7 Ways to Start Your Day Right

Courtesy of Vector Marketing

Do you know the secret to having a great day?

It begins the moment you wake up. That’s right, first thing in the morning.

Time and time again, I’ve noticed something. If I do not start my day right, there is a high chance that it will fritter away. Seconds, minutes and hours appear to tick by quickly while I barely accomplish a thing.

Eventually, I end up feeling unhappy, unaccomplished and stressed at the end of the day.

How shall we begin our mornings such that we can fill our days with energy, productive fulfillment and joy?

Here are some easy to remember morning rituals to start you off with.

Sleep Well the Night Before

By now, you would have read the numerous articles on the benefits of getting enough sleep.

Beyond recharging your energy stores and allowing your brain to sort itself out, a full 6 to 7 hours of sleep allows your body organs to cleanse and renew themselves.

Finally, sleeping well is the secret to a long and healthy life – well at least according to 116 year old Misao Okawa.

Plan and Schedule Your Day

Beyond getting adequate rest, you need to also schedule and plan your day.

Planning your day in advance not only helps you to be more systematic – it also paints a mental picture of what you’re going to do the next day. This will make it more likely that you’ll keep in track.

If you can’t schedule your days on a weekly basis, the least you could do is to slot in what you’ll do the next day on the night before.

Be Still, Meditate and Pray

Spending some quiet moments in the morning helps us to start with a clean slate. Practice meditation or calming breathing techniques, emptying your minds, and allowing peace and restfulness to permeate your soul.

If possible, devote time praying or reading the holy scriptures. Allow God to share His will in your life.

This is also a good time to reflect on the positive things which you have received. Begin the day with an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful for the manifold blessings you have received.

Do Some Light Exercise

Nothing gets the blood flowing like some light activity or movement in the morning. This could vary from Yoga to Qi Gong to a brisk walk or a light jog.

Even puttering around doing housework (preparing breakfast, getting the clothes ready) can be beneficial.

Personally, I do not over-exert myself in the morning, preferring to go for my long runs in the evenings. However, I am aware that this works wonders for many individuals who embrace a healthy morning rituals.

Give Yourself Adequate Time

I’m sure you’ve experienced how being late in the morning kinda screws everything else up. Rushing from activity to activity and point to point, you end up attracting negative thoughts and outcomes.

Somehow, Murphy’s Law becomes a lot more real when you’re hard pressed for time.

There are two ways to avoid this.

First, awake earlier in the morning (15 to 20 minutes if possible) so that you have enough time to do what you need to do. Enjoy a relaxing breakfast, with sufficient time to pick the right clothes, smarten yourself up, and stroll to the bus stop/train station/car.

Second, allow sufficient time between your appointments. Avoid over scheduling your calendar. Do not be too ambitious in trying to achieve a hundred different things in one day.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither will your business empire or jet-setting career.

Eat Breakfast with Your Loved Ones

Nothing beats a healthy, nutritious and filling breakfast with your family and loved ones in the morning. If possible, make it an unbreakable ritual that must be followed day after day.

While it is great for families to have dinner together, chances are that most people would be too tired or frazzled to have a productive communal dining experience after work or school.

Oh yes, it is also important to give each other a big hug and a kiss before sending each other off.

Hover Above Momentary Troubles

Inevitably, there will be days when the sh*t hits the fan. Your car refuses to start. You kid spilled jam on her freshly laundered school uniform. The train breaks down en route to your office.

What should you do when such things happen?

The key here is to restore your balance and calmness. Get back to normality as soon as possible.

Take a deep breath. In your mind, “cancel” the negative effects and “hover” above it as soon as you can. Once you’ve distanced yourself emotionally from the event, find ways to resolve it and do so in a dispassionate, matter-of-fact manner.

Are there other habits and rituals we can adopt to begin our days on the right footing? I’d love to read your thoughts.