Introduction:
Having helped thousands successfully implement morning routines, we want to share with you five simple secrets to greatly increase your chances of following through with your morning ritual.
Luckily, it doesn’t involve going to sleep by 6 p.m. or waking up at 4 a.m. and sacrificing quality Zzz. In fact, these five secrets to successfully building a morning routine start the night before. By getting your mind ready for the next day, you’ll be able to increase your ability to implement a powerful morning routine.
1. Set your clothes out for the next day
This is incredibly helpful for reducing “decision fatigue” the next morning, and especially great at priming you to start the day with exercise if that’s one of your goals. As soon as you wake up, you see your clothes and know exactly what that means. You still have to put in the work of course, but this simple tweak can make all the difference.
2. Clean off your desk and work area
Take a few minutes each night before you go to bed to clean your desk and work area so you’re greeted with an organized workspace the next day. Set your laptop out with your calendar / most important to-do items, so as soon as you log on, you have a clear picture of what needs to get done.
3. Put your favorite book out in the open
When finished cleaning your workspace, leave the book you’re reading (or want to read) on the desk. When you wake up, you’ll see the book and know that reading just a few pages before will help you make progress on it before work and life get in the way.
4. Plan your three MITs
Take 10 minutes the night before to plan out what your 2-3 “Most Important Items” are. Once your morning routine is on autopilot for the next day, you know you won’t have anything distracting you from getting to work on the 2-3 things that will have the most impact on your work and personal life.
Of course, things might change when you wake up, but having a few clear goals the night before makes it significantly more likely that your most important items will get done.
5. Check your calendar
In addition to planning your 2-3 most important next tasks for the day, take a quick peek at your calendar. Look for any major events that might distract you from getting those 3 MITs done. This way, you’ll reduce the chances of anything “popping up” and distracting you from checking off your to-dos.
Conclusion:
In total, your nightly routine of prepping for the next day should take no more than 20 minutes. So if you’re struggling to stick to a morning routine, try just a few of these things the night before. We think you’ll be surprised with the results.
