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Do you want to know the not-so-secret philosophy of high achievers?
They really make every hour, every minute count.
And you can too—starting with the morning. Getting your day started off on a productive foot positions you to score further wins throughout the day. And even if your afternoon does go to pot, you’ll already have gotten some accomplishments under your belt.
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Here are a few things you can start doing to make each morning meaningful.
Making Your Mornings Meaningful
- Divide your day. Whenever possible, push meetings and administrative stuff to the afternoon. Make those tasks what the back half of your day is about. Make the front half about doing creative work and completing projects—with a list of goals you want to accomplish before noon each day.
- Take some time for you. It’s important to leave a little bit of time in the morning to cultivate a positive mindset—even if that’s just five minutes you spend meditating, reading, or enjoying a hot shower before you head to the office.
- Eat a good breakfast. Make time for this! Get some nutrition and some energy for the day. I recommend fruits, lean protein, and of course some coffee! A muffin does not count as a nutritious breakfast, and neither does a little container of yogurt!
- Get a jump. One way you can get more done? Get to the office early—even if it’s just half an hour early—to start knocking out assignments before you are inundated by calls, emails, and other people in proximity.
- Have a list ready. Before you leave the office each afternoon, pause to make the next morning’s to-do list. Then, review that list as you start your day. Make sure you’re being proactive, not merely reactive to whatever the day throws at you.
- Use your commute. As you head into the office, listen to a podcast that expands your mind and keeps you current. Or, if you’d like to use that time to recharge your batteries, consider getting into audiobooks.
- Sweat. Exercise is so critical for generating energy that will carry you through the rest of the day. Take some time to get up and get moving, even if it’s something as simple as a brisk walk around your neighborhood.
Those are some of my suggestions for starting the day off right—what are yours?
