I love listening to interviews of successful professionals. When I say successful, I don’t mean the Dangote or Bill Gates type of success o. I mean interviews with people who started businesses with close to nothing, those who saw themselves through college, single mothers who raised their kids and grew their careers. I discovered a common habit among these successful people, they all have morning and nightly routines.
Many of us have heard doctors say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The food you eat in the morning will determine your energy levels, but a morning routine will determine your productivity and even your mental strength for the rest of the day. Over time, people who maintain a stable morning routine have testified to its effectiveness in their lives in the long run.
I started trying out a morning routine about a year ago. I’d wake up at the same time every day, then make a cup of tea. While my tea is brewing, I pray and write down my affirmations (Affirmations, yes!). Then, I’d start work for the day. As far as my deliverables are concerned, I always start with my personal projects. Not just what people demand of me, but the personal milestone I set for myself. After an hour or two, I’d then move into my professional job. The idea was to learn how to prioritize my own plans and form a habit where my dreams get my fullest effort. It was a simple routine but it jump started me towards some of my wildest personal and professional accomplishments.
Fam! I am here to testify, too, that creating a morning routine has been the best thing I’ve done in the past year. I have met most of my personal and professional life goals, or I am steadily moving towards them. I’ll confess that there are days I just cannot keep up. Sometimes, the days run into weeks, but I always get back up and return to my routine after a while.
To create a morning routine, you have to, first of all, evaluate yourself. Think about your goals and the things you hope to achieve in your personal and professional life. Then, how can you work towards them? What will help you be more productive? Also, consider whether you are a morning person or not. It’s okay if you are the kind of person who takes a while to get into the day. The main issue is to create a structure, regardless of what time of the day you unpack it.
As for me, I am a morning person. So,I am often up by 5 am. By 2-3 pm, I’d be mostly done with work, and would then gradually wind down or do less demanding activities. But like I said, this time schedule is clearly not the blueprint for everyone, this is why you must know what works for you, and when you are most energized. I
f you do not re-evaluate yourself properly and just jump into a routine, you are setting yourself up for failure. If your routine doesn’t align with your personality, or if you set unrealistic goals, you are setting yourself up for failure. The thing about morning routines is that it is slow but steady work. It’s not magic. It’s like a habit that will help you increase your productivity, thereby achieving your goals and dreams.