Nobody likes waking up early in the morning (except, of course, for those very strange and quirky “morning people”), but morning motivation is what sets your day on the right path. Here’s why.
If you struggle with creativity, desire, ambition, or high-performance productivity, you probably need to schedule your morning more wisely.
Nothing worth remembering ever happens while you’re sitting on the couch or surfing the internet.
Morning motivation is the key, and here are 7 tips to shift yourself toward daily greatness.
1. Wake up earlier (no, even earlier than what you might think).
I would suggest waking up at least an hour earlier than you normally would. This first hour or so is critical to getting on the right track for your day. Stop hitting the snooze button on your alarm and just get up already! Hitting the snooze button is the first action of procrastination, and people who procrastinate never get around to do anything great.
2. Drink a large glass of very cold water right away.
This first glass of water is just the beginning of your daily water consumption. Drink at least half a gallon of water each day and you’ll notice a remarkable difference in your alertness, your creativity, your skin tone, and your energy level.
3. Spend the next 10 minutes in prayer.
Ask God to honor himself in your day, to give you the morning motivation you need, and that he would direct your steps for whatever you put your hands to this day. These will be the best ten minutes of your day, guaranteed.
4. Exercise for 30-45 minutes.
Do both strength training and cardiovascular training. Building muscle is crucial to burning off fat. Lift weights for the first 25 or 30 minutes, and then do a power-walk for the next 20 or so minutes. Don’t listen to music or podcasts during your walk. Your morning motivation begins with thinking.
You will find yourself to be ultra creative during this walk. You will come up with fascinating ideas, strategies, and things to try out. I keep my smart phone with me on these walks so that I can quickly type it into a task or reminder note for later, if need be. I have personally thought of great ideas during these short walks, and I know that you will too.
PS: This is not a leisure walk, either. Walk fast, push yourself, and you should be out of breath and tired by the time you’re finished.
5. Eat small amounts of food for breakfast.
If you eat too much food then you’ll probably end up feeling bloated, weighed down, and lethargic. Take your normal serving of whatever you might eat and cut it in half, at least. Yes, in half! Frankly, much of our obesity-problems today are a direct result of over-eating with regards to serving size. Eat wisely.
6. Jot down a list of “Expected Successes” for the day.
Some people call it a to-do list, but I refer to it as “Expected Success.” I know from my own experience that little gets done unless I plan for it to get done, so “Expect Success” in writing down what your goals are for the day. Write down what you want/need to accomplish.
This list should be composed of the FEW things that will result in your greatest success. In my own experience, three or four things is more than enough. One or two things might be best. But make sure that the bulk of your day will be primarily and exclusively devoted to the one thing that will bring about your greatest success.
PS: To not do this step is foolish and you might as well shoot yourself in the foot if you don’t do it.
7. Time block your day in sequence.
After you finish with #6 above, block your day into “time blocks” and put your “Expected Successes” into their given time slots. During those time slots, plan to be singularly devoted to those assigned tasks. Put your most important “Expected Successes” at the beginning of your time blocks so that you ensure yourself the most success.
PS: If you don’t time block, and stick to these blocks of time, other things will surely interrupt your day and you WILL end up being less productive.
CONCLUSION: These seven tips for morning motivation are absolutely critical to both your daily success and your long-term plans for greatness. Try these out for at least 30 days and see the benefits for yourself. I know you’re going to be amazed.
What other “morning motivation” hacks or tips could you add to these seven above?
Plan the night before for the next day
Exactly! A little preparation goes a long way.
These are great. I am not a morning person and I struggle with adhd. I have found that getti g up an hour before my day should start really helps. It’s dark and quiet and I use the time for prayer and quiet time. I usually make my days list. I like the look at blocks Of time. Thank you!
These are really great tips. I have to say great job sir these should get anyone taking control of their day.