Win the Day.
With every sunrise comes opportunity. Each day is a figurative clean slate -- another chance at getting it right and moving the ball closer to the goal line. Regardless of what happened yesterday, we have the chance to start anew each morning.
And the morning sets the tone for the entire day. You own the morning, you win the day. The happiest, healthiest, and most successful people know this. They embrace it, and they use it to their advantage. They build morning rituals to establish the foundation for the day.
Here are 6 things they do differently -- and consistently.
Gratitude. When you begin the morning with joy and love in your heart and mind, it changes the whole shape of your day -- and you. Practicing small acts of gratitude increases resilience, improves mood and feelings of well-being, increases energy levels, improves self-confidence, and much more. Consider how fortunate you are and count your blessings -- every morning.
Begin anew. It’s a brand new day, baby. That’s exciting. Today is a new opportunity for learning, success, happiness, and adventure. Embrace it. Live for the now. Not yesterday. Not for tomorrow. Not for someone else’s life. Be in the moment. Be in YOUR moment. Make the most of it.
Move it. Morning may not be the ideal time for an intense workout, but the happiest, healthiest people incorporate some sort of movement practice or light exercise in the morning. This gets the blood flowing and helps wake up the body and mind. It also creates positive momentum for healthy behaviors through the day. As an added bonus, get outside in natural light to help boost mood and energy levels while establishing optimal circadian rhythms.
Read something positive. Whether it’s scripture, a motivational quote, or an inspirational book, happy people take time to incorporate some positive, inspiring reading in their morning. It helps start the morning off on the right note and gets the productive juices flowing.
Morning routine. The morning is about building momentum, and there’s no better way to do that than with a routine. A routine not only builds momentum -- helping you feel in control and owning the day -- it also helps reduce the number of decisions you have to make. That means saving that brain power for things that matter.
Start with what’s most important. We’ve talked about priorities before, and the most successful people know that they have to schedule the most important to-do to come first -- before emails, phone calls, meetings, and chaos sets in. Be proactive instead of reactive by setting aside time to focus on what counts first.