How can you be happier and more productive throughout the day?

It all starts with our mornings.

There’s nothing quite like that blaring alarm in the early morning. You hit snooze several times, but you just can’t seem to get out of bed. Maybe this is just me……My mind is groggy and all I want to do is go back to sleep. But I know I must face the day. I know I have to get a head start in front of the kids or my day is shot to hell. Maybe there’s a cup of coffee waiting…. With this type of morning mindset, all I am doing is conditioning myself for a “frenzied” day.

I got tired of getting beat in the mornings. It just set my day up for failure. I was letting the day dictate me and running in reaction mode all day. Before I knew it, the day was over, and I was glad to lay my head down on my pillow. But the problem was, I didn’t get anything of value done. It was just another day down without anything accomplished.

How we start our day is incredibly important. If we wake up and hit the ground running, stressed out and anxious, it’s going to be a long, tough day. On the other hand, if we start our day with a positive mindset, gratitude, and self-care, we’re going to have a much better day.

An incredible tool that I started using about a year ago is an App founded by Brendon Burchard called “GrowthDay”. This life changing app can be used on your desktop or phone. I absolutely love it and do not go a morning without it. There’s a section called the “Daily Fire” where Brendon comes on live every morning and gives a short personal development talk on a number of different topics. I love it and I am always taking notes like crazy! The app has a Journal, it has Journal prompts, it has life score trackers, there’s so much more.

What’s really amazing though are the speakers that come on live every Wednesday and depending on the plan you have; you have the ability to watch them at a later date. My favorites are Mel Robins, Glo Atanmo, Jenna Kutcher, Lisa Bilyeu, and so many more! It’s like having your own personal life coach any day you want! It’s definitely worth checking out–I would recommend it to everyone! If you do happen to sign up, I do get a small commission at no cost to you. But do check it out regardless! https://www.growthday.com/?via=7906u

In this blog post, we’re going to discuss more on how to create a morning mindset ritual that will help set the tone for a positive, successful day.

Are you waking up without any goals?

• It all starts with the night before. We need a good night’s sleep to function the next day. What happens if you don’t get enough sleep? We’re tired, our brain feels like mush, and we are irritable! Nobody wants that!
• The thing is, getting enough sleep should be the number one goal in having a productive day. Without it, we just don’t function the way we want or should.
• “If you woke up without a goal, go back to sleep.” Morning is the time of day when the world is new again, and anything seems possible. Unfortunately, far too many people wake up without any goals in mind.
• Let’s not waste another day waking up without any direction – start setting some goals and make each morning count.
• Start with these morning Practices for a positive successful day

Are you one step ahead?

• There’s something special about the morning hours. The world is still asleep and there’s a sense of calm and peace. For some, the morning is the most productive time of day. They use the quiet hours to get a jump start on the day ahead.
• If you’re looking to be one step ahead, the morning is the perfect time to start. Use the early hours to plan your day, set your priorities, and get things done.
• You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish before breakfast. So, if you’re looking to get ahead, make the most of the morning hours.

6 Essential practices to get you in the habit of having a productive day.

Tip 1: Wake up early and give yourself time to relax and focus.

Is it hard for you to wake up early? Listen, I get it, I have to force myself out of bed earlier than I would like. But surprisingly, the more you do it, the more it becomes a habit and the easier it gets. Even 30 minutes earlier than normal can make a huge difference in how your day starts. If you’re like most people, your day-to-day life is full of stress and anxiety. One of the best ways to combat this is to wake up early and give yourself some time to relax and focus. By getting up early, you can start your day off on the right foot and set the tone for the rest of the day. This is key to a Morning Practice for a positive successful day

Tip 2: Set your Intentions for the day.

Do you Set Intentions? Setting Intentions is one the most Powerful things you can do for yourself.

What exactly does it mean to “Set Intentions”? Let’s dive into what “Setting Intentions” is all about and why it’s so powerful.

Intentions are powerful things. They are what we focus on, what we put our energy towards. And so, how we set our intentions in the morning can have a big impact on the rest of our day.

Every morning, when you wake up, you have the opportunity to set your intentions for the day. Intentions are like setting the GPS for your day – they help you to focus on what you want to achieve. When you take the time to set intentions, you are more likely to achieve your goals, receive what you desire and create the day you want to experience.

There are a few things, however, that all good intentions have in common. First and foremost, they should be positive. Intentions should be something that we truly want to manifest in our lives. They should be clear and concise, and stated in the present tense. Here’s how to do it:

First, take a few deep breaths and clear your mind. You want to be in a state of calm and focus when you set your intentions.

