As a CEO of a growing marketing firm in northern Minnesota, I spend a lot of my time putting out fires for Finden Marketing (my marketing agency) and our clients. meaning I have less and less time for myself and have become more effective with the time I do have. As your company grows, so will your responsibilities, and unfortunately, there are only so many hours in the day. This is why the most successful people create an hour of pure concentration in the morning to better themselves and grow their knowledge, also known as a “power hour.” When creating my power hour, I researched the habits and morning rituals of some of the most successful individuals on the planet.
Out of all the successful people I studied, I found 15 commonalities in their routines and have listed them in this blog. This list isn’t designed to be copied. Every successful person has tweaked their routine to what works best for them, so start with baby steps. Pick up one of these and see what works for you.
1. Set an alarm and stick to it
Sleeping in is the easiest way to get behind in your day. Countless people go to bed with the aspiration to change the world but fall short every morning simply because they don’t want to get out of bed. Living in Duluth, Minnesota’s harsh colds, I know the struggle of not wanting to get out of bed on a -30 day, but it is by far the most vital part of living a successful life. Everyone only has 24 hours in their day and you can’t get things done while sleeping. Ripping off the bandaid and getting a start to your day not only gets you up and going earlier but kicks your body into starting the day.
- When I first started doing this, my secret was conditioning myself with a “wake up” Spotify playlist that I would play every morning to get me ready for the day.
- A helpful tip is to get out of your bed physically. Once you are out and about, you start to wake up. When you stay in bed, you play the chance to fall back asleep.
2. Make your bed right after getting out of it
Research has shown that this little trick can completely change your day. A study done by the National Sleep Foundation showed that making your bed in the morning directly correlates to a lower level of stress, an increased level of satisfaction, and most importantly, future you will thank you.
3. Go smile in the mirror
A smile carries a long way, and recent research has found that it can make you happier, boost your confidence, and help jumpstart your day. Try the experiment yourself, get up and smile in the mirror. Track if you feel more comfortable or if it improved your way of life and I’m sure you will see positive results.
4. Make a big healthy breakfast of things you love
Science tells us time and time again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it’s something almost every successful person knows they need. When I say breakfast, I’m talking full-out meals, not a pop-tart on the way out. Here’s a list of Successful entrepreneurs, executives, and CEOs eat every morning: CEO Breakfast. Use this as a guide or take parts that you want to try. The most significant part of this is that you make things that will energize you to change the day.
5. Make a physical checklist of things you need to get done for the day
Running a startup has an entrepreneur wearing a million different hats and keeping a detailed list of any and every one of those hats and when you have to wear them. This was the item on this list that changed my life the most. Creating a daily checklist of literally everything you need to get done for the day has turned tasks that looked like mountains into molehills. You’ll find so much satisfaction in crossing off the things you need to get done, ranging from “laundry” to “reach out to potential clients.” This has helped me make every day impact and cut down on the anxiety of not remembering things.
I recommend going to your local store (try supporting local businesses) and buying a journal where you physically write down all the little things you have to do for the day. I buy mine from a local book store in Duluth and have created many great connections just from going and buying it.
6. Write down your goals for the day and your overall weekly goals
After writing down all of your to-do’s for the day the next thing I recommend doing is writing down your goals for the day. How do you want to improve today? It can be anything ranging from “I want to make 20 sales calls today” to “I want to compliment everyone in the office” whatever you think will be most impactful for the day. On top of the daily goal, you should also write down your big goal for the week. This should be something that all the daily goals lead up to so for example if your daily goal is 20 sales calls your weekly goal could be converting 2 sales calls into client meetings.
- No matter how small make sure to write them down and celebrate the little wins while still focusing on achieving that big weekly goal
7. Drink a glass of water
As you may or may not know, water is essential to living since the human body comprises about 60% of it. This is one of the big reasons everyone needs to drink a glass of water when they wake up. Coffee is good and gets you up and running, but research shows that dehydration is a leading cause of sluggishness, making it possible to grow and become successful. Nothing gets me more awake than waking up in the morning and grabbing a nice cold glass of water while making my big breakfast. I feel more energized and more ready to tackle the day.
