Have you been thinking about improving your productivity at
work? Do you have an important project that you would like to
give it your best shot? Are you wondering about how you can
achieve your life goals and make that dream come true? Do you
have a morning routine?
Having powerful morning habits that are engraved in your
system and have become part of who you are is not only exciting
but something worth pursuing. All you need is for you to audit
yourself and take note of the habits that work for you. What areas
of your life could use more stability?
Yes, it is not going to be easy! Some days will be easy, and others
will be hard for you to set yourself up right. You may be ill or lose
a loved one or you maybe you are just not in ‘the mood.’ Some of
these things may break you and weigh you down. But does it have
to be this way? Rather than allowing the ups and downs of life
distract you from achieving your God-given purpose, why not
take it as an opportunity for you to learn, pivot and give it a new
perspective.
Having morning habits that you can stick to is the first step to
developing grit and self-respect. In this book, you will learn the
benefits of 7 golden morning habits that will help you win the
day.
While you have your breakfast, think about the things that you
would like to accomplish in the day. With a morning ritual, you
have the magic to ease you into the day. You will be happier,
more productive and have the confidence you need to address
tough challenges that come your way. What will set you up for
this? A winning morning ritual is what you need.
“Win the morning; win the day.”
- Tim Ferriss
Did you know that having a good morning routine sets the tone
for the entire day? The truth is, there are more bad days than the
good ones. There are days when we dialed into every little detail,
and on most days, we simply react to other people’s demands,
feeling messed up and not in control!
In spite of the fact that having a good morning routine can be
magical, the truth is that there is more to it than meets the eye!
It is the science that you can incorporate into your life to reap
extraordinary levels of productivity. The question however is “is
there one right way to have to win the day?” Well, if you can
achieve one good thing in the morning, it is as good as you have
won the day and there is a high chance that you will enjoy the
rest of the day.
Ask any productive person, and they will tell you that they have
a morning routine that defines what they achieve during the day
and hence, accounts for their success and productivity in
whatever they do.
One thing that you have to understand is that morning are the
most predictable parts of the day. But it only takes discipline and
having a routine to reap the productivity that comes with it. All
you have to do is tweak a few things here and there by adding on
habits you would want to work on gradually to make a routine.
For instance, if you want to start working out, simply add it into
your routine. When you feel down, you can write a few sentences
about your thoughts and emotions. The whole point is to make
that part of your lifestyle and have full control of your life. This
is because, when you start your day with some routine and
develop it into a habit, you will realize that you will gradually be
adding positive thinking into your life. What better way to build
your life than having positivity?
So, what are you waiting for? Come with me and let’s learn the
seven golden habits that will help you win your day.
What are the benefits of having a morning
routine? - According to several health experts, influencers and business
owners around the globe, being successful is an indicator that
you have a structured start to your day. If you review all the
interviews on the Tim Ferris show, you will realize that almost
90% of the highly impactful members of the society have a
morning routine. In other words, they have habits that they have
cultivated over time and made it part of their lifestyle.
You may be thinking ‘so what if you have a morning routine or
habits?’ Well, there are so many benefits that you stand to enjoy
when you have morning habits, and the good news is that if you
do not have one, you can easily build one for your mornings.
Core Benefits Include:
- Self-discipline
Self-discipline is perhaps one of the most important benefits you
get by just having a morning routine and habits. In fact,
according to so many philosophers, there is evidence that shows
that having that discipline of getting up every morning at the
same time is a good foundation to kickstarting a good day. It
carries over into the rest of the days in the week, and then
months and years.
When you enforce an act of discipline at the start of the day, you
will simply draw that discipline into various parts of your life.
These include your mental focus, health, work, family and diet
among others. - Time
The discipline of a morning habit and getting up early every day
is one of the most practical aspects of extra time. In today’s
culture, time is considered the most valuable asset. If you don’t
believe me, look at the success that new time-saving technology
like Uber, Amazon Prime, and Alexa’s voice has.
The truth is, having that extra hour to your routine in the
morning can be channeled into doing something productive. You
can use that extra time to do something important to you that
you normally overlook.