Next, think about what you want to achieve today. What is your main goal? What are some smaller steps that will help you achieve that goal? How do you want to feel your day? What attitude and mindset do you want to experience today? Write them down if you can or just say them out loud or in your mind. An example of how I start my intentions is just by saying ” My Intentions for today are.……” and I speak them out loud if I can, or silently if I need to, and I end with “And So It Is, and Let it be so”. I can’t express enough how much of an impact this practice has made in my life!

Finally, take a moment to visualize yourself achieving those goals and desires. See yourself taking the actions necessary to reach your goals. Feel the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with achieving them.

By taking the time to set intentions every morning, you are aligning with your best self, and creating the life you desire!

Tip 3: Follow Your Daily Planner

Do you use a Daily Planner?

Why is using a planner important?

When you write something down, you are no longer just thinking about it – you are taking action. The simple act of putting your thoughts on paper increases the chances of them becoming reality.

It’s no secret that successful people use some sort of daily planner to organize their thoughts, schedule their time, and achieve their goals. But what many people don’t realize is just how powerful a daily planner can be. A good planner can help you to focus on your most important tasks, keep track of your progress, and set realistic goals. It can also help you to overcome procrastination, manage your time more effectively, and boost your productivity. In short, a daily planner is an incredibly powerful tool that can help you to transform your life. If you’re not using one already, I highly recommend that you give it a try. You may be surprised at just how much difference it makes.

The power lies in planning ahead. By taking just a few minutes each week to fill out your planner, you can set yourself up for success in the future. For me, Sunday evenings is when I find a quite few minutes and fill out my planner for the week ahead. By looking at your upcoming week and identifying your priorities, you can make sure that you’re always moving forward. Planning ahead also allows you to be more flexible when unexpected things come up. If something comes up that you didn’t plan for, you can quickly adapt your plan and still achieve your goals. The bottom line is that by filling out your planner one week ahead of time, you’ll be able to better manage your time, stay on track, and achieve your goals.

Tip 4: Start Your Day Off with Gratitude Journaling

If you had to write down 10 things you’re grateful for every day for a month could you do it? This task seems overwhelming. The logical mind is saying “What!” 10 things everyday for a month! 10 different things every day! That seems impossible!

I took this challenge while reading the book “The Magic” by Rhonda Byrne. The challenge was to write down 10 things you are grateful for and explain why you are grateful for them, for 28 consecutive days. The book is amazing. I have read it 3 times, over the past few years and this last time I read it, I decided that I wasn’t going stop the gratitude journaling after the 28 days. This time I was going to just continue on and see what happens. I decided to make it a permanent morning practice of mine.

At the time of this article, I am on day 118. I’m not telling you this to brag, but only to bear witness of what the mind is capable of. I would have never thought it was possible to list 10 things I am grateful for everyday for the past 118 days. I have it scheduled on my daily planner, and it has become a habit. As I stare at the blank page every day, I just let whatever comes to mind flow out on paper, and before I know it, 10 things come to my mind. It’s truly been a “Magical” practice.

Gratitude journaling is a great way to reflect on the positive things in your life, and it can have a powerful impact on your overall wellbeing. However, it can be difficult to find the time to sit down and write, especially if you’re already feeling overwhelmed or stressed. This is why doing it in the morning is more effective, before the day gets away from you. Life is always moving too fast, and it’s easy to forget to take a moment for yourself. But it’s important to remember that taking the time for gratitude journaling can be an invaluable investment in your health and happiness.

When you make the effort to sit down and reflect on the things you’re thankful for, you’re telling yourself that your happiness matters. You’re also giving yourself permission to slow down and appreciate the good things in your life, even in the midst of chaos. Taking a few minutes out of each morning to practice gratitude journaling can help you boost your mood, reduce stress, and live a more joyful life.

It’s had a powerful impact on my life. When I face any kind of adversity, I lean towards gratitude. There is always something to be grateful for in any given moment. The daily gratitude journaling practice has become a habit. It has given me the mindset and awareness to look for the good in everything! Life is a gift, a blessing, and when we focus on all the good around us instead of the junk we can live to our fullest potential.

I recently wrote a whole blog post on Gratitude and how it can boost your happiness. Check it out here: https://www.kimzspace.com/5-key-topics-how-gratitude-can-boost-your-happiness/

Tip 5: Immerse yourself in Inspirational Books, Podcast and Videos

What are you putting into your mind every morning? Are you on social media too much? This is a sensitive topic–we all love to scroll the feed to make sure we’re not missing anything important. I dug into some stats on how long the average person spends on social media and found that 147 minutes a day is about average. Thats almost 2.5 hours every day. 17.5 hours per week–70-75 hours per month– 912.5 hours per year!! Just think, if we could cut those number down to a fraction, how much more we could accomplish meaningful pursuits in our lives instead of wasting away on social media for so long.

