“Start your day off right with a great morning routine – the key to success!”

Are you trying the same thing over and over, waiting for something outside of yourself to change instead of doing something differently yourself?

Change how you start each day and it will change your business.

At the end of 2021, I was feeling continuously stressed and exhausted. As far as the business was concerned I was doing well financially but I was experiencing burnout.  I wasn’t sure that I wanted to continue because I just couldn’t see how it would be possible to achieve everything I set my mind to. I was scattered and not only was my business suffering but so was my personal life. I needed to get a grip and figure out how to lead a more contented life while continuing to build a strong business. For years I have been hearing about establishing a good morning routine but I sort of just pushed it off because I believed that “I didn’t have time” and besides, part of this routine required meditation and reflection, and really?  Does it work?  All I know is that a handful of times that I tried meditation, I gave up because my brain was in constant motion and I convinced myself it just wasn’t for me. What to do, what to do?  Here’s what I did.  I committed to trying this so-called morning routine for 30 days at the beginning of January 2022.  So many successful billionaires or just happy productive people swore by it.  Pushing my doubts away, I gave it a shot.  I made a commitment.

My morning routine looked something like this:  Wake up around 5:45 and talk myself into taking a run or something similar.  Look for clothes to wear.  Grab a cup of coffee.  Take off for a run after I’ve looked at my phone to update myself on the latest emails or texts.  Come back.  Take a shower, get dressed, and start the day. I started each day already buzzing with thoughts of what could go wrong.

What does YOUR morning routine look like?  Do you hit the snooze button?  Do you grab your phone before your eyes are even completely open to review texts, emails, or the latest news?  If you are doing these things, you are setting yourself up for a very chaotic, stressful day.  These habits can ignite your stress response and prime your brain for distraction the rest of the day.

There are a lot of “keys” to success but one that is often looked over and not considered to be necessary is a proper morning routine. This key is repeated over and over by billionaires, millionaires, or people who are just trying to pay off bills and live a more contented productive life.  There is a quote that says “the most successful people are the ones who have contentment”. To obtain this contentment, which will produce a better version of yourself that will then spill over into your business, is self-care. The bottom line is that a healthy you is a healthy business.

There are so many daily routines out there. However, if you look closely they’re all rooted in setting intentions for the day.

So where do you start?  Below is a list of a few authors and their books who have written books on the subject.

• The Miracle Morning, by Hal Elrod.
• What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, by Laura Vanderkam.
• The 5 AM Club, by Robin Sharma.
• Daily Rituals, by Mason Currey.
• My Morning Routine, by Benjamin Spall and Michael Xander.

My personal choice is Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod because he breaks this routine down into small chunks that are manageable and flexible enough for anyone regardless of how much or little time you have. The Miracle Morning routine is a great way to get your day off to a great start and help you stay motivated and focused on achieving your goals.

Everyone’s life situation is different and I know that establishing a great morning routine can be difficult if you have a long commute or have little ones running around the house, however, if you want a successful life and business this is probably the most important habit and the best self-care you can do for yourself.  If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to accomplish it.  “No great thing is created suddenly”.  Things take time and this will not happen overnight, but if you just start with even a few suggestions I believe that you will find yourself wanting more and you will begin to feel better and less stressed.  When you are happy and content you will cultivate a happy and successful business.

Here is how I start each day:

I wake up one hour earlier than I normally would, which is 4:45 am and I DO NOT look at my phone or computer.  Anything that is there will be waiting for me later and I can deal with it when I am mentally prepared.  It’s not going anywhere. For a lot of people, this sounds absolutely awful. However, that first hour of just spending time with yourself allows for the opportunity to explore who you are and to discover things about yourself.  This hour allows time to set yourself up for the day in a relaxed state of mind.

Next, I chug 8 ounces of water immediately after waking up. You get dehydrated during the night so getting a full glass of water first thing in the morning can help wake up your body and keep you alert and focused throughout the day. 

I then retreat to a special area in my house that I have created just for me.  It is a quiet comfortable place that I absolutely love.  I am able to close out all ​outside distractions​ for that one hour.  Sorry hubby.  I also bought a pair of noise-canceling headphones that I put on and oh the relief and comfort of those are outstanding.  I also already have a journal and a book that I am reading for the month in this room.  I sit in a very comfortable chair and I am ready to proceed through my morning routine.

