Morning Success Habits for Great Leaders

navigator Leadership

Maybe you’ll have to turn off Netflix a little sooner at night so you can wake up a bit earlier. Maybe the coffee will need to be stronger because you’ve never been a morning person. Maybe it’ll be the hour before the kids wake up and start storming around the house. Or maybe it’ll be as simple as not turning on the news first thing in the morning. (Don’t get me started.)

Whatever morning routine you currently have, ask yourself: Are my morning habits setting myself up for my best possible day?

The first hour of the morning can make or break your day. It’s the difference of controlling your energy, your inner thoughts, and your attention units or allowing them to be controlled by the outside world. The greatest leaders in the world don’t roll out of bed and rush to work. They set themselves up for success through their morning habits. After all, we can only respect and ask for greatness of others if we are respecting and demanding greatness of ourselves.

The following is a 1-hour, 1-minute guideline for a morning routine to put your mind, body, and spirit in the right place each morning. Try it for 30 days. We promise this: Not only will you notice a difference in your life, but others will notice a difference too.

Maybe you’ll have to turn off Netflix a little sooner at night so you can wake up a bit earlier. Maybe the coffee will need to be stronger because you’ve never been a morning person. Maybe it’ll be the hour before the kids wake up and start storming around the house. Or maybe it’ll be as simple as not turning on the news first thing in the morning. (Don’t get me started.)

Whatever morning routine you currently have, ask yourself: Are my morning habits setting myself up for my best possible day?

The first hour of the morning can make or break your day. It’s the difference of controlling your energy, your inner thoughts, and your attention units or allowing them to be controlled by the outside world. The greatest leaders in the world don’t roll out of bed and rush to work. They set themselves up for success through their morning habits. After all, we can only respect and ask for greatness of others if we are respecting and demanding greatness of ourselves.

The following is a 1-hour, 1-minute guideline for a morning routine to put your mind, body, and spirit in the right place each morning. Try it for 30 days. We promise this: Not only will you notice a difference in your life, but others will notice a difference too.

The first hour of the morning can make or break your day. It’s the difference of controlling your energy, your inner thoughts, and your attention units, or allowing them to be controlled by the outside world.

The first hour of the morning can make or break your day. It’s the difference of controlling your energy, your inner thoughts, and your attention units, or allowing them to be controlled by the outside world.

Express Gratitude (1 minute)

As soon as you wake up, don’t reach for the cell phone to check messages and updates. Think of three things you’re grateful for, and run through your mind why you are grateful for those three things. This will immediately put you in a positive mindset as you take the first step out of bed.

Review Your Goals (5 minutes)

Have your daily/weekly goals, one-year goals, and 20-year goals written somewhere where you can quietly review them. Think about what you’re going to do that day to take another step towards each of those goals, and start to feel a sense of excitement that you’re moving forward and living out your dreams. (If you’re a coffee drinker, do this while the coffee is brewing or while you’re taking your first sips.)

Inspirational Reading (15 minutes)

Whether it’s faith, religion, leadership development, a biography of someone you admire, or a fun story that gets your creativity juices flowing, read something that inspires you to continue growing and becoming greater. A few of my personal recommendations if you’re unsure where to begin: The Alchemist, Think and Grow Rich, and The Untethered Soul.

Move/Exercise (20 minutes)

Morning activity releases dopamine in the brain, giving us energy, feelings of happiness, and feelings of accomplishment. (Imagine feeling accomplished after being awake for less than 45 minutes!) Walk the dog, ride an exercise bike, or do some light yoga in the comfort of your own living room.

Meditation (10 minutes)

Quiet your mind with some light meditation (or prayer if you prefer). Sit up straight and close your eyes or stare quietly out a window. Focus on breathing and don’t let your mind flood with thoughts of the upcoming day. Just be present and listen to the stillness of the moment you’re in.

Eat Breakfast (10 minutes)

Fuel up! Consider this as two things: Your reward for the accomplishing so much so early, and a boost of nutrition/energy to help you conquer the day ahead. Of course, the key word there was nutrition, so maybe skip the doughnuts.

After 30 days, reflect and evaluate yourself compared to your previous routine. Are you happier and more energetic? Do you sleep better and wake up with more enthusiasm? Do you look forward to each morning more than ever?

The first hour of the day should be one of your favorite hours. Do you remember being a child and receiving a gift for Christmas or your birthday? That anticipation of wondering what’s inside the box and beginning to peel off the wrapping paper is one of many genuine joys in life. If every day is a gift, understand that each morning is a shiny box being handed to you. Unwrap the gift slowly, and enjoy the moment for all it’s worth.

After 30 days, reflect and evaluate yourself compared to your previous routine. Are you happier and more energetic? Do you sleep better and wake up with more enthusiasm? Do you look forward to each morning more than ever?

The first hour of the day should be one of your favorite hours. Do you remember being a child and receiving a gift for Christmas or your birthday? That anticipation of wondering what’s inside the box and beginning to peel off the wrapping paper is one of many genuine joys in life. If every day is a gift, understand that each morning is a shiny box being handed to you. Unwrap the gift slowly, and enjoy the moment for all it’s worth.

Contact Us

For more information on this or other leadership success habits, reach out to us:

Email us at info@nav2lead.com or call us at 888-771-5812.