Limits Procrastination
I don’t know about you, but to me, there is nothing worse than
being rushed in the morning. But I bet this is pretty familiar to
you too, right? Ever wondered why you feel rushed? Probably
because you pressed the snooze button over and over until you
are late?
Maybe, you spent too much time trying to make breakfast or put
together your takeaway lunch? What you wake up to is realizing
that you did not allocate adequate time for these activities,
possibly because you allowed something else eats into their time.
Not having a morning routine simply throws you off the internal
clock. This often happens when you do not have a definitive
waking time. This is because you are constantly snoozing when
the clock goes off. When you choose to hit the snooze button, you
are procrastinating tasks even before you get out of bed.
This also applies when you procrastinate your urgent tasks to the
next. You have to realize how toxic this can be to you. It does not
only induce stress but most importantly, it serves as a barrier to
attaining your goals and reaching your productivity limit.
Therefore, it is important that you start creating reliable habits
that are centered around your wake time so that you set the tone
for your day, hence eliminate procrastination. - Helps lower anxiety
Over the last couple of months, I have been trying hard to expand
my productivity limits so that it caters well to my evolving
workload. To my surprise, waking up early boosts my
productivity tenfold throughout the day. In fact, on the days
when I get up as planned, I have ample time to ease into the day
without necessarily rushing.
Stress is directly associated with increased levels of cortisol. This
may lead to weight gain, anxiety, and several other health risks.
If you have always been in a rush in the morning, try doing things
differently tomorrow. Simply get up earlier than usual and take
your time to get ready. Then stroll out the door and get to work.
This goes a long way in lowering the chances of being anxious
and developing stress in the morning.
It’s much easier to dive into our to-do list without pressure. The
act of checking off several tasks in the morning and creates the
momentum that will help you push through the day. Trust me, it
is the small wins that matter and pushes you to win big
throughout the day.
We are constantly seeking for ways to maximize our potential
and seizing new opportunities for growth each day. However, we
must learn to adapt to changes that occur in everyday life so that
we can eliminate the feeling of being overwhelmed, something
that can strip us of continued productivity. - It gets rid of major decision-making
Regardless of how this sounds, the truth is that this is something
very important. When you do not have a morning routine, you
will not manage your time well, and this simply means that when
there are important decisions to be made, you will spend most of
the time agonizing over everything. This is something that can
cause decision fatigue because of mental exhaustion.
You keep asking yourself conflicting questions that eventually
flood your brain with unknowns. You do not need this in the
morning, as it can be a huge detriment to the rest of the day. It
attracts feelings of being overwhelmed and hence inhibiting your
productivity.
When you establish stable morning habits that you do not have
to think twice about, your morning becomes much simpler
creating room for your brain to make informed decisions that
will get you winning the entire day. - Mental toughness
Unfortunately, the society we live in today is too soft and fragile.
This is because people try to find the easiest way out of every
situation, most of which cause us to crumble. What you need for
growth and development is a challenging setting.
Yes, taking that easy way out can be rewarding in the short-term,
but have you stopped to ask yourself what this means in the longrun? It is true that waking up early each day may not be fun, but
when you force yourself through this discipline and mental
toughness, you are adequately ready for any challenge that life
throws at you. The truth is, you will be standing when everyone
else is not!
The 7-morning habits of winning the day
It is important for you to bear in mind that morning habits will
set you up for wins throughout the day. In other words, having a
ritual that you stick to you no matter what becomes engraved in
your system. This produces small wins that will ensure that you
are steered in the right direction for the rest of the day. They
create the positive momentum.
When morning habits are a lifestyle to you, you enjoy a path that
is free of friction and strain. You start your day knowing that you
are already a winner. For you to transform your life, you must
first be willing to accept that habits can be replaced and that you
have the power and responsibility to make a change to yours
today. Start by thoughtfully designing your day so that you lay a
strong foundation for a productive day.
Here are some of the habits that you set you winning the day for
a very long time.
