How to Win the Day

There’s a saying that goes something like “Win the morning, win the day.” That is to say, if you get off to a great start each day, you’re likely to have a good day. It seems a truism almost, but there’s more to it than the obvious. There is a lot you can do in the first hour or two of your day that will have an outsized impact on the rest of your day.

At a basic level, most people will be at their highest level of mental energy and productivity early in the day, so scheduling high value work early in the day is usually a good idea. I love the idea that, if I’ve genuinely progressed my business by about 10am, I could just stop working and still be happy that I’ve had a productive and successful day. Furthermore, given the clear science around decision fatigue, it is also wise to make significant decisions early in the day, before we are ‘mentally tired’ and start to just make lazy, or easy, decisions.

However, I like to go to another level on this topic. Its not just about doing the right things at the right time of day. Beyond that, how you manage your first hour or two (literally, immediately after you get out of bed), can have a great and positive impact on how you perform, and on your mindset, for the rest of the day. Consider it an exercise in ‘priming yourself’ for the day ahead.

There are plenty of different things you can do during that first hour of the day and I’m certainly not wedded to any single routine. Perhaps the best way to look at it is to consider some of what you are aiming to achieve in the priming process. If you don’t already have an established routine, here are some possible ideas about what you may try to achieve and examples of how to achieve it:

1. Get energized. A great starting point and, for many people, this means exercise first thing. Whether that’s going for a run, going to the gym, doing a half hour stretching routine at home or even just starting immediately with 10 push-up, these will all serve to get you ‘kick-started’ and energized. Drinking water first thing is also a great way to help you have a ‘high-energy day’.

2. Start succeeding. Success, excellence and starting hard things are all just habits, so why not start well each day on these habits. Take your pick of what form it takes but, for me, having a cold shower (literally just 20 seconds of full cold at the end of a regular hot shower) not only energizes me but seems to have a direct correlation with how well I attack difficult things later in the day. Make a tough decision early and you’re more likely to make them later.

3. Set your subconscious mind to the right things. Knowing that it will be processing all day, knowing its power and knowing that it is otherwise very unselective about what to focus on, it is wise to give your subconscious some guidance each morning. This can come in the form of meditation, in various mindfulness practices or simply spending ten or fifteen minutes reviewing your goals and plans, as well as your affirmations.

4. Get positive. The mind processes faster in a positive state and its certainly a more enjoyable state! It is also a state in which you’re more likely to overcome challenges that come up during the day. Again, meditation can assist in this, as can spending time visualising and verbalising your dream board or similar representation of the ideal life you’re building.

5. Deep thinking. Given that your mind will probably be in its highest state of productivity first thing in the morning, including some deep thinking, or reading, within that first hour, can be very beneficial. It is likely to be very productive reading or thinking and, in my experience, among the most likely times to have valuable new ideas.

A morning routine that genuinely primes you to be at your best, and in your best state, for the rest of the day, is among the most common (almost universal) habits of the highest performers. There is no single routine that must be followed. Just do what works for you. But do something. It is too valuable and too straightforward to not!