So, you’ve made a decision to create your morning routine, maybe even signed up for my course The Entrepreneur’s Success Routine for Growth and Productivity.
You got motivated, woke up early a few days, but couldn’t stick to it. Or, you just thought about doing your morning routine, but haven’t been able to do anything at all.
I know how it goes. I can’t even count how many times I’d get so motivated to start a new project and not even halfway through, just completely abandon the idea. Why is it so easy to lose that drive and motivation? Worst yet, why is it such a challenge to even gain momentum and just DO it? We all have our excuses. The top 5 common excuses are:
1. It’s hard to wake up early.
2. I never get a good night’s sleep.
3. I don’t have enough time!
4. I’m not motivated.
5. I’m lazy. Maybe I’ll try next week.
There are hacks to combat hitting the snooze button and not being able to wake up early. And when clients tell me they don't have time, it's usually because they don't prioritize and make time. Have you ever gone outside the house naked because you didn't have time to pick out an outfit and get dressed?
As for the lack of motivation and laziness, most people believe they need to have motivation before taking action. That's a backwards way of thinking, though. Consistent actions are the seeds to motivation and when you begin to see results, those seeds blossom into full-on motivation and inspiration that keep you going.
Oh, and what about the ways you might waste time and energy every day? Things like:
Overextending yourself for others
Keeping busy by doing things that aren’t that importation
Overthinking and over analyzing
Setting your expectations so high that when you don’t meet them, you give up and criticize yourself
All of those energy-sucking habits have a counteraction. Just think about all the missed opportunities, regrets, feelings of guilt and harsh criticism you place upon yourself when you can’t get yourself to do anything productive. Why would you choose that over action and progress?
Write down all of your excuses, reasons and obstacles that prevent you from doing your morning routine, or any action that you haven't been able to do. Also, incorporate some flexibility. Your routine doesn’t have to get done all in the morning. Maybe 10-20 minutes in the morning and 10-20 minutes in the evening works better for you. Map out a plan that works for you. Make a list of all the reasons you can’t stay consistent and think of one action that can overrule each of your excuses.
You need a solid plan to negate the effects of bad habits that consistently set you up for failure. Tackle each cause for procrastination and inaction with a positive action. It’s like if you know you’re about to come down with a cold or a sore throat, you can load up on Vitamin C and nutrients, maybe drink tea or get more rest to build up your immune system and prevent sickness. Similarly, you can take that same approach when it comes to your weaknesses that keep you stuck. Build up a line of defense against your bad habits by doing actions that can reduce your chances of procrastination and failure.
If you don’t know by now how much your life can change from waking up early and having an intentional morning routine, you need to start now! Seriously – it’s a huge game changer. The routine I developed for myself has been a catalyst for so many major shifts in my life.
My personal routine takes about an hour or less. And the benefits are SO worth it! Let me tell you - the days that I decide to sleep in and not do a solid routine are the days that I later kick myself for not doing it. My energy is significantly lower and I don’t function optimally when I choose more sleep over my routine.
But, guess what? I failed at keeping my daily routine so many times before because I didn’t take the necessary steps to reduce my failure rate. I had to find a no-fail plan of action at night and in the morning so that my chances of waking up would be greater than me hitting snooze and going back to sleep.
How you start your day determines the effectiveness of your day. If you're the type to start your day off like the walking dead, doing a regular routine filled with non-productive actions and rushing to make it out of your home on time - how long does your energy and efficiency last during the day and into the night?
I know, it’s tough to create new habits and even harder to stick to it. Most of us set ourselves up for failure by doing too much too fast. Start small! You’re more likely to create momentum and lasting change by making small, incremental changes. Set yourself up to succeed starting today.
If you don't have a clue as to which actions make for the most productive morning, check out my course, The Entrepreneur’s Success Routine for Growth and Productivity to build a solid, energy-boosting morning routine.
For 5 quick tactics for the morning and night to increase your chances of having a productive start to your day, download your FREE guide now.