7 IDEAS FOR A PRODUCTIVE MORNING ROUTINE
Mind over mattress. What am I doing today that will get me
closer to where I want to be tomorrow? Your daily disciplines determine your
destiny. We can aim to do big things sporadically or we can aim to be
consistent daily. AW Tozer said, “Let us believe God is in all of our simple
deeds and learn to find Him there.”
Forbes in their article, 5
Things Super Successful People Do Before 8 AM, states “early rising is a
common trait found in many CEOs, government officials, and other influential
people.” The Lord began to speak to me about waking up with productivity and
going to sleep with gratitude. So, I took the first 21 days in August to commit to an ideal
morning routine. That looks different for all of us, but here's what I tried:
1.)
Exercise
For me that simply looked like taking my dogs out for a 20 minute walk as soon as I wake up. It’s the whole 2 birds, 1 stone idea – they need to use the restroom every morning and I need to exercise every morning. On rainy days or when I was feeling super productive after my walk, I’d sometimes do a Jillian Michael’s DVD or YouTube one of my fav fitness instructors (Alexia Clark is a boss). Just get your blood pumpin!
For me that simply looked like taking my dogs out for a 20 minute walk as soon as I wake up. It’s the whole 2 birds, 1 stone idea – they need to use the restroom every morning and I need to exercise every morning. On rainy days or when I was feeling super productive after my walk, I’d sometimes do a Jillian Michael’s DVD or YouTube one of my fav fitness instructors (Alexia Clark is a boss). Just get your blood pumpin!
2.)
Make My Bed
Seems simple enough, but it takes consistency and intentionality. There’s something thoroughly refreshing and rewarding about making your bed. It helps you to accomplish something at the outset of your day. Make your mornings top heavy, which is to say, start knocking things off your checklist ASAP. Don’t put things off till the afternoon. What you can accomplish in the morning, do it. Your evening routine is much more susceptible to instability than your mornings. For the 21 days I tried to get all of these things finished by 8am, didn’t always happen, but that was the goal. I’ve heard it said try to wake up at least 2 hours before you need to leave for the day.
Seems simple enough, but it takes consistency and intentionality. There’s something thoroughly refreshing and rewarding about making your bed. It helps you to accomplish something at the outset of your day. Make your mornings top heavy, which is to say, start knocking things off your checklist ASAP. Don’t put things off till the afternoon. What you can accomplish in the morning, do it. Your evening routine is much more susceptible to instability than your mornings. For the 21 days I tried to get all of these things finished by 8am, didn’t always happen, but that was the goal. I’ve heard it said try to wake up at least 2 hours before you need to leave for the day.
3.)
Read
Leaders are readers. Period. Never stop learning. Find something that interests you and immerse yourself in it. Spending time on yourself is not selfish. It helps you to be a better, more productive person for those you love. I started reading a chapter a day in a New Testament book. Make yourself jot down some notes. Reading the Bible can often be intimidating and overwhelming (I hope to write a future blog on some study guides/commentaries/tools I use). To keep myself accountable for the 21 days, I’d screenshot what I was reading and make some highlights and notes and post to social media. Helps me and who knows, maybe it could help someone else.
Leaders are readers. Period. Never stop learning. Find something that interests you and immerse yourself in it. Spending time on yourself is not selfish. It helps you to be a better, more productive person for those you love. I started reading a chapter a day in a New Testament book. Make yourself jot down some notes. Reading the Bible can often be intimidating and overwhelming (I hope to write a future blog on some study guides/commentaries/tools I use). To keep myself accountable for the 21 days, I’d screenshot what I was reading and make some highlights and notes and post to social media. Helps me and who knows, maybe it could help someone else.
4.)
Pray
The Bible says we can come “boldly to the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). Prayer is where we can get out our junk. Prayer is where we can meet with God. Prayer is where we speak to Him and He inclines His ear to us. Prayer is a conversation. Praying in the Spirit is such a powerful tool to exercise your spiritual authority and helps to build yourself up (Jude 1:20). Starting your morning off with prayer helps to remind yourself that God is with you. You are favored. Your steps are ordered and Jesus Himself is making intercession for you. Sounds like the start of a good day to me.
