These seven strategies will help you win your days early and often. Starting your mornings off with these winning rituals will keep you motivated, disciplined, and ready for any challenges that may come your way.

1. Make Your Bed

   This is an age old strategy, but don’t like that fool you because it’s popular for a reason. Making your bed is a small win and despite what you’re told small wins are just as, if not more, important as the big ones. Research has shown that both small and big wins activate your brains reward circuitry. Studies also suggest that merely tracking and acknowledging these wins can boost your overall motivation and self confidence. Who knew making your bed could make all that difference?

2. Rise Early

   Wake up by 6 AM. No exceptions. Yes, it'll be difficult at first, and yes, this means you need to go to bed earlier, but the benefits of waking up early far outweigh the ostensible benefits of heading to bed late. One of the benefits of waking up early is the of meditative silence you’ll experience. This silence is a unique and exclusive quality of early mornings. By waking up earlier you allow yourself the head space to prepare for your day without all the distractions the usual morning rush hour brings. If you’re interested in a how to wake up early blog post, be sure to let me know!

3. Gratitude

   Start your day with thank you. Get a pen and note pad and write down three things you’re grateful for. No judgement as to what that is. It can be your dog, a new business project, or even the fact that you woke up. Doesn’t matter, what matters is that you’re genuine with your gratitude. After you write down those three things, read them out loud to yourself. Speak purposefully and genuinely. This will active your highest self and ensure that you start your day off positively and with high energy. It’s important you get your spirit right as soon as possible, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Tip: Get a dedicated gratitude journal and keep it bedside!

4. Sweat

   Now, I wouldn’t be a good fitness advisor if I didn’t tell you to move! Start your day with a workout, whether it be a run, walk, or strength training session. Whatever it is you do, it’s important that you sweat! If you don’t sweat, it doesn’t count. The idea behind this is that you’ve putting your best effort into whatever activity you engage in. This high effort will solidify this as a win. It’s not enough to simply “just get through it,” you have to fight through it. Do something challenging, sweat, and fight for this win!

5. Plan

   Whether you prefer to do lists or mental notes, it’s important that you actually plan for your day. Run through any meetings you have, projects, goals, and personal commitments you have for the day. This is the time to check your calendar and yesterday’s notes to make sure you’re not forgetting anything. Once you’ve done this thoroughly, organize your day so that the hardest stuff (projects, write-ups, goals, and so on) are scheduled for the beginning of the day. I know, that probably doesn’t sound exciting but hear me out! Not only will this be an obvious win but doing the toughest thing first will create momentum for the rest of the day as well as an effective and intentional habit.

6. Give

   Similar to gratitude this strategy is necessary for awaking your highest self and for getting your inner energy as high as possible. Giving is very personal so do whatever feels right to you that day. For some context giving might be as simple a sending a complimentary text to a friend, giving a loved one a much needed call, or providing extra value to a customer or client. Like I said this looks different for everyone, but it’s imperative to complete this one genuinely and purposefully. Your inner energy will be at it’s highest and your day will reflect it!

7. Visualize

   Lastly, visualize your long term goals and future successes. Although it’s important to live presently, it’s just as important to remember that you are actively creating the future you want. Although visualization centers the future, it also has the capacity to remind you that the power is in now. In these moments of visualization ask yourself how you are creating you future? What is the future you’re currently creating and how might you want to change or adjust that? Commit yourself fully to visualizing, and allow all of your senses to participate in this practice. And remember, visualization must always be followed up by action and “being.” Simply allow visualization to lead the way.