Your morning routine is more than just doing things the same way each morning. Yes, that is still a routine, but it may not be the most effective or productive routine.
How you start the day has a huge influence on your emotions and on your mood, so it’s important to start your morning the right way.
Start Your Day In Silence
You’ve got to turn off all the noise and give yourself some silent time.
Your goal is not to be distracted by technology; you have the power to control it. Sometimes things are out of our control, but this is definitely not one of them.
When we sleep, our brain is recharged; therefore, first thing in the morning, our brain is ready to do important work. But what do most people do when they wake up? They check their social media pages and their emails. This is a bad way to start the day because it puts your mind in reactive mode, and you’re now dragged into someone else’s agenda.
Social media and email may need to be checked, but avoid them first thing in the morning, when your brain is at its most creative. Mornings are for planning, prioritising, and CREATION, not CONSUMPTION.
Time Blocking
You need to learn the importance of Time Blocking. Blocking out specific times in your diary to focus on and complete certain tasks, and your morning routine, is one such task. Blocking out time in your diary makes it much easier to say NO to people and tell them why.
You should, therefore, block out time during the day to check your social media pages and emails.
Develop Affirmations
I know affirmations sound a bit woo-woo, but they have been proven to work. Write down how you see your day running, and then feel and create the emotion by saying it out loud. This is especially important if you have a specific task to complete, an important meeting to attend, or maybe even a hot date.
What Is Your One Thing
This is straight out of the book The One Thing, by Gary Keller. Ask yourself, what is the one thing that I can do, such that by doing it, will make everything else easier or unnecessary? It’s a brilliant book.
It’s all about doing the most important thing first. When you know what your one thing is for the day, it keeps you on track and limits distractions.
If you are easily distracted, set a reminder on your phone that goes off at 9.30 am and again at 1. oo pm each day, reminding you to stay focused on your one thing. It will definitely help.
Quantity versus Quality
A stressful day typically means a busy day, and most people get busy when they focus on quantity rather than quality.
It’s been proven that most people cannot multitask, so trying to do too many things at once is unproductive and less effective than focusing on one thing. Focusing on your one thing is all about quality work.
Ask the focusing question: What is the one thing I can do, such that by doing it, will make everything else easier or unnecessary? Notice it is can do, not would, could or should do.
It’s An Investment, Not A Chore
By having a strict morning routine, you will complete your important tasks, there’s no doubt. However, if you delay your important tasks, distractions will prevent you from ever getting them done.
A strict morning routine should be seen as an investment, not a chore. If you get the important tasks done now, they will pay dividends in the future; however, if a strict morning routine feels like too much hard work or a chore, you obviously enjoy living a reactive life.
It’s important to remember that your morning routine may start at home, but it also occurs when you arrive at work. So think about how you start the day when you get to the office; this is just as important.
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