8. Listen to a podcast, read an informational book, or learn about something that you are passionate about
A shared secret to success is continuously improving yourself, and one of the simplest ways of doing that is by learning from other people’s experiences. Podcasts, audiobooks, and YouTube series can be an excellent way to get that information without having to pay a considerable fee. I am a massive fan of a website called “Thriftbooks,” where you can find used copies of almost any book out there for meager prices, so even if you are on a budget, you can still learn. I also recommend Youtube if you find the proper channels to watch. Stay tuned to our blogs because we will be releasing our list of the best podcasts for young professionals coming next month.
9. Stretch, meditate, or do some yoga
Now this one may make me sound like a hippy, but morning yoga may be the best thing I ever stumbled upon. Every morning I wake up, make my bed, and stretch. The aches and pains of life have disappeared, I smile more, and I feel better. All it takes is 5 minutes of meditation and stretching.
10. Exercise!
This is the best way to get your mind pumping, your creative juices flowing, and your sleepiness was long gone. It can be anything from a morning walk to a bike ride and some pushups alongside your bed. All it takes is 15 minutes of activity, and your day will be changed. I am a person who likes nighttime workouts, so I spend the morning exercise time stretching, and then I usually bike or walk to my office. It’s a great way to wake up, saves a ton of money on gas, and it’s when I get some of my best ideas for my business.
11. Talk with someone you care about
May it be your roommate, partner, kids, or cactus. Talking gets the blood rushing and helps naturally wake up and get your mind working. I set up daily meetings with my team members, family members, and mentors to learn more about their days and use that time to pitch ideas, marketing opportunities, or whatever crazy initiative I want to try next in my life. You will be amazed by how many fantastic ideas people have in the morning and how much it will boost your happiness.
12. Stay off technology for the first 30 minutes of being awake
This will be the most challenging item on this list. So many individuals open their phones the first thing in the morning and follow-through by laying in bed an extra 30-60 minutes because of it. I know checking your emails, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram may be tempting but take 15-30 minutes away from technology, and both your mind and body will thank you for it. If you don’t already, I recommend putting your phone in another room/location when you sleep as another motivator to get out of bed in the morning.
13. Dress to impress
I’m not saying that you should go out and buy a $5000 suit. Still, the act of throwing on a dress shirt, working with your hair, and tossing on that cologne can do wonders for your self-esteem and confidence resulting in better performance and ultimately success.
- A great way to achieve this is to plan and pick out your outfit the day before. It sounds like a lot, but it can save you some major time in the morning, and people will notice the work.
14. Stay updated with the news in your field or area
Success is power and power; knowledge, so continually being up to date on new things happening can put you a step ahead of the rest and show your team that you care about what you are doing. This could be watching the morning news or checking the news on your phone (after 30 minutes of being awake); staying up to date on the news in your field is an easy way to keep yourself one step ahead of the competition and keep you on the top of your game.
15. Create a successful morning routine
Almost every successful person has a strict morning schedule that they follow. Successful individuals wake up at the same time, have the same breakfast, do their exercises, etc. Consistency is the key to success. Luckily I have presented you with a morning routine in the past 14 bullets that you can take and cater to your game plan for success.
If you have questions or want more tips on how to become more successful, feel free to connect on LinkedIn, Follow me on Instagram, or send me an email at andrew@findenmarkting.com
Success is a mindset, if you set your mind to it you can achieve anything.
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Want to learn more about Finden Marketing? Finden Marketing is Duluth, Minnesota’s leading Gen Z & Millennial marketing agency. With years of experience, hundreds of thousands of dollars managed, and a dedicated team we can help grow your business to its true potential. Our team offers a wide range of services, including PR, Branding, Content Creation, Paid Media, Graphic Design, as well as Web Development. Also with over 30 projects in the bag, Finden Marketing is becoming a staple marketing agency in Duluth, Minnesota. To learn more about Finden Marketing, check us out here, or visit us at our office in Duluth, Minnesota.
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