The Bible says we can come “boldly to the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). Prayer is where we can get out our junk. Prayer is where we can meet with God. Prayer is where we speak to Him and He inclines His ear to us. Prayer is a conversation. Praying in the Spirit is such a powerful tool to exercise your spiritual authority and helps to build yourself up (Jude 1:20). Starting your morning off with prayer helps to remind yourself that God is with you. You are favored. Your steps are ordered and Jesus Himself is making intercession for you. Sounds like the start of a good day to me.
5.)
Eat Breakfast
This one was a game changer for me over the 21 day period. I have never really been much of a breakfast eater, which isn’t a good thing. I just have never been the biggest fan. I don’t like cold stuff necessarily. Cereal gets boring. I don’t like breakfast bars. I don’t always have time to wake up and make a gourmet meal with eggs, toast, bacon, etc. So I learned to find what works for me. Smoothies, oatmeal with fruit, breakfast tacos when I’m doing good on time and pigs in the blankie. Oh I love me some little pigs in the blankie.
This one was a game changer for me over the 21 day period. I have never really been much of a breakfast eater, which isn’t a good thing. I just have never been the biggest fan. I don’t like cold stuff necessarily. Cereal gets boring. I don’t like breakfast bars. I don’t always have time to wake up and make a gourmet meal with eggs, toast, bacon, etc. So I learned to find what works for me. Smoothies, oatmeal with fruit, breakfast tacos when I’m doing good on time and pigs in the blankie. Oh I love me some little pigs in the blankie.
6.)
Listen to a Faith-Filled Message
I’ve been doing this one for a while and do not intend on stopping anytime soon. Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes by hearing.” When you listen to a faith filled message, you are being built up in your faith. Takes me about 30 minutes to get ready and most sermons are about 30 minutes. Every week I love to hear from some of my favorite preachers and communicators: Judah Smith, Levi Lusko, Carl Lentz, Robert Morris. Other times, I’ll listen to a TedTalk or motivational video on something I find interesting.
I’ve been doing this one for a while and do not intend on stopping anytime soon. Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes by hearing.” When you listen to a faith filled message, you are being built up in your faith. Takes me about 30 minutes to get ready and most sermons are about 30 minutes. Every week I love to hear from some of my favorite preachers and communicators: Judah Smith, Levi Lusko, Carl Lentz, Robert Morris. Other times, I’ll listen to a TedTalk or motivational video on something I find interesting.
7.)
Review Dreams & Goals
Huffington Post says, “you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams, simply by writing them down on a regular basis.” When your goals are specific, it helps you keep focus and aids in helping your dreams become an actual reality. Learn the art of having a vision board. Take one of your days off and just dream. Dream Big! Google pictures, cut stuff out of magazines, use article excerpts and get that stuff up in front of you on a daily basis. Pay off student loans. Get a new car. Start that website. Go on that trip. “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us…” (Eph. 3:20 MSG). One of my fav inspirational teachers Terri Savelle Foy has a great Dreams & Goals app you can get on your phone to upload some of your goals and keep them right at your fingertips daily.
Huffington Post says, “you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams, simply by writing them down on a regular basis.” When your goals are specific, it helps you keep focus and aids in helping your dreams become an actual reality. Learn the art of having a vision board. Take one of your days off and just dream. Dream Big! Google pictures, cut stuff out of magazines, use article excerpts and get that stuff up in front of you on a daily basis. Pay off student loans. Get a new car. Start that website. Go on that trip. “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us…” (Eph. 3:20 MSG). One of my fav inspirational teachers Terri Savelle Foy has a great Dreams & Goals app you can get on your phone to upload some of your goals and keep them right at your fingertips daily.
Until next time,
Rachel
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