A couple of weeks ago, we had my Tame Your Task List Jumpstart challenge. It was SO GOOD! I would highly recommend if you missed it, you take advantage the next time I offer it. Truly, the paring down of the task list AND getting everything integrated with your calendar are GAME CHANGERS that could shift everything in your business. The challenge used to be 5 days, and I did some training on your morning routine. Since I moved it to 3 days, that part was removed, and I’m including it in this newsletter. You’re Welcome. LOL.
Many of you have a morning routine that may include walking the dog, meditating, exercising, and drinking your coffee/tea. But are you going beyond the routine? Remember, a routine is what you do without thought or intention. That means you may not be mindful of what you’re doing—you’re just doing it because it’s what you do. Instead, what if you become mindful of what you’re doing, add in something regarding your DAY and your business, and become INTENTIONAL? How much could change for you?
If you’re not setting up your day in the morning, chances are that you are going through the day putting out fires, looking at what’s next, and trying to be ready for that in a matter of a few minutes or even seconds. How different could it be if you had a PLAN for what the day would look like?
Try these three things to switch up your morning:
1. Make looking at your day part of your morning routine.
Do this by attaching this preview of your day to something you already do. Maybe it’s while you’re drinking your coffee (instead of scrolling….), or it’s when you finish meditating, or when you get in from walking the dog before you shower. Think about where you could add this to another habit you already have. Looking at your day means you know how busy you are, what appointments you have, and how much time you have in between—and even planning when you’ll eat lunch and take breaks.
2. Write your task list.
I make a list of things that are on my mind and then highlight what MUST GET DONE today. These things are my Big Three. If I have looked at my day (as in number 1 above) and it’s a jam-packed day, I may have only one. The question to ask yourself to make this decision is to say, “If I did nothing else on this list today, what would move me forward or help me meet a deadline or goal?” When posing this question and answering it honestly, you’ll come up with your Big Three (or Big One) for the day. If you have not done so yet, I recommend grabbing my Daily Productivity Planner to help you with this process.
3. Finally, put your Big Three (or Big Two or Big One) ON THE CALENDAR!
In step one, you reviewed what your day was going to be like. Now it’s time to get intentional. If you don’t get this thing (or things) on the calendar, you could easily end up in a loop of procrastination and crisis. It’s now the third week of February, and this newsletter was supposed to be done the first week. Guess what? I didn’t put it on the calendar to get done, so it didn’t. I’m not perfect, but my lessons get passed onto you!
I’m hoping this helps you do not only the things that bring you peace and get you going in the morning, but also get your head around what your business looks like for the day so you can feel in control and attack it with excitement and a place of calm.
I also know that there are a lot of business owners out there who don’t want to have a plan or be tied to a calendar. Let me tell you this: FREEDOM IS IN THE PLAN. If you want more freedom and time for yourself and the things and people you love, you must plan. If you want your business to grow and not stagnate, you must plan. If you want to not walk around with your hair on fire in a state of overwhelm, you must plan.
To go a little deeper on the subject of morning routines, here’s an article I found that helps meet you where you are. It does talk about intentions, but remember, let’s also get intentional!