The way we begin our day, to a large extent, determines how well we end it. History is full of examples of ultra-successful people who achieved productivity by following a morning routine.
In a 2012 lecture at the Lagos Business School, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote shed some light on his morning routine. The president of the Dangote Group revealed that he starts his workdays at 5 am. Other successful people such as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and Michelle Obama believe that waking early and following a morning routine is key to being successful.
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Work from home – due to the lockdown – does not have to be the end of your productivity. In fact, it can be an opportunity to build more discipline, gain more insights into how you work, acquire more knowledge, work on your ideas, and finish up projects you’ve been procrastinating. This is because solitude provides you with more time and an environment free of distractions.
That is why following a morning routine is beneficial. It helps you set the tone for the day and allows you to control your schedule.
Below are five activities you can include in your morning routine. The order in which you carry out these activities depends on you. Experiment and see what works.
Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is an age-old practice that has become increasingly relevant in modern times. As you may already know, many successful people engage in some form of meditation as part of their morning routine. This is due to the numerous benefits it has shown to have, from improving focus to reducing stress and anxiety.
Mindfulness meditation is a simple exercise that requires you to observe your internal and external environment through concentration. Without judging them, you pay attention to the flow of your inner thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. You can also observe external sensations such as sounds, sights, and touch, as they come.
There is no specific duration of time to meditate. If you are a beginner, you can start with as little as five minutes and increase the time duration as you get more comfortable with the practice.
Journaling
Journaling is an effective way to get your thoughts on paper. Given the critical times, we are in, it can be helpful to write down your thoughts on a daily basis. Journaling is also a great way to gain valuable insights about yourself.
Through this simple exercise, you can record your ideas, realizations, progress, plans, lessons learned, and areas for improvement and growth. Keeping a daily journal also provides you with the opportunity to review all you’ve written in the past and see how much progress you’ve made.
Exercise
It’s no secret that physical exercise should be one of the first things you do in the morning. Alongside the benefit of making you healthy, exercise improves your alertness and readiness for a productive day ahead.
There are a good number of bodyweight exercises – beginners, intermediate, to advanced – you can do at home such as air squats, walking lunges, single-leg bridges, pull-ups, glute bridges, and planks among others.
Read A Book
Needless to say, reading is the best way to improve your mind.
It provides you with a wealth of knowledge that most people only acquire through experience. Thankfully, there is a book for virtually every aspect of your life. This is why you should get into the habit of reading by including it in your morning routine.
Start your day by reading inspiring books. It’s a great way to refresh and prepare your mind for the day ahead.
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Affirmations
Our daily thoughts and beliefs influence our minds to a large extent. Negative thoughts and beliefs lead to self-doubt and low confidence; positive thoughts energizes your mind and inspire you to take action even in uncertain situations. If you want to improve the quality of thoughts that enter your mind and rewire it for success, then take up affirmations.
Affirmations help you develop the right mindset to quickly become the person you need to be to achieve the things you want in life. One popular figure who was known for affirmations was Muhammad Ali. He affirmed the words “I am the greatest” repeatedly until he became the greatest boxer of all time. Other famous people from Oprah to Bill Gates have recommended affirmations as an important exercise to include in one’s morning routine.
Create your own affirmations according to what you want out of life, why you want it, your life purpose, and what you are committed to doing to create that life for yourself.
Conclusion
Due to distractions and family commitments, working from home might not be convenient for you. This is why it is your responsibility to plan your day, create a practical schedule, and tailor your morning routine in a way that suits you.
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