Set Your Intentions for the Day
We’ve spent several weeks talking about routines; what they are, why we need them, how to create them and how to have those routines build to be more effective and productive.
My favorite routine of the day is my morning routine. I wake up excited and ready and knowing exactly what I’m tackling in the first couple hours of being awake. It’s been a game changer in my life.
The thing I love most about my morning routine is that regardless of what happens in the rest of the day I can say I got through my list of non-negotiables. It's an immediate win to mark down. If the rest of the day is spent managing messes that were uncontrollable, unforeseen and completely out of left field I still have a list to look back on and say I accomplished something. And when the messes happen, and they will, I have already set my intentions for how I want to handle things.
That’s my goal for you with a solid morning routine. The first things I get done every morning are the self care things that make me a more energized, productive, hopeful person throughout the rest of the day.
My morning routine looks like this:
-Wake up
-Drink 20 ounces of water & take my vitamins
-Make breakfast and pack lunches for the kids
-Gratitude, devotion and quick to-do list
-Grab my pre-workout drink and have a little hype dance party (if you follow me on social you know I dance in my stories every day to harness a little pre workout excitement)
-Workout from my suite of workouts
-Shower
-Ready for the day
The morning routine is sprinkled with getting kids up and seeing them out the door, letting dogs in and out and feeding them and any other little items that might pop up that I’ve not planned for. Within my morning routine I’ve left some intentional space and time to a cranky kid, signing home work, a muddy dog, etc…. I promise if everything goes according to plan you will not regret having a few extra minutes to sip your coffee.
Now, here’s what’s important to note, this is my morning routine. That doesn’t mean it has to be your morning routine. The key is finding what non-negotiables you have in your life and plug them in where you know they will get done and you are able to do them with the least amount of stress.
Particularly for a morning routine you’re setting the tone for your day. You are waking up and easing yourself into the feeling you want to have, the goals you want to accomplish and the attitude and energy you want to carry with you for the entire day. (That doesn’t mean you can’t reset if things get sideways. Your morning routine should be something that helps you get out of bed and moving, not something you dread.)
There are many ways to structure a morning routine, and the specific activities you include can depend on your personal preferences and schedule. Here are a few ideas for activities that you might consider incorporating into your morning routine:
Wake up at a consistent time each day.
Make your bed.
Get dressed and groom yourself.
Eat a healthy breakfast.
Exercise or do some form of physical activity.
Plan out your day or review your schedule for the day.
Meditate or do some form of relaxation or mindfulness practice.
Set an intention or goal for the day.
Review your to-do list or tasks for the day.
Remember, the key to a successful morning routine is to find activities that work for you and help you feel energized and prepared for the day ahead. It's also important to be flexible and adjust your routine as needed.
Lastly, you are in charge of your feelings, how you set your intentions and how you will execute those feelings and intentions. Each new day is filled with opportunity. Don’t let yesterday’s emotions control a new day. Start your day in a way that is pleasing to you, prepares you for the hours to come and helps you feel accomplished and satisfied from the moment you get out of bed.
