(By Mike)
1. Start With A Purpose
When you wake up in the morning, do you hit the snooze button 5 times? (I’m wildly guilty of this.) Or, do you wake up ready to rock and roll? Do you have a morning routine, or are you a zombie lucky to even take a shower without being late?
Beginning with a purpose sets the tone for the day. Develop a morning routine that works for you and stick with it. It won’t be easy at first, but over time you’ll begin to see the positive impact it will have on your productivity, mood, and energy.
Set three to five achievable goals for yourself each day, and don’t stop until you reach them. They don’t all need to be directly correlated to your work – but they do need to make you better than you were yesterday. For example:
- Call an old friend to check in.
- Find someone in need, and help them how you can.
- Pray for 5 people.
- Finish XYZ project at work.
- Help a coworker with something.
Set these goals in the morning – then check them off as you go about your day. You’ll achieve more, but most importantly, you’ll be adding value and giving love to those around you.
2. Find Time For Fitness
Do something active every day. You don’t need to have the gym routine of The Rock, but in order to stay healthy and be your best self, you need to stay in shape. Make time for your health and your body. Whether it be a morning run, an evening hike, lifting weights, or just going for a walk at lunch — find time to push yourself. Staying active improves both your mood and your productivity.
I try to run 3 miles 4 days per week and strength train 2 days per week. That’s what works for me. I have friends who lift weights 4 days per week and do 1 day of cardio each week. Whatever works for you, go for it. Just find time to do it!
3. Stick To A Schedule
I’m a bit of a free spirit at heart. I always thought I thrived in a flexible, fluid work environment. Then, I ended up in a career at a Fortune 100 Financial Firm that required I keep a strict calendar. I ended up finding that I was far more productive this way. When I scheduled my day, I didn’t need to worry about forgetting something or missing out. I could stay laser focused on key tasks, then have the rest of my day to do address what was most important.
I actually ended up with more free time because I was more productive while I was working. Try scheduling out your entire week and stick to it for a month. You’ll be glad you did! For example…
- 6am – Wake Up
- 6:05am – 6:15am – Read/Pray/Meditate
- 6:15 – 6:45am – Excercise
- 6:45 – 7am – Get Ready (Shower, Brush Teeth, Get Dressed, Etc.)
- 7 – 7:15am – Eat Breakfast
- 7:15 – 8am – Commute to work
- 8 – 8:30am – Prep for the Day
- you get the idea….
I color-coded my calendar to know what each time slot was. It works for me, so I can see what my day looks like with a quick glance at the calendar. Try it! You’ll be glad you did.
4. Feed Your Mind
Listen to podcasts, read books that enlighten and inspire you. Just as our bodies need food, our minds need proper nourishment. Make sure you’re learning something new every day and consuming content that makes you grow holistically. The more positive and challenging messages you consume, the better your thought life will be.
Here are a couple recommendations.
- The Jordan Harbinger Show – A fantastic podcast that challenges you to be better than you were yesterday. Each guest brings new perspective and actionable takeaways to optimize your life and self-improve.
- Everybody Always – A book I’m reading now by Bob Goff. This challenges us to become love to those around us. I adore his writing style – Bob is a master storyteller.
- How To Win Friends And Influence People – book by Dale Carnegie. A must-read for anybody that discusses… well… how to win friends and influence people.
5. Pour Into Others
Simple, yet challenging — because sometimes, people are hard to love. That said, seek to leave the people you come into contact with better than you found them. Be an encourager. Keep your focus by adding genuine value to others. This in turn takes the pressure off of yourself.
All Things Adulting 