Lesson #1 Morning routines make my day run more smoothly.
I read a lot of books this past year: a few on personal growth, several on improving skills as a leader and entrepreneur, and a few on becoming a better person all around.
One concept that has profoundly impacted my life is setting my morning routine. By following certain habits daily, I have become more efficient, have greater joy, and no longer allow others to control how my day goes. I used to wake up, head downstairs for coffee, check my phone for texts, emails, etc., then move on with my day. I no longer do that! Reading texts and emails, and seeing the demands that others were placing on me for the day, set me up to either be in a good or bad mood for part of the day. I took control back of how I wanted my day to go, and it now looks very different! I do not read texts nor emails until I am in my office and ready for my work day to begin. I start my day by reading my Bible, praying and journaling, getting my family ready for school, hitting the gym, heading home to feed my body nutritious food, showering, then I head into my office.
This new routine has affected my outlook immensely! By determining my morning and not letting others determine it by what they want from me (text messages or emails), I am far more efficient and far more content! Give it a try! There are many authors who offer advice on ordering your morning routine. Pick up a book and get started!
Lesson #2: Keeping promises to myself is just as important as keeping them to others.
The second lesson that I learned this past year is that I am notorious for braking promises to myself. Yes! I’m owning it! I do it all the time. With friends, family, and in business, I rarely ever brake a promise. I am the trustworthy dependable one! People count on me to get things done, be on time, complete a task…without fail. However, when it comes to making a commitment or promise to myself, I brake them regularly.
One of the books that I read last year, Girl Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis, dedicated an entire section to this topic, and it really hit home for me! I am still trying to figure out why I allow myself second best when it comes to promises and commitments…maybe I’ll have an “aha” moment this year! The best part is that I am now aware of this tendency, and I am 100% committed to changing it this year.
How about you? Do you feel defeated and disappointed when others let you down and don’t follow through on a promise? How about when a friend bails on you at the last minute and you say, “Don’t worry about it…it’s fine. REALLY!” Yet, deep down, you are hurt, frustrated and disappointed once again, right? Are you doing the same thing to yourself when you don’t lose the weight that you promised yourself you were going to get off? Do you brake promises to yourself when you say that you’re going to take more time for yourself to relax, read a book, show yourself some self-love, and instead you end up sacrificing your “down time” to meet others’ needs?
Keep the promises to yourself, my friend! Don’t settle for anything less!