“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
If there is one thing all successful people have in common, it’s having a morning ritual. From the Founding Fathers to fashion magazine editors-in-chief, people throughout history have sworn by morning routines practically regarded as sacrosanct observances.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then,
is not an act, but a habit.”
– Aristotle
In today’s society running on red bull, hashtags, and short attention spans, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily routines that train us to ignore instead of help us reflect.
We’ve compiled a list of the 8 rituals you can start tomorrow morning. Open your eyes to a brand new day and a brand new way of living.
Wake up early
This might seem obvious, but nobody ever achieved amazing goals sleeping in. “Early” is also relative — The Dalai Lama wakes up at 3am every morning. No matter what early means to you, set aside more time than you have now to achieve the things on this list and start your day out right.
“...founding a business comes with a lot of responsibility, and one of the most important things I can be is accessible. Getting up and at it early gives me time to get on top of things, and chart my day effectively.” - Richard Branson
Avoid social media/electronics
Wake up and start the day technology-free. It’s so easy to grab your phone groggy eyed and flip through Facebook, Instagram, and emails checking in on what everybody else is up to. But, the morning isn’t about everybody else; it’s about you.
“A big part of my morning ritual is about what I don’t do: when I wake up, I don’t start the day by looking at my smartphone. Instead, once I’m awake, I take a minute to breathe deeply, be grateful, and set my intention for the day.” - Arianna Huffington
Drink Water
Start the day off pure. Caffeine might be the go-to, but it can disrupt your sleep habits, create tolerance, and instigate unneeded adrenaline. The better alternative is water: it revs up your metabolism, replenishes fluids, and — surprisingly — wakes up your brain!
Meditate
Transcend the daily grind and meditate. Narrow your focus on the present so you can move forward. Research has shown meditation helps reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve concentration, among other benefits.
“Meditation can reintroduce you to the part that’s been missing.”
- Russell Simmons
Reflect
With the morning comes a clear mind, when you can reset your daily compass. Now is the time to reflect on your goals, visualize your actions, and indulge in some good old-fashioned positive thinking.
“‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do?’and if the answer is ‘no’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
- Steve Jobs
Workout
Besides being one of the best ways to stay healthy, it’s the first thing in the morning to physically accomplish something before your day has even started. If you change your perspective about working out from being an obligation to a chance to unwind your brain and enhance your body, then waking up early doesn’t sound so bad!
Spend time with loved ones
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, always eats breakfast and spends time with his wife in the morning. Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, wakes up at 4:30am to walk his dogs and work out. Before the stresses, the events, and the obligations get in the way of quality time, spend those precious morning moments with loved ones.
Make a lunch
Every morning Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest woman in America, packs a lunch to save money. Making a lunch also helps you avoid that last minute trip to the greasy drive-through at lunchtime, and that hasn’t done anyone any favors.
What are your morning rituals that are keeping you on your path to success?
Let us know and join the conversation on Facebook!