Do you begin your day setting yourself up for success?

Do you ever have days where you are left wondering what happened? Perhaps you felt like you got out of the wrong side of the bed and the day just spiralled from there?

The key to having a good day is to set yourself up for success from the start. Your morning routine begins as soon as your alarm goes off. In this article I'll discuss some tips for creating a morning routine that works for you and your family.

Since working closely with clients for the last few years, I hear a lot about morning routines and how people put barriers up that stop them from following through on creating and maintaining a routine. Here are some key reasons why people don’t follow through:

1. They aren’t clear on what their morning routine looks like, it isn’t written down, they like the idea of having one, but it is all a bit fluffy and vague;

2. Their inner voice gets in the way and starts saying things to them that makes them want to stay in bed;

3. A working routine takes discipline; this is a muscle we all have to develop and strengthen over time.

One thing I do know is that all successful people do have morning routines. Why is this? Highly successful people have a morning routine because they know it helps them feel less stressed, they are a lot more productive, and they are happier overall throughout their day. They also have the self-worth and the knowledge that their personal priorities are important. When they are clear on what these are, they can get to work on making them happen.

The advantages of waking up early:

• Typically, people who wake up early are more disciplined. They make and maintain schedules, work harder and smarter. Waking up because you have to is different to waking up because you want to. Finding reasons to wake up because you want to, and doing this consistently, will create discipline.

• People who wake up early feel more in control of their lives, which makes them more confident. They get used to pushing outside of their comfort zone.

• An early start gives you the time to think matters over and not rush into making hasty decisions.

• People who wake up early feel less stressed and generally experience less anxiety. They aren’t rushing around as soon as the alarm sounds, constantly on the back foot.

• Creating a sleep routine with consistent bedtimes and wake times leads to better sleep quality as your body gets used to it over time.

Some tips to create a morning routine:

• Think about a routine that is going to work for you. You want a routine to act as a warm up to the day, it doesn’t have to be overly ambitious, complex or onerous.

• Add something that inspires you to your morning routine. For example, build in some time to listen to a podcast, practice meditation or gratitude, write a to do list to help plan out your day, or include something else that motivates you.

• Create a routine that can be completed anywhere. If you travel for work, or you go on a holiday you don’t want a routine you can’t do away from home as that provides an excuse not to do it. Building consistent habits is what creates discipline and routine.

• Give yourself one whole hour to spend on you. If you are first filling your own cup, you are better prepared to go out into the world and serve others.

Now is the perfect time to begin setting yourself up with an achievable morning routine that paves the way for a successful day.

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Stacey Adams is an Ignite mentor who helps people to realise who they are and what they can achieve when they set their mind to it. If now is the time to talk with an expert like Stacey, explore Ignite's individual support subscription options or ask your employer to consider employee subscriptions for your workplace.

Contact hello@ignite.org.nz to find out more.