My Mornings

Hi Everyone,

How is your new year going? Still keeping up on those resolutions? I can happily say I am still working on mine, I had a setback this year with about a weeks worth of illness. I am now feeling much better and have been getting so pumped for what is going on around me I have been following the advice of the many guru life coach motivational speaker types I have been listening to; and I think I am finally starting to consciously attract people and situations into my life. Now granted some days seem better than others, but honestly on a whole I am feeling fantastic! I have started a morning routine and add things as needed I have seen tremendous growth in my life as a direct result. Here is my list as it stands now:

1. wake up semi early -  I have realized anyone I admire doesn't sleep in, regardless of what time I go to bed (and yes I am a night owl) I set an alarm and only sleep for 4-9 hours the four being If I have an early event or something and 9 being the night after when I need to catch up. Also naps are not a bad thing just as long as they aren't abused.

2. shower, shave, all those personal hygiene things and a shower helps me wake up faster.

3. Eat something - I don't always put breakfast first and it is probably the easiest meal for me to skip, but it is very important for brain function and kick starting your metabolism. also pancakes drenched in syrup aren't really breakfast they are more of a burden on your body you are better off skipping if that is all you have.

4. Glass of water - I like most people don't drink enough water, it is estimated we are made up of about 50-65% H2o so no wonder most of us are dehydrated. This affects tons of things with our body and immune system; so I have made it a point to drink at least a glass of water in the morning. I have also replaced coffee with tea and honey.

5. Stretch & light exercise - This gets my body moving and feeling like I can take on anything it felt a little strange the first couple times, but I wouldn't miss it now days. If you are unsure of how to stretch properly search youtube because the last thing you want is to pull something and be out of commission for a while.

6. Quiet time  -  This could be a lot of different things for me I use this time to read my bible usually a chapter of the old testament and one of the new testament. Then I pray on what I have red asking God to apply what I have red in my life. I then proceed to pray for everything else my friends & family, my business, the rest of my day, my world & country and any political or social issues.

7. Read  -  This is an important one because I can learn a lot from the writings of men and women who spent their lives learning the lessons I am now receiving in a few hours worth or so that it takes to read a book. I am currently reading Solomon Northup's 12 years a slave. I try to read autobiographies or books that teach something I steer clear of fantasy.

8. Learn - I added this when I decided I wanted to become fluent in Italian they say learning a second language boost most of your other skills including your speaking writing and comprehension. On top of that I am of Italian descent, and I dream of visiting someday I would really like to be able to converse with ease. I also plan to learn others after I am confident in italian. I am starting out using an app called Duolingo it has been really fantastic and it is free. I could also use this time to brush up on math skills or anything else that is important to me at the time as long as it counts as learning I can check this off my list. Another great resource for this is again youtube, but more specifically the college channels. I have watched some amazing courses and lectures for "FREE" I didn't fill out forms or spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, but I have been able to benefit as if I had.

9. Review my day - There are a couple of sayings that apply here like: you can't hit a target you can't see, or If you don't know where your going any road will do. So what I do is sit down with a piece of paper or my tablet, and write out everything I have on my plate today (not that I expect to get it all done) everything from cleaning my house, to an important business deadline, to calling my grandma to say hi. Write it all down. I then use the abcde method; if a task is an A task (something I can't not do without serious consequences) IE missing an important business deadline that holds up the work of others.  I mark and A next to that task. Then all the B tasks are marked the same, a B task is anything that while important I can put off or skip without bad things happening. a C task is something I would like to do, but will not affect me one way or the other. The D task stands for delegate anything that I don't have to do I shouldn't my time and talent is precious and If there is someone else who CAN do it I should have them. (This would include making the kids do chores around the house even if they are little there are little things they can help with that will make a huge difference.) Now let me preface this by saying they will NEVER do it as good as you and they will sometimes not do it or worse do it wrong (they being whomever you delegate to) Just because you CAN do it better doesn't mean you should again your time is precious, more often than not they flat out won't do what you asked or they will do so altogether wrong. This IS frustrating, but try again this time explain exactly what needs done and why they must do it. Finally we have E which stands for eliminate, these are tasks that were at one time important but are no longer or things you know you do not need to be done at all.


So this is my list and how I try to start every morning it seemed daunting at first especially on days that I have morning events, but now that I am doing it I see the benefits and the costs in terms of time spent or sleep lost don't even come close to what I gain from doing this. I should also say this is not a rigid morning routine if I have a busy day I cut out a few or save them for later in my day and only do the most important steps.

I hope this post has been helpful to someone I just wanted to give an update on how I am doing and what I have been up to.

Justin

Also as a side note on the abcde method; you should never do a B task when you still have an A task on the list and like wise you should never do a C task when there is a B task on the list. Tasks can also change if you have been putting off doing the dishes because it really is inconsequential; eventually you need to face the music and do it because it will only get worse. I borrowed the method from a man named Brian Tracy you can watch him here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKOMTZ7PPLg
Most people focus most of their time on B & C tasks while avoiding the hard tasks that will make a real difference, but doing the opposite and focusing on A tasks until there are none left changes the whole game.