Hey Moguls, Doug Van Buskirk here…
I’m a firm believer in the power of momentum.
As such, the way you start your day has a huge impact on the events that follow. As soon as you wake up, you begin setting the tone for the rest of your day.
I’m going to share with you a new morning routine that I’ve used to get control of my day from the moment my alarm goes off.
And I believe that if you follow this plan, you’ll be more focused, happier and have a clearer sense of direction as you get out into the world.
So let’s start with the obvious question…
What are the first few things you currently do when you wake up?
In the technology age, it’s pretty popular to have your phone sitting by your bedside, which makes it easy to hop on Facebook or check email before you’ve even gotten out of bed.
Or maybe you flip on the TV to check the news? Whatever it is that you do, just think about it right now…
And let me offer a 3-step alternative that I believe will improve your productivity, your happiness and your mood throughout the entire day.
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First things first, get your blood flowing.
You’re the boss here, so there’s all kinds of options. Take a short, brisk walk outside. Do some jumping jacks. If you’re really feeling frisky, take a quick cold shower (it’s pretty invigorating and will definitely wake you up fast).
Any of these things are great transitions to get your brain engaged and ready to dominate the coming day. As crazy as it sounds, try doing your “blood flow” work even before firing up your first pot of coffee (heresy, I know!).
Now that you’re awake and alive, you’ll be ready to move into step 2…
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Take time to reflect and appreciate.
Oh man, is it tempting to want to start getting after it right away, especially when you’ve got a ton on your plate. But it’s easy to lose perspective if we don’t stop and take time to appreciate the blessings in our lives.
We all have the varying tendency to focus on what we don’t have instead of what we do have. So, simply stop for 3-5 minutes to sit in silence and think about everything you have to be grateful for. And watch what happens. You’ll start to notice more and more little things all around you that let you know that you are truly blessed.
Suddenly the trivial crap that’s been weighing on your mind just melts away.
What’s that? I’m getting kind of corny on you? That’s what I thought, too, when I first started this practice. But I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that these 3-5 minutes are among the most valuable of everything I do in my day. They reframe how I experience the world, and I believe it can have the same impact on you.
Still with me? Perfect. Now that we’ve established the right mindset, let’s move into some nuts and bolts…
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Plan and prioritize.
Now, it’s time to make some decisions…
What are the most important things you need to get accomplished today?
Stephen Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, says to “begin with the end in mind.”
What 3-4 things need to get done today to move your business forward? Avoid putting too many things on this list. Instead, force yourself to prioritize so that the truly important activities rise to the surface.
How many times have you woken up with no real plan, only to have the whole day pass you by? As you go to sleep that night, you wonder, “What did I really get done today?”
That’s a terrible feeling to have. And one that can be avoided by following these simple steps.
Now, let’s bring the conversation back to momentum.
What do you think the effect of implementing these 3 steps into your morning routine would be?
What I’ve found is that it gets my day started out right. I feel good and that creates positive momentum that carries through my entire day.
I’ve shared this method with a few friends and colleagues, and their experiences were very similar.
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More energy.
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More focus.
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More drive.
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More satisfaction with themselves.
So try it out for yourself tomorrow morning, and let me know how it goes!
Until next time,
Doug
Share, friends
Give it a go and share your experience in the comments section below.
Do something first thing in the morning – before you jump into work or check your email – to get your blood flowing, like a brisk walk, cold shower or jumping jacks.
Spend a few minutes each morning focusing on your blessings; what you’re grateful for in your life.
Plan and prioritize the things that need to get that day.
Follow these 3 steps and use the positive momentum from doing these steps to move your business forward.
Doug Van Buskirk
has always been fascinated with patterns in how people behave. He's used that passion to put a spotlight on the intersection of real estate and psychology, applying that science to networking, negotiation, and marketing. Doug's been investing for a little over 2 years, specializing in single-family wholesaling and mobile homes. In that time, he's also built an online marketing company and real estate coaching program. Doug first achieved his financial freedom at age 25, going from never having done a deal to replacing his 9-5 income with cash flow from income properties in just under 6 months. He lives in Charleston, SC with his fiancé Jen and Lhasa Apso dog, Amber.