based on your individual needs and desires. I could literally write a book on morning routines because there are so many different things that can be done. (There actually have been several books written about this topic. Check this one out: The Miracle Morning)
With that said, in the essence of keeping it simple today… if you can hold one general rule of thumb in mind when setting up your morning routine, you’ll be on the right track.
Start Your Morning with Things That Fuel Your Mind, Body and Soul in a Positive Way
- Fuel Your Soul – Prayer, Meditation, Quiet Reflection, Journaling, Reading, etc.
- Fuel Your Body – Exercise, Eat a Healthy Breakfast, Take Quality Vitamins and Supplements, Drink Plenty of Water, Consume Less Caffeine
- Fuel You Mind – Get Organized, Have a Clear Plan for Your Day, Review Your Calendar, Go Over Daily Goals and Scheduled To-Do List Actions for the Day
TIP: A great morning routine actually starts the night before! Tidy up, have your workout clothes ready, have your calendar scheduled for the next day, get to bed at a decent hour, etc.
Now, for those of you who think you don’t have time for a morning routine, here’s the good news… A morning routine doesn’t have to take any extra time! You already have a morning routine so the thought of having to find more time to create a routine, is not necessarily so. It’s more likely that you will only need to tweak the routine you currently have in a more positive and productive way.
Don’t believe me? That’s where this week’s action challenge comes in…
My challenge to you is to write down what you do every morning for a week. You will see a pattern emerge. It may be something like: hit the snooze button 3 times, make coffee, turn on TV and watch news, rush because your late for work (due to snooze button and TV) skip breakfast, etc. Guess what? That has become your routine. And if it is, just think about how negatively you start your day.
Once you’ve looked at your current routine, it’ll be very clear that you do not have to make more time. You just need to use your time more wisely. Then let the small shifts begin…
Start by deciding what inspires you and what will fuel your mind, body and soul. Then pull some of those pieces into your new morning routine, replacing the old negative habits one by one. (i.e. exercise instead of watching TV) Make it happen. It’s a choice. And that choice can make a mighty difference in how the rest of your day goes.
***I want to hear from you… How will you start your day? Comment Below!
Here’s what my morning routine looks like: I get up at roughly the same time every day. I take my vitamins with a big glass of water and exercise first thing. During my exercise time, I have a list of people I pray for as well as several prayers I say daily. Then I fuel up with a Spark drink (a healthy way to get my caffeine intake as well as other vitamins and minerals). Then after my family leaves for work and school, I have a balanced breakfast and go over my calendar for the day. I do a few “chores” each morning that usually consist of organizing or tidying up the house or my office. Then I begin my work day. It’s a routine that I’ve kept for years and it always helps me feel fully fueled and ready to tackle the day. When I don’t follow my routine (and yes, life happens, sometimes I don’t) I can always tell and I often have to push the reset button to get back on track.