Let’s talk about morning routines. If you’ve ever researched self-development or productivity, you’ve undoubtedly come across tons of resources about morning routines and the different activities that people engage in to help jump start their day. While there is no one size fits all method to morning routines, the clear message that spans these websites, books, and articles is the idea that having a routine can help you immensely in your quest to meet your goals.
Though goal setting and achievement are important, I want to challenge you to go a bit deeper and look at the values that are driving these goals. Examining our values is important because often they become so ingrained that we are not aware of them though they play a big part in our decision making. Taking the time to be clear about our values and to work our values into our daily lives can help us to live happier lives.
Try these steps to help you create a morning routine that works well with YOUR values:
Step 1. Examine your Values
-
- Reflect on what is most important to you and make a list of these values. For additional support, check out our values resources and practice activities.
Step 2. Create Goals and Identify Steps to Meet Them
-
- Now that you have some clarity around your values, create 1-2 goals that are aligned with these values to be top priorities your morning routine.
- Think about what steps you will need to help you meet your goals. Are you interested in fostering more positive relationships with your family? Perhaps you can take some time in the morning to write short notes of appreciation to share with loved ones.
Step 3. Create a Morning Routine Using Your Goals
-
- Think realistically about how much time you can devote to a morning routine and then prescribe time allotments for your value-driven activities. For example, you may decide to spend 30 minutes doing yoga if healthy living is a key value.
Step 4. Act and Reassess
-
- Start with a routine with 1-2 goals and reassess your progress at the end of the week. Make changes if needed.
Infusing your values within your morning routine provides an opportunity to wake up living a value-driven life. Let us know how it goes if you implement these steps this week.
