It’s no secret that how you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. If you wake up late, race to get out the door (or into your home office), your whole day can feel like you’re being rushed. We can all do better!
I realized that the difference in my mornings started with an intentional evening. When I worked in corporate America, having my clothes laid out and lunch prepared the night before made a huge difference. I wasn’t scrambling trying to figure out what to wear and didn’t have to spend money on lunch because I left it on the counter.
Creating a morning routine took some time; I simply had to figure out what worked best for me. I have been working strictly from home for almost four years now. It’s even more important for me to establish a routine that keeps my head in the game.
Productivity coaches suggest that daily habits can be an indicator of increased productivity and achievement. There are varied ideas on the types of daily habits to include, but I thought I would share some of my mine to help you develop your own.
Prayer
Before anything happens for me in the mornings, I have to start with prayer. About a year ago, I installed the Bible app on my iPhone. Many of you already use this app and know it is quite convenient. I read the daily bible verse, and take advantage of the reading plans. You can find a reading plan on just about any subject you can think of. It keeps track of your activity which helps build a strong habit.
I find daily devotionals to be good as well. Then, I can go back later on in the evening and study the scripture. Again, once you develop a habit with this each day, it will build your confidence and give you something to look forward to.
Motivation Apps
One of the things I have come to really enjoy are apps. They are easy and convenient, and packed with a lot of gems to keep me pushing all day. I love the Shine app but there are a ton of them out there, including Daily Quote and Sanity & Self. I have the free version of Shine which gives you access to relevant articles each day, as well as check-in journal. The premium version is $5.99/month which offers guided meditations, challenges, and more.
Podcasts
I think I can safely say that I am a podcast junkie. I started really getting into them, once I began working from home. There is a podcast for everything, so you are sure to find something of interest. One that I listen to daily is "The Slowdown" with Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. In five minutes, she gives an interesting story and then reads a poem related to that story. Her voice is unlike any other and I enjoy listening to poetry.
Other favorites are Switch, Pivot or Quit with Ahyiana Angel, Yes, Girl, The Read, Side Hustle Pro, and Redefining Wealth. These podcasts help get my entrepreneur life right, my money tight, and my laugh on!
Journaling
The fact that I am obsessed with journals is an understatement. It’s something about writing your thoughts down that is cathartic. Also, when writing down goals and plans, it helps to maintain self-accountability. I spend some time each morning just writing down what I am grateful for or a “note to self” reminding me that I am okay.