Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Five morning habits to make your day better

When this time of the year reaches and we are hit by the realisation that a brand new '12 months' is going to start, we start reflecting on the year to determine if we have achieved our goals and how the year has been.

I started 2015 in a bad place emotionally due to some personal issues i had going on. As the year progressed by Gods grace i picked myself up and today i can say i achieved 70% of the goals i had set for myself last year this time.

People always stress the importance of setting 'new years' resolutions and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that but when you think about it why do you have to wait for a new year to start working on your dreams? In my opinion, if you were not able to do something this year, what would make you think you can do it because the date has changed from 2015 to 2016.

I absolutely believe in setting goals because 'without a vision, people perish' but i am not going to wait till 1st January 2016 to make it happen. One of the areas i did not do so well this year is in terms of  consistency in my personal discipline or habits. For me to achieve my goals for 2016 i need to work on improving these habits particularly sleeping too much. HaHaaHaH yes!

Here are Five things i have started doing every morning,

  1. Light stretching. I exercise once a week (Yes that is enough for me) however every morning i have been spending 15-20 minutes on light stretching. This includes a few squats  (Yes!i'm trying to grow my small behind bigger. LOL). Physically stretching helps improve posture by relaxing muscles in addition to being a stress buster.
  2. Healthy breakfast. Ever since i started having breakfast every morning i'm a happier person. Literally! Breakfast gives you the energy required to start the day and more importantly it keeps you from overeating throughout the day.
  3. Gratitude journaling. It is good to start the day with positive vibes. When you self reflect on how good God has been in your life, you'll discover so many reasons to go about the day smiling :)
  4. Plan the day. I'm such a believer in living for a purpose. You cant simply exist without any purpose or desires and achieving success is determined by your everyday decisions. Whoever you and and whatever you do, have a purpose. If you're a student think about how far you want to go with that assignment. Even a simple objective like 'doing laundry' counts. Start somewhere.
  5. Always start with your most difficult task, as hard as it sounds when you offload the heavier load first you will have so much peace and can go about your day a happier person than when you have that task at the back of your head all day.
Sometimes it has been really hard waking up in the mornings but i've learnt to start 'the night before'. When you go to bed early, you can wake up in the morning well rested to tackle a new day. Something else i have started doing is set my alarm with a scripture which i'm meditating on for that week, that way i am motivated to wake up.

I really encourage you, if you are not doing so already to think if a few things you can do each morning to set the tone of your day to become more positive and that way you can better achieve your goals. Behavioral psychology says it takes 21 days to form a habit, so think of what you can do differently and try it out the entire December, by 2016 it will be a habit :)

Remember to set goals for yourself that are specific and achievable and do reward yourself for small successes!


10 Morning Habits of Mentally Strong People

You don't need to act physically tough to appear mentally strong.

A mindset that is mentally strong understands the importance of consistency and following a pattern to attain those goals that will mark them for success.

Our mornings are important and you can attain only so much during the day, by getting started right. Here are 10 things mentally people do every morning.

1. They meditate.
From Russell Simmons to Oprah Winfrey, meditating seems to be a morning ritual. Meditation helps you find your rhythm and be in touch with your inner self.

2. They assess their emotions.
Mental strength is not about suppressing your emotions, but actually knowing how to deal with them and being aware of your strengths and weaknesses.

Mentally strong people assess their emotions and know what thoughts and feelings help them become the best they can be.

3. They practice positive self-talk.
Before going out to face a world of busy-ness, they regulate their inner drive by assuring themselves of how great they are and what they can accomplish.

Mentally strong people use phrases like "I am great" and "I will be super today." Such practice gets their minds to be positive and stay focused on being the best they can be.

4. They reach out.
They reach out to those they care about and practice love. Love helps you realize self-compassion and the need to be connected with others who surround you.

5. They set healthy boundaries.
Reaching out doesn't mean they give out their power. They know they have to be responsible for how they think, feel, and behave. And setting healthy boundaries is one way they can maintain their identity.

6. They set goals.
They know what they want to accomplish for the day. They don't dilly-dally. Rather, they are clear and focused on how they will spend their day.

By setting goals during the morning, they can organize their thoughts and prepare mentally for the day's activities.

7. They exercise.
Exercising and working out helps them build their minds and remain physically fit. This is an opportunity to task themselves and know if they can maintain a routine and improve their personalities as well.

8. They challenge themselves to become better.
They want to know what they need to work on and what could be holding them back from growth.

Mentally strong people do not want to be stuck. Rather, they are constantly looking for opportunities to become a better version of themselves.

9. They embrace joyful moments.
They know they can benefit from the unlimited powers of their mind only if they practice expansive thinking. Mentally strong people are not so hard on themselves.

If it is reading a book that makes them happy, they do it. If it is listening to particular kind of music that excites them, they do it.

They don't limit their reach for being happy. Rather, they are always willing to embrace joyful moments.

10. They hope for the best.
There is only so much you can do. That is why mentally strong people look for the best in what they will face during the day.

They do not want to be brought down by energy-stealers. Rather, they focus on the amazing possibilities that the day will offer them.

Here is a similar video:



10 Morning Habits of Mentally Strong People appeared on http://www.inc.com/