The Rudder of your Day

February 27th, 2012

“By starting the day with love, I fill my day with calm and feel peace permeate my life”

I’ve been spending as much time as possible with my little guy Nicholas lately. I am happy to say he has always been huge priority in my life, but recently I have felt the pull to be with him even more. I think since my Mom passed away in the fall, I have looked even more critically at what is truly important in my life. The knowledge that you can have it all, just not all at the same time has been even more ever-present in my mind.

How do we know what we should focus on in any given day or at any given moment? It seems like each day is like a life unto itself. Just as a child’s well-being is so tied to proper guidance and direction during the formative years, our day’s productivity is tied to how we handle ourselves in the formative minutes of our day.

We must take time for ourselves at the start of our day. This time will enable us to center ourselves and channel our focus. By taking time to review our priorities and set a daily plan we will find our time is so much more productive. Increased productivity leaves far more time for you to spend connecting with and loving your family. My morning routine consists of the following activities that give me a peaceful start to the day.

Starting Your Day the Right Way

1) Upon awakening I lie in bed for a few minutes running through a mental list of all that I am grateful for. I do some simple stretches and take 5 deep breaths in and out

2) I hop on the stationary bike and do a quick 20 min. ride with intervals followed by a core stretching routine called movement prep

3) I meditate for 5 min.

4) I write out my top 10 goals. I don’t just read them I actually write them out. This has been shown to increase the likelihood of achieving them

5) I write down the top 5 things I want to accomplish on this day. The highest priority items. Whether this is crafting an email, doing some research, calling a contact or doing something with Nicholas. By establishing the top 5 for each day, you feel a sense of accomplishment for your day if you can just do those things. It also prevents the chance of your day being highjacked by someone else’s priorities.

I then get ready, eat a healthy breakfast and head into the day. This routine means I wake 90 minutes before I have to head out the door. It adds 45 minutes to the AM routine,but I feel so grounded and settled when I leave that it is so worth it.

Rather than rushing out the door, stressed and wondering what the day will hold. I have a plan and peace of mind. Don’t postpone your soul’s needs in favor of a crazy schedule.

This practice is truly empowering. How do you like to start your day? I would love to hear.