Jump Start Each Day

"Invest the first hour of the day, the 'Golden Hour', in yourself." - Brian Tracy

Your morning routine will set the tone for the rest of your day. What we think about throughout the day, we bring about, most of the time. So we must set ourselves up for the best possible outcomes by intentionally preparing ourselves at the beginning of each day. When you create positive and healthy habitual behaviors for each morning you are setting your day up for success. So, it is important to start your day off right.  

Here are some tips that will help set you on the right path to making the rest of your days, the best of your days!

• GET UP A LITTLE BIT EARLIER: Give yourself some time, and learn to use it efficiently. One of the things that creates stress in our lives is the feeling of being rushed, or late, or not having enough time to do what you need or want to. The simplest of solutions is to make better use of your time. Give yourself more time, to take your time, to ease into your day. This will start your day with calmness rather than chaos and set you on the right path.
• START EACH DAY WITH THANKFULNESS AND GRATITUDE: Whether you are starting each day with prayer or reflection, you should focus on all the things you are grateful for in your life. You can do this while you are still lying in bed. You can do this when you are in the shower or getting dressed. Try to focus on all you are thankful for. Life is a blessing. Each day is a gift. Really focus on being present.
• TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO PREPARE FOR YOUR DAY: Take a look at your calendar, to remind yourself things that need to get done, meetings or appointments you might have. Another stress-builder is forgetting that you had something to do, or someplace to be. Avoid those things by making a habit to check your schedule. Review your plans for accomplishing your goals and change your plans if necessary. Another positive habit is to do this again at the end of each day, and review tomorrow's schedule in advance. If you are really organized and efficient, you can schedule in some 'you' time on your calendar each day.  If you create a daily to-do list, and prioritize it will not only help you to get things done, it will give you a sense of purpose for each day. This will work wonders.  There is something satisfying about crossing things off your to-do list!
• INCORPORATE SOME TYPE OF MINDFULNESS PRACTICE: This can be meditation, visualization or reflection. A daily morning routine can help you stay grounded throughout the day and train your mind and emotions to respond positively. Close your eyes, relax, smile, breathe and visualize your day. Think about your goals and aspirations. Set your intentions for the day. When you get clear about how you want your day to go, or what you want to feel or accomplish, you can make clear decisions that create this into reality.
• GET UP AND GET MOVING: Once you are focused and centered it's time to get moving. Re-actions come from action. Emotions are created from movement. Whether this is through exercise, stretching, a brisk walk, or just exaggerating your normal movements as you are preparing for your day.  It is important to energize yourself through movement. This could be doing a few push-ups or sit-ups get the blood flowing a bit. Starting off your day with movement energizes the body and the mind.  It doesn’t have to be complicated, long or intense. Change it up to keep it interesting.
• EXPECT TO WIN, AND EXPECT GREATNESS: It is important to focus on what you want, not what you don't. Focus on the positive. Focus on taking action. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Believe you can and will achieve your goals and aspirations. Have confidence in yourself and assert yourself. Live each day with purpose and on purpose, or with intention.  It's okay to expect to win and to expect great things to happen. We know things wont and don’t always turn out the way we desire or planned. It's ok. But you subconsciously attract things and create things by thinking and believing that you can and will. The decisions and choices you make are driven by this. Your thoughts help direct you, and draw things toward you. When you change your thinking, you will change your life.

Practicing these positive habits will help to ease yourself into each day.  They will help build you up and prepare you for the day ahead. They will support you as you move on and through your day. Get ready and get going! Start now!

Make today great!

Curtis

"Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail." - Og Mandino