Journaling and watering plants are great examples of consistent, easy morning routines.

Ever wake up with complete anxiety about the 1,742 things you have to accomplish?

Ugh. I feel you. When you’re a business owner, the lights don’t turn off in the evening and turn on after coffee. But they (sort of) should.

I’m an advocate of jotting down ideas or solutions whenever they come to mind, BUT, if you start your day in a mess, you’ll likely stay in it for the rest of the day. And that kind of anxiety ruins everything.

Disorganized panic kills productivity and robs you of your opportunity to really serve your customers.

The alternative? Start your day with a morning routine.

Peace, hope, energy, and a little control will set the tone for slashing through your to-do list with confidence.

My morning routine saves the day, every day.

And when I say “routine”, I don’t mean something done by rote, but with intention. Here’s what works for me:

  • 5:00 AM: Wake up + juice + comfy chair for quiet time. < Peach and Hope
  • 5:45 AM: Make up bed. < Peace and Energy
  • 5:50 AM: Throw on workout clothes + do a 30-minute something. < Energy
  • 6:30 AM: Brisk walk in the park. < Peace and Energy
  • 7:15 AM: Get ready (shower, dress, maybe hair/makeup) + breakfast. < Energy

All of that equals a little control over my day, and sets me up for success. 

Now, let me be clear. My routine didn’t always look like this! If you have a young family, your routine might be significantly shorter. But some personal time (maybe a 10-minute walk with the dog, a spoonful of peanut butter, and some prayer by yourself) before work is essential. 

Here’s my bonus secret: 

I plan out my week on Sunday afternoons, starting with a bird’s eye view, in my old-school, analog planner (anyone else like to actually write things down?). Then, I then update my digital calendar accordingly. I also keep a running to-do list on my phone, which I consult every Sunday before sketching out my weekly schedule.

When Monday comes, I’m never running through my to-do list when I’m centering my thoughts.

Look, families are busy. Curveballs are thrown daily (multiple times a day). And sometimes we look up at the clock and the whole day is gone out the window!

In business and in life, that’s just normal. And it’s here to stay.

The trick is to combat frenzy with the right mindset and a plan for attack. You may not get it all done in a day, but you can get a lot done in a better mood. 

Mindset is everything. And it starts in the morning!

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XO,
Teresa White