Here are the five things I complete each morning and what I’ve noticed are the basis of most of the morning routines I have researched.

1. Reflection and Meditation: 

 “You don’t meditate to become enlightened, you meditate to become a better person”. 

I get quiet with myself. As I stated earlier I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do this because I didn’t see how I would be able to quiet the mind.  But I decided to give it a try and I’m not going to lie, it was difficult.  It took a long time to get to a point where I was able to quiet my mind for a while.  Some days are better than others. Through trial and error, I found a type of meditation that works for me and that I have come to thoroughly enjoy. I also like it because at the end of the meditation, this particular person who I follow, Raphael Reiter, usually gives a quote at the end of the meditation to ponder. These meditations last about 20 minutes.  These quotes are prompts for me to write down in a journal and spend maybe 5 to 10 minutes writing thoughts that come to me. It could be something as simple as just writing down the quote or maybe I will write a little more about my perception of it or an affirmation.  It ALWAYS reminds me of the things I am grateful for.

Meditation is essential for optimal brain health. Not only does it reduce stress, improve concentration and increase focus, but research indicates that regular practice can also boost memory retention, stave off depression and even reverse aging symptoms! Plus – mindful meditation provides clarity of thought to help you make the best decisions in life while reducing anxiety levels at the same time.

2.  Challenging Myself:  

 Depending on the time, I read a paragraph or a chapter out of a self   improvement book that I am reading at the time. Or, I may look up the meaning of something I didn’t understand.  I always try to learn something new each morning.

3.  Physical Exercise:  

It is said that a healthy mind and an unhealthy body is not going to work.  I believe that 100%. I know that when I don’t feel well physically, my motivation to proceed through the day is significantly lower.  So regardless of how I feel, I make it a point to get out there and do some sort of exercise.  I used to view exercise as a way to obtain the “perfect” body and that way of thinking is exhausting.  The perfect body does not exist- in my opinion.  I had to overcome that thought pattern (through meditation and reflection) and view it as a way to maintain a healthy weight but also to connect my brain to the actual exercise itself.  In other words, focusing on the benefits achieved for my mental well-being rather than just the grind of the exercise itself.  Even if it’s for 10 minutes, get up and move. It doesn’t have to be anything particularly crazy like CrossFit (although at one time I did enjoy this), it could be dancing to a favorite song, yoga, or whatever your jamb is.  A body in motion stays in motion!

When it comes to your health, staying active is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself. Not only does physical activity improve cognitive functioning and help maintain a healthy weight—but regular exercise also lowers risks of certain diseases, bolsters bone and muscle strength, as well as enhances overall daily functioning capabilities.

If your mornings are too packed, try squeezing in a 30-minute workout in the evenings. 

4.  Prioritize:

I start every day with a plan of action! Using my trusty daily planner, I take the time to prioritize tasks and determine which ones must be taken on first. This way, those dreaded yet necessary duties are accomplished early in the day so that later can be devoted solely to more creative pursuits.

5. Organize: 

I believe firmly in the power of order, and making sure my workspace is organized before I start work. Maintaining tidiness has been an integral part of my daily routine since childhood – something that was instilled by esteemed examples who demonstrated great success through their organization habits. A clean environment helps to ensure a focused mind so that tasks are tackled efficiently and effectively with ultimate productivity levels met!

So here I am one year later and I am fully convinced that the morning routine I have established for myself has improved my life significantly in all areas. I am more calm and focused throughout the day.  I feel good about myself and have a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses.  

How does this translate into a better business?  Being an owner of a growing notary business is stressful.  Days don’t always go the way they should a lot of the time.  Particularly with remote online notarization, there are a lot of things that pop up which require a lot of patience and endurance to help see it through to completion.  I am very proud of the accomplishments we have created with Notary Force.  There have been many, many challenges and hills to climb to produce the type of company that we believe is fantastic and provides excellent service.  We never give up and we have to meet these challenges with a positive attitude.  

I believe that one of the reasons Notary Force is where it is today is due to establishing a morning routine and passing on things that I have learned along the way to my partner, Shirley Lowe, and our great team member Laura De la Cruz.  We are a force to be reckoned with!