I raise my vibration each morning.
It’s the only part of the day I have to myself, to be honest. Anything beyond that is filled with team meetings, zoom calls, client deliverables, and life’s unexpected curveballs.
In my own little world, before 9 am, time moves in slow motion and I relish in every minute of it. Rarely do I ever flop out of bed and rush out the door. There’s usually a plan and structure in place before I allow the world into my personal space. That’s important to me and furthermore, it has been the one thing that has improved my mood, prevents any feelings of FOMO, and reduces my stress levels. When I was in the corporate world, I had a bad habit of checking emails and texts before I got out of bed. Knowing there was a laundry list of items and 5-alarm fires waiting for me to put out, I often felt like I lost the day before I even started. Immediately feeling like a deflated balloon, my feet touched the floor as I exhaled a long, drawn-out sigh and dragged myself into the office.
But, for the past two years (I quit my job in January 2019) my office has been either on the road or here at home. So I’ve had to pivot a bit and put more thought and intention into redesigning my morning routine.
Tim Ferriss wrote a book called Tools of Titans which details the tactics, routines, and habits of billionaires, icons, and world-class performers. It’s one of my favorite tools because it has a wealth of information and Tim has categorized it all into three key sections: Healthy, Wealthy, Wise. If you currently don’t have a morning routine or don’t truly understand why it’s important to structure the first few hours of your day, I suggest purchasing his book. Or perhaps cure your curiosity by heading over to Google. There are many science-backed benefits and great examples to learn from.
Doing my own research inspired me to create the change I wanted to see in my own life. Starting with planning and preparing the night before. I was an executive assistant for ten years, naturally, I am extremely organized which makes it easy to get very clear on what my daily and weekly to-do list looks like. Just like you, I also have a million and one things to complete at any given time, however, I absolutely refuse to overwhelm myself so I scale it down to ten tasks I know I can get done within a 24-hour period. And I begin with the difficult task first (I believe Brian Tracy refers to this as “eating the frog”).
So why ten?
I practice the ‘5 before 8’ rule. My close friends and I try to cross five things off our to-do list before eight in the morning. Many of us lean towards five self-care routines such as reading a chapter of a book, sitting by the window in the sun while drinking coffee, working out with a trainer, journaling, taking a long bath or shower, listening to music, eating a healthy breakfast, cleaning our bedroom or work area, meditating and breathwork – the list goes on. And then some of us lean towards sending important emails, touching base with staff members, taking an online course, and or anything else that gets us ahead in our business or corporate careers. The point is, I am in control of the five tasks and that is what makes me feel accomplished. 2020 hi-jacked my routine quite a bit, but I still make an effort to try my best. Sometimes eight in the morning is not the vibe so it may get pushed to nine. That’s ok! As long as I create time and space for the things that are important to me – uninterrupted – I’ve won the day.
Speaking about winning the day, I want to share some other tactics that have helped me make the most out of it. In my last post, I discussed vision boards and self-love affirmations, but I also want to talk about the importance of passwords. (Passwords?!) Yes. Think about how many passwords you use on a regular basis. From banking to email, to social media and cracking the code on your phone. Given the fact that I have so many, I use that as an opportunity to either remind myself of a task or reinforce a goal. For example, passwords I have used in the past include B@3caT!on, S@v3forc0uR$3, m!lli0nD0Ll@rY3aR, F33dth3d0G. Positive passwords can shift your mindset.
Small changes in your routine can mentally and physically change the game for you. I truly believe most people are not mentally conditioned for the goals they set for themselves which means the road ahead, oftentimes, is more challenging than it really needs to be. Fewer than 10 percent of people actually stick to their New Year’s resolutions for more than a few months and you are one of them, it’s an indication that a mindset shift needs to happen. What has helped me tremendously over the years is playing brain games to keep my mind sharp. I loved playing chess as a kid and still do. If chess isn’t your vibe then try lumosity which provides personalized brain training. Also check out Jim Kwik, a celebrity brain coach I was introduced to in 2019 and he is absolutely incredible. His methodology and training videos will help you to improve your brain function, your ability to retain information, and sharpen your memory. As a result of reading his books and listening to his talks, you’ll learn much faster.
In addition to mental exercise, I’ve also increased my physical activity. Mastery is the result of repetition and I’ve developed a weekly routine that pushes me (’cause ain’t nobody love working out). The goal isn’t to become skinny. I work out to develop mental toughness. My career as an entrepreneur requires me to solve complex problems and what’s been extremely helpful is doing some kind of endurance sport or movement before I actually sit down and spend the day critically thinking. Pushing yourself physically will help you break the mental and emotional barriers keeping you back elsewhere in your life. To sustain anything, especially a career as an entrepreneur, you need to be able to concentrate and maintain focus which is driven and improved by stimulating different parts of the brain through exercise.
Listen, having my shit together and keeping my shit together is the objective here and to wrap up my morning routine I always end it with reciting my goals outloud (… followed by dancing in my livingroom to music – which always lifts my spirits). Now, the reason I do this (and say it all with my chest) is because I affirm to myself daily what my vision is. It is far too easy to lose sight of your dream due to family obligations, our media diets and other distractions. Saying my goals outload and in a power pose is a friendly reminder to myself that every door and opportunity is open and available to me.
Goals should be specific, never basic. Here are some examples of my own.
“I own a multi-million dollar home in a gated community with my partner. It is in our budget and decorated professionally with manicured lawns, a pool, and a basketball court in the backyard. It is safely tucked away in a family-friendly community and a highly ranked school district. My partner and I also have optimal space to work and the perfect living space to raise our kids and entertain guests.”
“I am enrolled in the Women’s Leadership Program at Yale Business School. I am sitting amongst the top leaders and CEOs across North America and I am learning new skills, habits and routines that I will implement into my career and everyday life.”
“I am a part-time professor at a college or university in North America. I have been asked to bring my real-world expertise to the classroom in the areas of business management, business communications or social media marketing.”
“My body is a temple. I will not treat it like discarded trash. Intimacy comes in all forms and I will explore self-love routines and habits so long as I live. Self-assurance is my compass and I will make moral decisions based on past experiences and the hurt I never want to feel again.”
“I will always honor my feelings. No matter how uncomfortable or unsettling for me or the recipient of the information.”
I speak it into existence as if it has already happened and most importantly, I am very specific, never basic, with what I want for myself. This is a critical component in manifesting the life that you truly want. It all begins with mapping out your morning, the tone you set for the day and getting clear on your agenda. It will require effort – even during times you’re mentally exhausted and want to give up. It will not be easy by any means, but I challenge you to implement a habit, tactic or routine into the first part of your day because blessings have requirements and you cannot expect a championship ring if you never go to practice.