Building the Day You Want: Overcoming Overwhelm with Simple Routines and Practical Tips – Start Your Day Calmly Purposely
Jan 28, 2025
Let’s talk Simple Morning Routines to Start Your Day with Purpose
How often do you groan when the alarm goes off? You hit the snooze button repeatedly until it's essential you must get up. Now you're running late, grab a coffee, stagger out of the door still yawning, skip breakfast, and start the day feeling rushed and resentful. Or perhaps you begin your day scrolling through emails and social media before you even get out of bed, so your mind is distracted from the get-go.
There are some simple things you can do to start the day calmly, mindfully, and purposefully before you reach for your cell phone. Let's start with three techniques to get your day off to a better start.
Technique 1: Breathe Mindfully and Connect to Your Inner Self
Before you get out of bed, even before you open your eyes, take a few moments to focus on your breathing and connect deeply to your inner self. This small act of mindfulness can set a peaceful tone for the day.
Here’s how you do it:
· Take three long deep breaths through your nose, then gently and slowly breathe out through your mouth.
· Return your breath to its normal pattern, noticing the breath and the rise and fall of your chest and belly as you breathe.
This simple practice can help you ground yourself and start the day with a sense of calm.
Technique 2: Bring to Mind Your Intention for the Day
How do you want to feel today? What state of mind will support you best? How will you choose to connect with others? Reflect on these questions and set a simple, positive intention for the day.
For example:
· "Today, I want to be kind to myself and others."
· "Today, I will stay calm and grounded."
Throughout the day, check in with your intention and adjust your mindset and behavior accordingly. This practice helps you stay focused and intentional, positively impacting your interactions and productivity.
Technique 3: Hydrate
We all know we need to drink more water, but it's often easier said than done. Start your day with a big glass of water before anything else—before coffee, breakfast, or exercise. You can keep a water glass or bottle on your night table so you can hydrate first thing.
Follow your first glass with another before your coffee. Consider making your second glass an Ayurvedic drink of warm water with lemon. This traditional practice gives you a boost of Vitamin C, detoxes, and stimulates your metabolism.
Small Daily Actions to Achieve Success
It’s often said that taking small daily actions is the way to experience success in anything you want to do. This is very true for many aspects of life, including your business and personal well-being. Here are four small daily actions to consider:
1: Don’t Make Things Harder Than They Have to Be
Making money and managing your responsibilities is not complicated, but we often make it harder than it needs to be. Focus on the basics first. For us in medicine, that means managing shifts effectively and then moving towards passive income sources like investments or real estate.
2: Prioritize Patient Care
Patient care activities should always be first on your to-do list on workdays because patients take priority over profits. Make a list of activities that directly contribute to patient care, from pre-charting and lab result reviews to patient appointments.
3: Know Your Numbers
Knowing your numbers is essential to creating a successful financial life. Track your calls to action and measure your results. Conduct a money audit to know where your money is, what your debt is, and how close you are to meeting your financial goals.
4: Schedule Everything
Consistency is the key to success. Use your calendar to schedule everything you need to do. This helps ensure you take the necessary daily actions to grow the life you want. When you start your workday, simply open your calendar and get started on those tasks.
One thing I’ve learned is the importance of Clearing Away Mental Clutter
Mental clutter can hold you back and add to your sense of overwhelm. Here are five tips for clearing away mental clutter:
First: Re-assess Your Goals and Dreams
Spend some time thinking about what you want to achieve and make changes if your life has moved in a different direction. Are you still focused on the same goals you had last year or five years ago? Reassessing your goals can help you focus on what truly matters.
Second: Ditch What Makes You Angry
Holding on to anger takes up mental space and energy. Find a way to deal with what makes you angry and then let it go. Clearing out angry thoughts can make room for more positive and productive ones.
Third: Spend Time Outside and Connect with Loved Ones
Step outside for a few minutes to enjoy fresh air and nature. Use this time to connect with your loved ones, especially your kids. Spending time in nature and connecting with those you love can clear your mind and uplift your spirits.
By incorporating these techniques into your daily routine, you can transform your day, setting a tone of calm, mindfulness, and purpose. Remember, the way you start your day can significantly influence how the rest of it unfolds.
Review Your Routine Regularly
Consistency is the key to success. Use your calendar to schedule everything you need to do. This helps ensure you take the necessary daily actions to grow the life you want. When you start your workday, simply open your calendar and get started on those tasks.
Additionally, take time to review your morning routine regularly. Our lives and circumstances change, and our routines should evolve with them. Set aside a little time every few weeks or months to assess whether your routine is still working well for you. Ask yourself:
- Is it working? Is it working really well?
- What do you love and what do you hate about your routine?
Make adjustments as needed to ensure your morning routine continues to serve you effectively.
Because the way you live your days? That's the way you'll live your life.
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