How to Start Your Morning Powerfully

It's been said - and written, and said and written - that to set yourself up for a great day, you need to thoughtfully consider how you start it from the moment you wake. Every person on the planet has a plethora of choices how to do that and there are countless articles that give suggestions and "how to's" along with examples. (This one is no different but it's intended to be more personal) The thing that irks me about these is that after reading them, I feel like I come up short. I feel like I'm not doing enough or not doing it right. (Does that ever happen to you?) So I examined my own morning patterns and rituals and I found I'm doing it "just right" - for me - for now.

There was a time not too long ago when I was "feet on the floor" at 4:15 am, protein shake or bar for the road, boxing at the heavy bag for one hour at 5am followed by one hour of weights. Back to my home office for a shower, cappuccino and first client session at 7:30am, or 8:00am. I felt powerful and I felt productive! Then massive health issues for nearly ten years brought all that to a slow and steady halt. (Most people don't know that about me)

Now, after finally being healed and not dead as was predicted (many more don't know that about me), I rejoice in the fact that any sort of morning routine has remained. I celebrate a productive day in a different way. While I'm determined to get this body back to fighting shape and hit the boxing bag again, for now, what I'm doing is "just right" for me. Because it fuels me and makes me feel inspired.

I've broken it down with simple steps you can take to start your own morning powerfully and greatly inspired. What's different is, you get to take the model and make it your own. No "should's". No "right" way or "best" way. No recipes for smoothies that you likely won't enjoy. No super cool exercises you "ought" to do. No guilt trips for not doing something that "uber successful, power packed, mega rich, wildly famous" (and whatever other envy-inspired adjective we could add) people do.

Just right. Just for you. Just where you are. Right now.

You can see my own morning routine by clicking here but here's the breakdown for you to create your personal version.

1. Fill your mind with inspiration to ground your mindset. Whether it's an audio book, music, poetry, or the Good Book is up to you. I encourage you to just make sure it's uplifting to you. (No squawk boxes here) Be INTENTIONAL with what goes in your mind just like you do your body. My time reading my devotionals is non negotiable and irreplaceable.
2. Reflect with gratitude. If you're grateful for your dog, your fish, your Honey, your family, your home, your work, the day you had yesterday, the workout you did manage to get in or the mere fact that you don't have baby throw up on you yet, reflect on how lucky you are in this life you lead. When you can, acknowledge someone with gratitude. Giving away your gratitude is even more powerful than keeping it to yourself. I go through my grateful list in my head, thanking God for all He's done. Then, I kiss my fiance for a good morning because I'm grateful for all he does for me.
3. Nourish your brain and body. You might, in fact, like those green smoothies (I do but I'm not religious about them anymore). You may, like me, enjoy a warm brew - coffee, tea, lemon water. Or you might really need that hearty breakfast to get your engine going. Take time to do that so you don't start the day with your tank on empty. Mine is my cappuccino. But not for the caffeine. For the love of coffee - which has its brain benefits - not the least of which, reminds me of home in Italy.
4. Set your intention and make priorities. Most importantly here is to check in on your priorities for the day. Barring major breakdowns, few things suck during the workday than feeling like you're constantly running behind schedule or off track. Once that train is derailed, it leaves us wishing for a "do over" (but we know clicking our heels won't give it to us). I absolutely must check my online calendar every morning (sometimes so I know what day it is because life can move so fast). It gives me the sense of order and power over how my day goes. (because we all know that "control" over how things go is merely an illusion, though admittedly an alluring one)
5. Feed your soul. I encourage you to think of the ONE THING that you simply can't do your day without. Be certain, without fail, to include this in your morning. If it's exercise for the runner's high or the creative arts or singing out loud in the shower, don't leave it out! For me, it's my call with my mother. Just hung up in fact. This, too, is a non negotiable. I can't. do. the. day. without. her.
6. Handle the most important matters of the day. Reading your vital communications for the day ensures you're handling family, workload, clients and everything else that we prioritize in our daily life. Doing it in the early morning is intended to give you a bit of peaceful quiet to thoughtfully respond and carefully insert unplanned tasks into your (probably already full) day. I check texts from family first and emails next. That keeps me on top of my highest priorities.
7. Get connected. Again, this doesn't mean turning on the news and getting connected to all of the negative stuff going on in the world. I'm not suggesting you hide from what's going on but I am saying that connecting to PEOPLE first will fill you up instead of raising your anxiety level. It might be reading industry journals, picking up the phone to call a prized client or hot prospect - not to sell but to connect or some other meaningful social activity. Key word here is "meaningful". Me, I check in to LinkedIn. I get to celebrate with peers and colleagues on their posts. I get a feel for what is going on in the world. I check in on industry leaders and influencers so I keep my finger on the pulse of what's happening. I reach out via LI messaging on occasion. Doesn't take me more than 15 minutes.

After all that, it's GAME ON and I'm full swing into my day - usually by 8:45 or 9:00am. I used to think that was a slacker's start time. Years later, I realize I actually "started" the minute I opened my eyes. Because everything I do prepares me and sets me up for a powerful day - even when it's Monday!

SHARE WITH US YOUR FAVORITE OF THESE OR EVEN ONE OF YOUR MOST POWERFUL MORNING RITUALS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

I'm Dr. Aprille Trupiano and I love love that I get to work with financial professionals around the world, teaching them how to go from Solopreneur to CEO. I so enjoy when I get to take what I teach out into the real world and combine it with adventure and exploration, like we're doing with our Executive Women in Finance Mastermind Retreat in Dubai. There are a couple of spots left...which Executive Women do you know who would love this intimate experience? Where should I send her private invitation?