I used to be a night owl. In college, I would schedule midday classes whenever possible so I could stay up late without forfeiting sleep. Later, as a mom with three children age 4 and under, the wee hours of the night were often the only quiet moments I would have to write or work on my business.
Several years ago, things changed. Or, more accurately, I changed.
After a series of crabby less-than-stellar mornings, a realization struck me: I often started the day on something/someone else’s terms. This caused me to feel like the circumstances of the day controlled me rather than being the leader in my own life. I slowly started rising earlier, spending a few quiet moments with myself before the bustle of the day began, and discovered that starting my day that way made me more focused, patient, and happy.
How do you spend those precious first moments of your morning? If you find yourself feeling behind before the day begins, perhaps a new morning practice would serve you well, too. Here are 5 things I now regularly do to start the day off right:
1. Give thanks. Nothing beats welcoming the morning on a grateful note. I give thanks for another day and the opportunity for a fresh start, for a cozy home and hot coffee. Even if you’ve had a restless night, you can give thanks for that 45-minute period when you slept soundly!
2. Read inspirational text. For me, that’s usually a devotional, poetry, or a few pages from something enlightening. A client of mine reads from a book of motivational quotes; another client reads a section of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. I recommend something positive, uplifting, and centering.
3. Journal. This is the heart of my morning practice. I’ve kept a journal since age 8 and, while I’d like to say my journals are as profound as those published by Anais Nin or Anne Frank, they’re often more the repository for whatever is on my mind. I use journaling to work through challenges, celebrate wins, pray, make lists and mind maps, and free-write.
4. Plan priorities. I take a few minutes to scan the day’s activities and to-do’s, selecting my top 3 priorities. While I’ll hopefully accomplish more than those 3 items, this prioritization reminds me that if the rest of the day goes haywire, these items matter most and deserve my attention first whenever possible.
5. Step outside. I’ll admit, this one’s easier not to do when temperatures are routinely below zero! 😉 But I always feel invigorated when I open the door, take a deep breath, and check out the morning sky. I often combine this step with #1 above.
Ready to create or build on your morning routine? Your best bet, as Charles Duhigg reminds us in The Power Of Habit, is to set your environment for success beforehand. If you want to start your morning with a brisk run, for example, have your workout clothes and running shoes waiting by your bed. I pre-set my coffee maker the night before so I have a fresh pot brewed and ready to greet me in the early hours, with my journal nearby.
It’s now a very rare occasion when I start my day without my morning practice – and when I do miss it, I feel “off.” You might choose different activities for yourself – several of my clients incorporate yoga, meditation, or vigorous exercise, for instance. It doesn’t matter so much what you do, just that you start your day in a positive, intentional manner that sets you up for success and joy. Choose to start your morning with intention. You’ll reap the benefits the entire day!
Like a gift, beautifully wrapped at the foot of your bed each morning, today asks that you open it and enjoy everything inside. Exhaust yourself with all it has to offer! ~ Steve Maraboli
How do you start your day off right? Share your ideas below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter.
Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether at an income level, in their leadership abilities, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.
Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.
