This month we’re talking about planning – and planning for the short-term is equally as important as having longer term visions. By short-term we mean planning for today – right here and now, making the next 24 hours count towards the long haul.
In your plans for the day we recommend you cover off all the basics:
- Sleep
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Time with your friends and family
- Time for yourself
- as well as having a list of things you need to achieve for your business.
Without the basics you won’t function anywhere near as well as you could or should. Make time for good food to fuel your energy levels, enjoy some relaxation and keep your to-do list achievable. This all begins with your morning routine, which, ironically is best planned for the night before.
Take some time to understand how the next day looks. Write down what you need to do and when so you can keep a check on your achievements. But really think about setting the scene for a good day. What does that look like to you?
Think about the things you must do during your day and when is your optimum time for each one? Some people enjoy a quiet start to their day – it might include a dog walk, a reflective cup of tea in the garden, journaling. You might factor in a hearty breakfast or you could prefer to eat lighter, a little later. What suits you? What makes you feel good?
The Miracle Morning is a well-known book by Hal Elrod. He cites the best morning routine is a mix of six essential habits (SAVERS is a good way to remember these):
- Silence
- Affirmations
- Visualisation
- Exercise
- Reading
- Scribing
He says anyone has time for this, even if you do just five minutes for each one and set aside 30 minutes in your morning to achieve them. It’s worth a read if you need some motivation.
Most people get up in the morning and follow a similar routine. Is it time to break yours in some way so you get more from your day? Does your routine create all the opportunities you need to create the perfect platform from which to do great things? Do you need to sit down and take a good look at what you could do better that would serve you, your family and business? Remember that habits do take time so stick with anything that feels right.
Think about the TIME you get up – does this work for you? Sleep apps are designed to wake you up when you are at the most responsive, lighter cycle of your sleep. We can vouch for these!
What do you DRINK first thing? What suits your digestion? In whichever form you prefer, with and without additions, water is almost always the best option.
Do you like to START the day with exercise and a shower? Or do you prefer to save the exercise until after work? What suits you?
What are you EATING today? If you’re out and about do you have the right food for the day head? If not, sort that out the night before. Don’t let a lack of planning sabotage any healthy eating intentions.
What are the ACTIONS you have to get through today? Do you have what you need to achieve all you plan to? If not, how can you adjust your workload or get additional help? Decide which are vital, which would be useful and which ones just aren’t important.
Whatever you do each morning you should aim to feel energised, refreshed and in the right frame of mind for a rewarding day ahead. We can help with all of this and make sure you are starting your day properly. Talk to us and we can plan together.
