Do you not have time for a one-hour morning routine? Take 10 minutes out of every morning and plan your daily intentions. Here's how to plan your day.
It's 5 o'clock and you have a huge pile of work left on your desk. You thought you'd for sure get through it today, and you're feeling a little overwhelmed. What if I told you that with five simple steps, you could change the way your entire day goes?
Your morning routine might feel good, but are you really getting the maximum benefit out of it?
Learning how to plan your day is more than just jotting down a list of tasks in between cups of coffee. It's about setting your intentions and goals.
Intention setting and creating Intentional Margin in your day is the #1 thing people are forgetting in their morning routine and it’s setting you up to become overwhelmed.
Read on to learn how taking 10 intentional minutes in the morning can help you better accomplish your goals!
Good Morning!
One thing that nearly all successful people have in common is that they're early risers. But why?
Well, there's a lot of stress in the morning – but we already knew that, right? Between getting up, getting ready for work, and taking care of the kids and the dogs, it feels like you're on the spinning hamster wheel from the moment you open your eyes. The best way to set yourself up for hitting your goals is to start your day with ten minutes of calm, just for you.
For those night owls among us, learning how to get up early may seem like an impossible task. You can find thousands of blog posts, articles, studies and testimonials that say waking up early is magic. But let’s face it, if that’s not you – don’t stress about it. Do this routine when you wake up, even if it’s mid-afternoon.
You could have the best morning routine, but if you don’t know how you are going to walk through your day – you’re doomed. Ten minutes to get your act together will make all the difference in how you approach your day. You'll accomplish more and feel less stressed.
Drink a Glass of Water
Get your brain moving, feed your dehydrated body and down a glass of water as fast as you can. It takes me about a minute.
Tip: this is the first time when I say my gratitude. It’s so easy, I’m drinking the water, brushing my teeth and feeling all the gratitude. What a wonderful way to wake up – feet on the ground and gratitude in the heart.
Get Your Meditation On
You don’t have to go full-on “whoo-whoo” here, but stay with me. If you can center yourself and clear stressful thoughts from your mind to just be open without a racing mind, it will set you up for success. Yes, that means making meditation a priority every single day. I use the app Headspace, and I really like it. I do it a couple times a day if I’m lucky.
Not only does meditation clear your head, but it also prepares your mind to sort out your priorities for the day. On top of that, the more you meditate, the better your body is able to fight inflammation and high blood pressure. It's truly one of the most important things you can do for yourself each and every day.
Stay Organized with Your Calendar
You’ve got about four minutes left in your 10 minute morning, so let’s not delay. Once you've decluttered your mind, you'll want to sit down with a pen and paper and write down your intentions along with the goals and tasks for the day.
This is how I like to set up my day in my calendar, and I can do it in about four minutes. (If I’m honest I like to take about 20 minutes with my calendar in the morning, but that’s for another post).
First, I open up my Full Focus Planner and look at my day. (During my workday wind-down ritual the night before, I’ve already blocked off the appointments/meetings for the next day in my planner.)
Next, I choose my top three tasks to accomplish first. If I get those three done by the end of the day – I’m WINNING!
Then, I allocate time in my calendar to execute those important tasks. If there's no time to accomplish the task, how will it ever get done?
Finally, I cross-reference with my Google calendar and I’m ready to crush my day.
2-Minute Mindset
I realized that I hold all of the control over the way I feel, the way I act and the way I show up for myself and others. And I want to show up for life - full stop!
Write down at least one intention for the day. For example, if your coworker drove you insane yesterday and reduced your productivity, write down your intention to let what they say and do roll off your back. Today, you are going to work hard and smart, and it's going to show.
Hold on to this paper to help remind yourself, should you feel yourself backsliding. Remember, you have the power to make your life amazing and fulfilling, and living intentionally is the best way to do it.
If you’ve got a big presentation, create an Intentional Margin in your day (i.e. schedule it in your calendar) to take five minutes to set an intention about how you want to show up. Maybe it looks something like this: My audience is excited and grateful to receive the VALUE I offer.
This Is How to Plan Your Day!
The demands of work and family take a lot from us. If you take some time in the morning for yourself, you'll be better for others and be well on your way to realizing your full potential all while achieving it in harmony.
Learning how to plan your day is the key to success. If you've ever struggled to accomplish your goals, or if you feel like you're not as successful as you have the potential to be, following these steps will help you change your world.
If you want to practice this on a bigger level, check out the Empowerment Community!