“You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face And show the world all the love in your heart. Then people gonna treat you better You're gonna find, yes, you will, That you're beautiful as you feel.”
Carole King (Beautiful)
Is this how you start your day?
If so, life is probably pretty good for you right now and I applaud!
However…if you aren't starting your day in a good mood…keep reading.
Do you repeatedly hit the snooze button?
Do you rush around to get ready because you want to sleep in until the last possible moment?
Is everyone in your house frenzied in the morning? Are you (or your family) searching for lost items and being cranky?
Do you begin your day thinking negative thoughts about yourself or other people?
Stop.
Don't do that anymore.
Your mornings do not have to be that way.
You have control over how your day will begin and the time to change it is now.
Starting the day frazzled and frenzied will impact your entire day and actually, your life.
There are actions you can take to begin your day in a more peaceful way.
Get up before everyone else and enjoy some quiet by yourself. Fifteen minutes to a half hour of quiet in the morning, before you have to begin getting ready for the day, can change your life. If this is difficult to do because you are too tired, you must make getting more sleep a priority. (I have written quite a bit about how to get more sleep, so I won’t write about that here. Send me questions if you want some tips!)
Use the extra time, even if it is only 15 minutes, to think about the upcoming day. As you have your morning coffee or tea, decide that it will be a good day. Yes, you can decide this.
Think about what you need to accomplish and jot down any tasks or items you want to make sure you get to, but don’t overload the list.
This is also a good time to write in your journal if you have one. Get any scattered thoughts out of your head and onto the page to clear your head for the upcoming day.
Plan what you will eat during the day, so that you are not rushing, grabbing whatever is available, and then feeling guilty for not eating in a healthy nourishing way.
Stretch, and let your body feel the joy of being in the moment.
Drink a glass of water and begin hydrating your body for the day.
Smile. Your brain will be sent a message that you intend to have a good day.
Think of something you are grateful for and let a feeling of gratitude for the good in your life spread through your body.
Stand up straight, checking that your posture is good and strong and get ready to say good morning to the people you live with or the people you encounter today.
YOU decide how your day will play out. Make the present as good as it can be and you will have fewer regrets in the future.
"The way we live the minutes of each day is the way we live our lives.” -Eknath Easwaran
Please share comments, questions and your own tips!
I love hearing from readers!
Amanda said "This is a great post! I was wondering what your opinion is on to do lists! When is it a helpful tool and when it is a source of stress?"
Diana responded with "Amanda, I love to-do lists! I think it becomes a cause of stress when you find yourself getting upset at the end of the day for not getting more done. A good way to end the day is to review what you DID do not what you didn’t do. Overall, to-do lists are a good way to keep the important tasks in mind and keep your priorities in the forefront."
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