How to Conquer Your Morning

For most of us, the Corona Virus as put us on lock down for over a week. 

In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, many cities and states have places a “Shelter in Place” order. We were away when all this went down in California. When we returned home, our Lyft driver mentioned all the changes we would experience and urged us to go grocery shopping early the next morning. Although he found himself with 90% less rides, he was upbeat and hopeful.

This pandemic has been quite an opportunity in my eyes. Never before have I seen things so clean and felt the availability of time. Time is one of our most precious commodities and we are now finding ourselves looking for ways to fill our time at home. Every day, I see someone offering a free course, video series, workbook, workout, etc… to share with the millions of people who are now stuck at home.

As a solopreneuer, this has been my way of life since I quit my job in 2014. Many of my fellow entrepreneur friends are also finding themselves plugging along at business as usual. However, for many of you, you can’t go into work, your children are now at home and you may even have to figure out how to homeschool! All these changes can be discombobulating. However, it doesn’t have to feel frantic and scary. There is a time every day that you can choose to set yourself up for success and that is: MORNINGS!

Morning Routines are the perfect way to take some time to create a map of how you’d like your ideal day to be. Taking as little as 15 minutes each morning to ground and center yourself can create a dramatic shift in how you enter each day.

There are several opinion, books and ideas for how to create an effective morning routine. My top advice is to find the things that are non-negotiable to YOU because you are the one that has to commit to it. I’ve started so many routines/journals/practices in the past and in time, I have created one that works for me, one that I look forward to and feel off if I don’t complete. This is how I know I will do it.

When it comes to Morning Routines, find what works for you, let go of the rest!

The most successful people have routines, systems and processes they follow. Focused intention creates desired results. In a time of such uncertainty, you can create certainty in your daily life by creating a routine to set you up for personal success. Mornings are a time of grounding, renewal and solace. 

With so many options available for creating routines, I thought I’d share a few suggestions to help you create a routine that works well for you:

1. Go to bed and wake up at the same time consistently: When we create a sleep and wake schedule, we are more apt to having time for our morning routine
2. Keep your phone away: Don’t consume the thoughts of others before you give your brain a chance to center and calibrate for the day. Start your day with your soul, not the opinions of others.
3. Mindfulness: Meditation and prayer are mindful ways to start your day. Take some time to center yourself through breath and offer prayers of gratitude for the day ahead.
4. Intentional Goals: Create a list of 3 things you would like to accomplish each day. Make them  your top priorities. When we create a long list of “to-dos” we can get caught up deciding what to do. Highlight or write out the top 3 and start there. If you have more time to complete more, that’s a bonus!
5. Create a Schedule: Schedule out your day, making sure there is time for your top 3 intentional goals. This way you can make sure they have a time slot to be completed. When we schedule things, they are more likely to get done.
6. Oracle Cards: This is one of my favorite things to help me find inspiration in the morning. Pull one or a few. Ask a question. Place one in a place you can see to keep you inspired throughout the day.
7. Journal: This is a wonderful way to get all the thoughts that are swirling about on paper. Its amazing how clarity can come from writing things out. If there is something you’re processing, it may take a few days or weeks to journal through, but there is a catharsis that comes from writing it out!

These are just a few things you can do to create an intentional morning. If you are a coffee or tea drinker, I suggest tying your morning routine to this habit to make it more successful. When we tie a new habit to an existing one it catches on quicker.

I’d love to hear how your mornings are going and if you need any further support during this time. please let me know. I understand the uncertainty can be unraveling, and yet it is creating the space we all need. Look forward with hopeful anticipation for what’s next.

Great things can be born out of chaos. Better things are born through intention.