Habit 1: Beat the snooze button
Getting up is something that you struggle with at first, but all it
takes to stop hitting the snooze button is tuning your mind to
winning every day. There is a strong temptation and desire to hit
the snooze button so that you can catch a few more wings in the
morning. However, the good news is you can break that habit.
Each time your alarm goes off, tell yourself you are a winner by
getting up and a loser if you snooze. Trust me; no one wants to
carry the feeling of being a loser throughout the day. It worked
for me, and it can work for you as well. You can start
experimenting with other tactics as well to discover what works
best for you.
Even though there is no single bulletproof solution to
overcoming snoozing, you can counter the temptation of hitting
the snooze button by simply experimenting different techniques.
You may have tried countless methods with no success. Rather
than beating yourself over spilled milk, cross off all failed
methods and move on to the next attempt. You will eventually
find one that works for you and when you do, stick to it.
Habit 2: Get up early
As you try hard to overcome the temptation of a snooze, it is
important that you have a purpose to get up early. Understand
that morning are times when you are fresh, have the energy and
are away from external distractions of the world. During this
time, there are not a lot of things competing for your undivided
attention.
When you wake up earlier, you are at an advantage. However, if
your wake-up time is 7 am, trying to wake up 5am instead can be
extremely challenging. If you want to get up earlier than usual,
try and do this gradually. Understand that it is a process and your
whole body has to be ready for it. You can try with 30 minutes
earlier than normal, then progressively increase to an hour, an
hour-and-half until you eventually hit your target. Just
remember to be realistic in every step that you take and make it
count.
Make your bed
The first thing that most people do when they get up is making
the bed. This is something quite simple and quick. This is
something that I consider a second win to my morning routine.
It simply adds a burst of achievement and productivity to your
morning.
Why is this step an important part of your waking up? Well, the
truth is, when you organize the environment you are in, you are
stimulating your mind to be organized too. It is a simple step that
adds clarity and calm in you, ensuring that you can stay sharp
throughout the day.
Habit 3: Sweat it and immerse a positive state of
mind
Fitness is a big part of a successful person’s life. Engaging in
simple mourning cardio, push-ups, jog or sit-ups can help you
kickstart your day in style. Irrespective of what your fitness goals
may be, working out as part of a morning routine is an excellent
way to turn on your metabolism and brain. You will feel
motivated, happy and full of energy that will steer you towards
conquering the rest of the day and all activities that come with it.
After turning on your mind through physical exercise, it is
important that you allow your mind to immerse in a positive
thought process. Sit on a floor mat with your feet crossed. Close
your eyes and think about the things that will bring positivity to
your day. Do you want to be grateful, excited, focused, and
inspired? Try and answer these questions in your mind. What
are the things that you are grateful for today? What inspires you?
What excites you?
Allowing your mind to tap into positive thoughts allows you to
rid yourself of sadness and anxiety. In other words, you are
training your mind to look forward to the best that the day has
to offer. You will realize that, gradually, you will begin
transforming into an enthusiastic optimist. By focusing on your
top priorities each day, you allow yourself to make the most of
your efforts and expertise on reaping tangible results.
Disconnect from the world
It is very important that you disconnect from the world around
you. The best way to achieve this is by allowing yourself to
reconnect with nature. You can take a walk around your garden
for around 30 minutes. This is indeed one way in which you can
exercise mindfulness. During the walk, try to collect your
thoughts together to focus on the best parts of the day that lays
ahead of you. You can also do yoga or choose to sit silently in the
room, whatever works for you. All you need to do is to create a
routine around your time so that you can achieve a level of
comfort that blends well into your lifestyle. Whatever you do,
make sure that you are focusing on the present rather than the
past.
Habit 4: Write down your to-do list and goals
you want to achieve today
To begin the journey towards achieving your dreams, the first
thing is for you to identify exciting goals that will push you
forward. In fact, according to a study from University in
California, people who write down their goals are more likely to
achieve them than those who didn’t.
