The Recipe for a Successful Day

Heres what we will cover:

1. Why you should wake up early

2. Ways to create a daily morning routine

3. Why you should not skip breakfast

4. Making a to-do list

Waking up for work or class can be dreadful, especially when all you can think about is the amount of work and chores you have to complete in that day. Do you ever feel as if you dont have enough time in your day to accomplish everything?

I was never a morning person growing up. I would wake up late in the afternoon feeling sluggish and unmotivated because I knew I would have to stay up past midnight to finish all my work for the day. This became a reoccurring cycle and the stress, lack of motivation, and sleepless nights took over my ability to achieve success in my life. I knew I needed to make small changes in my daily routine and start making each day count to accomplish my goals.

Whether you are a morning person or not, your mornings can determine the dynamic of your whole day and effect your overall mood. All you need to do is condition your mind and body and reprogram your morning habits to get back on track.

Below I have provided 4 easy and simple habits to incorporate into your morning and set you on the right path toward prosperity and achievement.

Tip #1 - The secret ingredient: early riser

One of the most effective ways to set yourself up for success is to train your body to wake up early. Wake up with determination and you will find yourself going to bed feeling more accomplished.

When you allow yourself to have enough time in the morning to plan out your day, make breakfast, and enjoy the sunrise you will see a boost in your mood and feel more motivated to get out in the world and achieve success.

Your best work comes from those early mornings when your mind and body is rested and fresh. Early risers tend to concentrate better and be more alert and energized throughout the day. A 2010 study found that morning people are more proactive and goal-oriented, equip proficient problem-solving skills, and do better in school and work than their colleagues.

Tip #2 - Create a daily morning routine

Becoming a natural early riser wont happen overnight, but it is as simple and easy to become one by setting a reoccurring alarm to train your body to wake up at the same time everyday. Overtime you may not even need to rely on an alarm because your body will adjust to your altered sleep pattern.

Creating a daily morning routine that you implement everyday upon waking up will allow you to accomplish even more. You may also start to find more time in your day to do things for yourself! Choose to do activities in the morning that will set yourself up for a more balanced and enjoyable day. Your morning ritual could include going on a walk, stretching, exercising, meditating, reading, or other activities that keep your mind active and awake.

Shawna Robins, CEO and owner of Kaia Health and Wellness, recommends keeping a gratitude journal. “Keeping a gratitude journal by your bed and listing 3-5 things you are grateful for each morning will help increase your overall happiness.” She adds, “It can be something simple like feeling grateful for the sunrise, the birds chirping, your sleeping kids, or even the fact that you are alive and healthy are all great things to feel grateful for. It’s like taking a happiness pill each morning before you get up.”

Tip #3 - Don't skip breakfast

In order to have a productive day, you need to fuel your body with a healthy breakfast so you have enough energy to take action. Breakfast isn't called "the most important meal of the day" for no reason. Have you ever wondered why you have heard that saying your whole life?

Let us start by breaking down the word break-fast. As the name suggests, breakfast breaks the fasting period from your last meal the night before and supplies your mind and body with nutrients to feel more energized and alert. Your brain needs glucose (the body's energy source) provided by the carbohydrates in your heart and healthy breakfast choices to restore your energy levels. Breakfast meals like eggs, avocado toast, oatmeal, yogurt and fruit, are all rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Studies have shown that breakfast can also control your weight and boosts brainpower.

Heres why you shouldn't skip breakfast.

The more likely you are to skip breakfast the higher your chances are of:

1. Becoming over or under weight

2. Having suppressed mood changes

3. Lower physical activity levels

4. Having a poor diet

Click here to find deliciously easy and healthy breakfast recipes!

#4 - Make a to-do list

The best advice I can give that helped me go from wasting my days away by sleeping in too late to becoming a productive early riser was by making a to-do list. A to-do list will keep you accountable and helps you plan out your work, chores, and errands to keep you focussed for a successful day.

Set boundaries around how much time you will give yourself to complete each task. This will help you stay organized and give you a clear map of how much can be accomplished for that day. Don't forget to space out time in your day for yourself too. Make sure you add in the times when you can exercise, meditate, cook, or do whatever else is important to you if you didn't have time in your daily morning routine.

Heres an example of a to-do list I made for tomorrow:

• 6:30: wake up and read 20 pages

• 7-8 am: make breakfast (head to campus by 7:30)

• 8-12 pm: class

• 12:30-2:30 pm: gym

• 3-4 pm: make lunch

• 4-6 pm: class

• 6:30-8pm: study for exam

• 8 pm: make dinner + relax

• 11 pm: sleep

Conclusion

There are many simple and easy habits that everyone can adopt into their morning routine to have a successful day, but in the context of having a successful day, you must remember one thing...

A successful day is not just based on how much work you got done, but rather what you did for yourself in that day to maintain peace and prosperity. Allowing time in your day to connect with friends or doing something for yourself will help you stay motivated to complete the rest of your work.

Success and happiness go hand-in-hand. They are both created from internal states of mind. You have all the power to become successful and happy by implementing these simple habits I have provided above, but remember that success is ultimately driven from your mindset.

So maintain a healthy and happy mindset by fueling your mind and body and staying open to improving your physical and mental growth, progress, and well-being. Everything you need to implement these changes can be found right here.