Tip #5 is all about Immersing yourself in Inspiration, via books, podcast, speeches, videos. All of these things are readily available to us any time of day, thanks to the wonderful world of internet.

The definition of Immerse: “Involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest” If we really want to be more positive, have more success and just be happier then we must Immerse ourselves in things that Inspire us, things that speak to our soul. There’s no better way to do it than through Inspirational books, Podcasts, or videos on a regular basis.

It’s been proven that what we feed our minds has a profound impact on our lives. Inspirational books, podcast and videos have the power to change the way we think and feel, and ultimately shape the course of our lives. By filling our minds with positive, uplifting content, we can become happier, healthier and more successful people. Inspirational stories have the ability to motivate and encourage us when we’re facing challenges in our lives. They remind us that anything is possible if we set our minds to it. And they inspire us to keep reaching for our goals, even when the going gets tough.

When we make a habit of feeding our minds with inspirational content, we are setting ourselves up for a lifetime of success and happiness. Relatable stories and quotes from successful people can show you that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

Tip 6: Meditation Practice

Do you practice Meditation? This topic may be listed last; however, it is the more important.

Meditation is a powerful practice that can have a deep impact on your life. When you meditate, you focus your attention and quiet your mind, which allows you to connect with your innermost thoughts and feelings. This can be a deeply enriching experience, and it can help you to gain insights into yourself and the world around you. Regular meditation can help to increase your self-awareness and understanding of your thoughts and emotions.

Meditation can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, and it promotes feelings of calm and wellbeing. You see, scientific research has shown that meditation can have a positive impact on physical health, including reducing blood pressure, improving memory, helps with depression and improve sleep quality, just to name a few.

Meditation is quite easy to do. All you really need is a quiet setting. You can start with just a few minutes and work your way up to longer periods of time.

You can start with or without meditation music. There’s also guided meditation, which I really enjoy at times. Guided meditation is helpful for beginners, it helps to follow along with a trained meditation facilitator that will lead you through the meditation session.

Even though there are many different ways to meditate, the basic principle is to focus the mind on a single object or thought, without allowing it to wander. This can be done by focusing on the breath, or by repeating a mantra or affirmation. The key is to remain aware of the present moment, without getting caught up in thoughts about the past or future.

Follow these simple steps to start meditating. You can do this with or without meditation music. I find it helpful to set a timer for the length of time you feel comfortable with. If you’re looking for some great meditation music to help you get started here are a few of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0gPs51Hw4K0o-jK_2f_now

1. Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. You can be indoors or outdoors, as long as you’re in a quiet setting where you won’t be disturbed.

2. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Focus on your breath as you inhale and exhale slowly and evenly.

3. If your mind starts to wander, simply redirect your attention back to your breath. Try not to judge or focus on the thoughts that pop into your head, just let them come and go without attachment.

4. Continue meditating for as long as you like. When you’re finished, sit for a few moments with your eyes still closed before slowly opening them and getting up.

Meditating everyday will have a transformation effect on your life. It’s just one of those things you have to experience to fully understand. It’s life changing! It brings a calm, balanced, peace of mind to your life.

Conclusion

The morning is a critical time of day that sets the tone for the rest of your day. By following these six essential practices, you can set yourself up for a positive and successful day ahead.

• Wake up early and give yourself time to relax and focus. By getting up early, you can start your day off on the right foot and set the tone for the rest of the day.
• Set your intentions for the day. Intentions are powerful things. They are what we focus on, what we put our energy towards. And so, how we set our intentions in the morning can have a big impact on the rest of our day.
• Follow your daily planner. When you write something down, you are no longer just thinking about it – you are taking action. The simple act of putting your thoughts on paper increases the chances of them becoming reality.
• Start your day off with gratitude journaling. Gratitude journaling is a great way to reflect on the positive things in your life, and it can have a powerful impact on your overall wellbeing.
• Immerse yourself in inspirational books, podcasts, and videos. If we really want to be more positive, have more success and just be happier then we must Immerse ourselves in things that Inspire us, things that speak to our soul. There’s no better way to do it than through Inspirational books, Podcasts, or videos on a regular basis.
• Meditation practice can help to clear your mind and set a positive tone for the day ahead. When you meditate, you focus your attention and quiet your mind, which allows you to connect with your innermost thoughts and feelings. This can be a deeply enriching experience, and it can help you to gain insights into yourself and the world around you. Regular meditation can help to increase your self-awareness and understanding of your thoughts and emotions.

By following these simple steps, you can start your day off on the right foot and set yourself up for success. These Morning Practices for a positive successful day will help you in every way possible.

If you found this article to be helpful, I would love it if you would share it! Also, there’s a great freebie on my blog. Three worksheets to help conquer your day, with goal setting, daily planning, and fun colorful checklist.