When you write down your goals, you are in increasing the
effectiveness of realizing them. Incorporating this as part of your
morning routine is a sign that you are declaring your intentions
for the day. It crystallizes your goals in your mind so that they
are engraved deeper into your subconscious brain. It is a signal
to your brain that achieving these goals is important to you.
As a result, your brain will work hard towards achieving every
goal by making sure that you treat every single project you
handle during the day with the level of seriousness that will give
you a win. In other words, your brain will push you towards
realizing your dreams.
Habit 5: Focus on each task at a time
If you are handling a project, there are short-term and long-term
goals. Each goal has some tasks/activities that you need to
perform to realize that goal. Once you have this figured out in the
previous step, you have to start focusing closer attention to each
task. Pick one task at a time and focus on it.
It could be a new project, a new business idea or something that
you just have to work on. When you allow your mind to focus on
one task at a time, you are simply brainstorming on ideas that
might be brilliant in being productive and successful. It simply
tells the mind that these tasks are a top priority and the result
should be beneficial to scaling the business. If you are taking a
leadership role, think of various ways in which you can lead your
team to win every day.
Habit 6: Visualize yourself living your dream
life
How do you envision your dream life will be like? Every morning,
take a few minutes to see yourself living your dream. Allow your
dreams to sink deep into your mind and engage it for a couple of
minutes using all your senses. Have you been dreaming of a
vacation in Paris? Watch yourself enjoying that vacation with
your loved ones and doing all the things you have in your
checklist.
How do you feel walking the streets of Paris, shopping around,
eating French food and sipping that glass of wine in one of the
most beautiful cities in the world? What sound can you hear
around you when taking that cup of cappuccino or Mocha in a
café of your dream?
Yes, it may be hard to achieve ambitious life goals. You will
encounter plateaus and valleys during the journey that might
cause you to want to settle for an ordinary lifestyle. But you can
start tapping into your mind by seeing yourself living your ideal
day and life. When you start seeing yourself living your dream,
you will start feeling a new rush of strength and energy that will
motivate and inspire you to keep going.
It is only then that you will begin to have full clarity of the
meaning and purpose of your goals in life. You will get a new
perspective on how you can forge ahead and overcome the dark
hours in your journey as you pursue your dreams with a lot of
zeal.
Habit 7: Work towards your dreams
As part of a morning habit, it is important that you make
progress towards accomplishing your biggest dreams before dive
into the daily chores. Set aside at least 5 minutes to meditate on
your dreams. As your dreams begin to grow, you can increase the
amount of time that you spend working on them.
Rather than giving up the first few hours of your morning to
running errands, channel that to a project that excites you. It
could be that you are working on a new book project. Spend a
few hours writing something. Simply use that time when you are
fresh to fuel your will power before other busy-nesses of the day
runs the tank dry. Take advantage of the full willpower you have
in the morning to bring out tangible results of that project that
you value most.
Remember that, if you channel your energy on activities that do
not matter most in your life, you will find yourself going down a
path that does not help you achieve your set goals and dreams.
Ask yourself whether that project will lead you to the bigger
picture. If it is a small part of the bigger picture, then you are
guaranteed that your efforts will yield fruit and that each step
you take draws you closer to your destination.
When you eventually add the small wins together from the
morning habits, you create a ripple of victories that will keep
powering your days. It is these small wins that will give you more
confidence and keep you equipped to handle every challenge that
arises during the day. It really doesn’t matter what how difficult
these challenges are. Because if you have strong beliefs and great
habits, you can achieve anything!
Conclusion
You have to understand that your morning does not have to be
rough. When you allow this to sink into your spirit, you will get
up each morning with enthusiasm. You will position yourself to
seize every opportunity that comes your way and putting your
best to work for more productivity the entire day.
Yes, it may be daunting to overhaul the whole routine at once,
but you don’t have to. Start small and work your way up to
becoming better each day — purpose to introduce new habits and
practices gradually to make a more robust routine. Just
remember, if you win the morning, you win the rest of your day.
So, what is it going to be like for you this year? You are a
champion, and all that matters is a win!
I want to see what happens if I don't give up 