Good morning sunshine!

What are your morning habits? What morning routines can you introduce into your day for greater focus and productivity?

Whether in my 20s, 30s or 40s, I have found over the decades my morning rituals have changed quite considerably. Depending on my age, my morning routines were quite different when my roles were single, wife, mother of two small children, single parent, employee, boss and now, entrepreneur.

Now, with my teenagers increased independence, mornings with them are so enjoyable, rather than rushed and harried. I ensure I prioritize time on my morning routine to set the day up right and realize, I have always had time to do so. What I did not have in my previous harried years were clear personal priorities rather than concentrating only on the priorities of those around me. Priorities that include health and emotional well-being as well as work and kids.

The first thing I do when I wake up is a ten-minute meditation (love the Headspace app). I set my intentions for the day, followed by a large glass of ice water. The Australian in me needs that ice water for a quick jumpstart, and it is just as important as my morning coffee.

A tip to those that don’t make their bed after jumping out of it in the morning – start doing so. The simple act of making your bed — no matter what — gives you an instant feeling of accomplishment and that sticks with you throughout the day. (Not to mention, it’s less tempting to crawl back into a made bed than an unmade one!)

I have found a great workout gym close by called Fit Body Boot Camp that has 30-minute classes, and with that time frame, it is difficult to find an excuse not to go. If I can get in a good 30-minute workout class, or alternatively exercise at home prior to starting my ‘work day’, all feels good in the world. While getting ready I use this as my ‘thinking time’ of what is planned for the day ahead. I intentionally think about how I can transform interactions into positive encounters, be focused and present, and attain my established goals for the day. I mentally go through the meetings and calls I am taking and outcomes I would like for each one. It is then time to fuel up. My favorite go-to in the morning is a green smoothie.

I have an annual business plan, that is broken down into quarterly targets and weekly project priorities. Every Sunday evening, I spend time evaluating my past week and mapping out what priorities need to be concentrated on in the upcoming week. At the end of every business day, I review my schedule for the next day. I ensure I have a minimum of three, 50-minute periods to enable focused, uninterrupted time to concentrate on my top three projects. Starting the day already knowing what the priorities are, ensures that I am getting through the items that will bring me the most return on a professional level.

I am a strong believer in the 80/20 Rule or Pareto Principle. What that means is that in any given situation, 20% of your activities are normally responsible for 80% of your results. The time spent scrutinizing items on my ‘to do’ list is a key daily habit. I focus on the most important items first, guaranteeing the most significant results consistently.

When in my productivity zone (the 50-minute uninterrupted focused project times), I turn off my phone and concentrate on the task at hand. When not in calls or in meetings, I use a 50-10 productivity tip learned that has been extremely helpful. I work uninterrupted on one activity for 50 minutes. I then take a stretch or do something completely different for ten minutes. I use this time to stand and move around. The invigorated blood circulating keeps my energy up; it works brilliantly.

Use your schedule to stay on top of priorities, meetings, and activities. Don’t forget to schedule in breaks like lunch and actually take a break and refuel – working through will not help you get to the end game any faster (well, perhaps the ultimate end game, but who has prioritized that as a goal?!).

I would also encourage you throughout the day to:

• Smile for no reason; it simply makes you feel happier,
• Be kind and do kind for others; we often are too focused on a task at hand and don’t stop to think what our clients or colleagues need from us. Remember the Golden Rule.
• Be present — listen — when being spoken to. It will make a great difference in the conversation outcomes. Excuse yourself if you need to take a call or text don’t do it in front of another; it devalues their time and takes away from your focus and attention.
• Use every transition (even if it is as simple as every time you walk through a door frame) to think of what you want out of your next action.

If you would like to book a free 30-minute High-Performance Coaching Consultation on techniques that you can implement to boost your productivity, or learn more about high-performance coaching please schedule a time by clicking on the the link below.

If you have any questions about 90-day coaching packages offered through Jenny Reilly Consulting, please email jenny@jennyreilly.com or call 604-616-1967.