Starting Out Positive

I believe the way you start your day is an important part of being happy and successful. If you have a plan each and every morning, you are less likely to get caught up in someone else’s agenda. This is the “jet stream” effect I discussed in early posts. Generally, if you get caught up in someone else’s jet stream, then you didn’t prepare the night before and you are not actively pursuing your goals.

Perhaps it means getting up before everyone else or working somewhere less distracting. The point is to give yourself the opportunity to do what’s important to you, not what is important to everybody else.

What I’d like to discuss is how to start your day out in a positive way and what works for me. But first, let me tell you how I started my day just six months ago.

I’d get up around 7:15am, and attempt to wake up my 7-year old daughter for school. This was always futile. She acted as though I was a prison camp guard trying to send her off to work in the quarry. After 10 minutes of convincing she’d get up and I’d go make her breakfast. At 7:55am we were off to school. We were never late, but always rushed.

I’d get back home at 8:15am and immediately go check my e-mail. This was a huge mistake. I was opening a portal into someone else’s jet stream! I’d delete the 20 or so unimportant or junk mails and then quickly scan e-mails from clients. Stress immediately ensued as I was reminded how much work I had that day.

I reluctantly walked into the kitchen to fix breakfast for myself feeling already in a deficit for the day. I’d also grind some coffee beans for a fresh pot of joe, I’ll be needing it!

Since I didn’t plan to go to the gym, my workload dictates my fitness regime and I have another cup of coffee instead of working out—maybe I’ll go in the afternoon? Anyway, I have all these “important” e-mails?

At some point, late in the morning, I decide that I know longer want to be working in PJ’s and go change into real clothes. This seals the deal for visiting the gym and I postpone that until the next day (hopefully).

Since I didn’t schedule my workload, I’m skipping around from project to project and prioritizing the work by the order of my e-mails. I felt like a lab chimp! Whenever new e-mails arrived, I immediately had to read them.

By the time I reached the end of the day, I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to and started feeling like crap. I guess I’ll have to work late again.

After dinner and once the kids have been showered and teeth brushed, they are off to bed. It’s now 8:00pm (later if the kids choose a ridiculously long story for me to read). It’s back to my computer for the same schizophrenic work method. Not to mention I’ll only be 40% working as I’ve moved from desk to couch and have one eye on the TV and the other on the laptop. This is not efficient or effective as I’m not accomplishing work and I’m not enjoying TV!

Prime-time passes and the talk shows are starting. It’s feeling late. I contemplate putting on some coffee but fear tossing and turning in bed until 3:00am. I opt for bed and hope the the next day is better.

The next day is not and the cycle repeats.

As you can see from what my schedule was, it was not very inspiring or organized. I didn’t put my goals first and I really should have. Here is what I’m doing now. I’m still modifying this as I go in hopes to optimize my time.

I wake up at 5:45am and flip the coffee pot on. I prepared it the night before so I didn’t have to grind beans (or do anything else for that matter) in the morning, just flipped the switch. As the coffee brews I do some simple stretches to get the kinks out, I’m talking 5 minutes max. During this time I contemplate what I’m going to write about that morning (this is part of my new writing goal that I spoke about previously and is part of this Life2 project).

Once the coffee is ready, I sit and write. If I need a launch point, I’ll read a quote from my Pocket Positives book that is filled with only positive quotes. This is a great way to start your day. The morning headlines are not! In fact, I find that if you read something inspirational or positive first thing in the morning, you will take it with you all day. It’s a great boost for staying positive and an essential part of every morning.

Once 7:15am comes around, I should be done with all my writing (my goal is at least 500 words per day, I’ll up this later to 1000). I no longer have to wake up my daughter because she has an alarm clock and gets up on her own. My very organized wife sets out her clothes the night before, so she is dressed and ready to go without any intervention from me (except hair and teeth). So, my jet stream isn’t really effected by this and now I really enjoy taking my daughter to school, especially since we walk.

I return from school around 8:15am and have breakfast with my wife. I no longer check e-mail first thing in the morning and only check it a couple times throughout the day. More on e-mail in future posts, but I can thank Tim Ferris for this.

My work day is also very regimented and I have more time to do other things. Because I plan my day the night before, I don’t feel like I have to deal with “fires” all day. Of course urgent matters do come up, but they are far and few between. I’m working smarter because I have a schedule, my schedule.

I also put rules in place. Because I primarily work from home (or coffee shop), I need to have discipline. I’m trying to eliminate working from the couch or working past 5:00pm. This is taking some time to get used to, but It’s something I’m working towards. Also, if I give myself a limited time to get work done, then it will get done in the that time. If not, I tend to string it out. For rules to be effective, you have to know your own weaknesses and use the rules as a patch.

By not working beyond 5:00pm, I’m more patient and relaxed. I’m not trying to rush the kids off to bed so I can work. By starting my day positively, I’m able to take the time to achieve my goals and spend quality family time.

This is a work in progress and I’m learning just as much as I’m accomplishing. I’d like to hear from others. Do you have ideas for this work/life balance? What’s your story? How do you start out positive?

Tags: getting up early, jet stream, Lifestyle, planning, positive, positive attitude