7 Tips to Start Your Day Off Right
How many of us start the day off abruptly awakened by the alarm clock?
Your first thought as you turn it off, or quickly hit the "snooze" button, is, "Oh no, I just want to stay in bed!"
I realize that quotes from the Bible may not be for everyone, but imagine how different your day would begin if your first thought was:
This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
-Psalm 118:24
What a wonderful prayer!
What a wonderful thought to start your day!
The bottom line is that starting your day off in the "right" frame of mind will work wonders in helping you create the life you desire.
This will greatly assist you in offsetting counter-productive negative feelings and emotions that contribute to a "bad" day, as Alex Blackwell noted in a terrific post on "7 Ways to Boost Your Resistance to a Bad Day."
Developing this habit takes time and practice.
The good news is that it is actually a very simple process.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Get adequate sleep.
This seems like a "no-brainer", but it's tough to wake up feeling refreshed when your body is exhausted.
2. Rise at the same time every day.
Your body loves routine and will quickly adjust to a set time to wake up.
This may be difficult for some of you due to personal or work commitments.
3. Begin a "before bed" routine.
The purpose here is to set an intention of waking up ready and willing to face the next day.
You can use whatever works for you:
- prayer
- visualization
- affirmations
The key element here is to keep it simple and make it a habit.
4. Begin a "wake up" routine.
Again, use whatever suits you best.
The above prayer from Psalms works well for me.
What you want to do is immediately kindle the fire of those thoughts which produce the state of mind where you are at your best.
5. Practice gratitude.
This is probably the most powerful practice in personal development.
Before you go to bed, and first thing in the morning, think of what you are grateful for.
I have recently started a "gratitude journal", based on the advice of Lorraine Cohen, who has written some great posts on this subject on her Powerful Living blog.
Check out Lorraine's post on "Gratitude - The Doorway to More Happiness and Joy!"
6. Create your "To - Do" List the night before.
This will allow you the opportunity to wake up in the morning ready to accomplish your daily activities.
Mike Dillard, an extremely successful network marketer, attributes his success to this simple strategy.
Read an inspiring post from Mike on how he uses Notepad to create a nightly "to - do" list here: "How Mike Dillard Made Millions With This Simple, Free Software."
7. Work out first thing in the morning.
If you already have a fitness routine, or would like to start one, doing it upon rising is good for you:
- working out on an empty stomach can help burn fat
- it will invigorate your body and your mind
- it will cause the release of "feel good" hormones
Getting into a fitness or fat loss routine is often difficult for many people.
The best remedy is to get it done straight away.
What a great habit to get into!
The spiritual practice of rising early and giving thanks and praise has a profound effect on the consciousness.
Adopting this practice will make us more effective and productive in whatever we choose.
What about you?
Do you have a morning routine? What works for you?
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May 21st, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I like that order– prayer, visualization, affirmations.
May 21st, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Great post Mark and a delightful surprise to find you referencing a link back to my blog. Thank you.
I'm a believer in morning and evening rituals. They frame the day and set the tone for how the day flows and ends. I have recently begun to add writing all the ways The Universe/God shows up for me in answer to my prayers and requests. My friends calls it Whispers and Kisses from God.
Have a great holiday
Cheers,
Lorraine
http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog
May 21st, 2008 at 11:05 pm
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May 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
@ Lorraine - I'm a believer in morning/evening rituals as well. It's a great habit to get into. It takes a little work at first but then it really becomes a part of your routine. I really like looking at how God works in your life and all things we can be grateful for.
@ Clara - I like that order too, but again, like I said, whatever works for you, what you are comfortable with and what you find effective.
May 26th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
This is absolutely what I need to start doing, practice gratitude before night falls and do some push-ups after sun rises.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
@ Eric - that would be a great routine. Thinking of things that you are grateful for at night will allow you to sleep better and wake up ready to start the day. Push ups (a terrific exercise, btw) done first thing in the morning will really invigorate your body and clear your mind. Go for it!