TL;DR:
- Your morning routine starts the night before.
- Create routines based on what you want to feel.
- Incorporate small, simple, and strategic steps along the way.
- Remember that each day is YOUR day!
Build Your Mindset Momentum
It’s always an honor being a guest on the Daily Drop In series with my Teach Better Family. The Daily Drop Ins, after all, were a major catalyst for my initial connection with the team, and have continued to be a way that my own personal educator network continues to expand. I had the opportunity to sit with Rae Hughart this week and share all about my passion for mindset on a Daily Drop In that was anchored on the theme of starting and ending your day strong.
When I reflect on our time together, I’ve come to identify three main takeaways that I’m excited to share with YOU!
While you are creating routines and habits for yourself, make sure they align with YOU and your desires. Stay out of shouldville by honoring your own authenticity. Click To TweetTakeaway #1: Your Morning Routine Starts the Night Before
For years I placed my emphasis on my morning routine. I would spend 30-60 minutes each morning preparing for the day ahead. I would engage in activities such as reading, gratitude work, and goal setting, all to create momentum for the day ahead. Over time I wondered if there was an easier way to kick start my day. I wondered if it would be possible to wake up feeling ready, and therefore I could use my morning time to empower my voice and goals, instead of simply getting ready to take on the day.
I found out this was possible when I shifted my mindset on when my morning routine began. Instead of it starting in the morning, with the help of my coach, I realized that my morning routine actually starts the night before.
Through three simple steps, I was able to take back my mornings by strengthening the steps I did leading up the night before.
- Visualize how the next day will go. Lay in bed, close your eyes, and envision the day. Where will you be? Who will you interact with? What will you be wearing? What’s your body language? What are you feeling? Envision for as long as you can and create an image in your mind that is clear and specific.
- Using your visualization, set 1-3 intentions for the next day! Keep your intentions simple, but use these to guide step 3.
- Say 3-5 affirmations about yourself that align with your vision or intentions. These can be related to tomorrow’s tasks or even directed to the night’s sleep ahead of you!
I wrote more about this topic here—if you are looking for more specifics, check out this blog post!
Takeaway #2: Create Routines Based on You Want to Feel
When creating any routine, it can be really easy to end up in Shouldville. When we create our routines based on what we think we “should” do, we end up in shouldville every time. To stay out of shouldville, it’s key to know how you want to feel after completing any routine you set for yourself. By identifying the goal of the routine, you can personalize it to fit the feeling you are desiring.
For example, if you want to feel energized in the morning, your routine may involve a workout or high-energy music. If you wake up feeling more anxious, maybe your morning routine is stretching or a calming meditation. By knowing which activities energize and calm you (among other things) you can create personalized routines that will serve you throughout every day.
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Takeaway #3: Incorporate Small, Simple, and Strategic Steps Along the Way
For any routine you decide to create, I always recommend starting small, simple, and strategic! Small means that it doesn’t take any time at all. Aim for 60 seconds or less to start. Maybe this means you will share gratitude for 1 minute, or you will journal for 60 seconds. Start small and build from there.
Simple means you don’t need to go buy or purchase any item to make it happen. Of course, if you desire to invest in a book or a coach, that’s amazing too. But don’t let it be a barrier that holds back your action. While you are waiting for the book to arrive, you can still take simple steps; often, the only tools you need are paper and a pencil!
Strategic means it aligns to YOU! This is where you come in! What is it you want to change? What are some areas of your current schedule that aren’t feeling aligned with what you desire most? Start there!
When I think about starting and ending each day as strongly as I can, it’s important to remember this one really important detail…and that’s YOU! Each day is YOUR day. So while you are creating routines and habits for yourself, make sure they align with YOU and your desires. Stay out of shouldville by honoring your own authenticity and valuing all that makes YOU, well, YOU!
About Lindsay Titus
Lindsay Titus is a K-12 Behavior Specialist with a license in behavior analyst. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Lindsay coaches and trains educators on the study of behavior and how to implement evidence based behavior principles in simple and easy ways! With experience as a classroom special education teacher, and behavior specialist in public schools, residential placement, and private settings, Lindsay enjoys working with all educators looking to reignite their passion for education, connect with all students, and conquer challenging behavior in any classroom setting.
