Successful Sleeping: The Key to Your Morning Routine

  Regardless of how you feel about the outcome of this year’s Super Bowl, or quarterback Tom Brady, there’s something off the field that the Patriots’ player does really well: Sleep. According to interviews, Brady goes to bed around 8:30 or 9 p.m. at night (when he’s not on the field) and wakes up at 5:30 a.m. every single day. He not only understands the importance of getting enough sleep to stay healthy — which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “enough” is between seven and eight hours — he also knows that success is heavily reliant on your routine.  

Waking Up Early

Having a consistent morning routine can set you up for a successful rest of the day. Waking up early gives you the time you need to invest in yourself and in the day ahead. If you need some more convincing, check out this article. [bctt tweet="Having a consistent morning routine can set you up for a successful rest of the day." username="dukematlock"] Here are some things to consider putting into your morning routine:

1. Quiet time/devotions with God
2. Reading for personal growth
3. Reviewing the day’s schedule and making a priority list
4. Exercising (it can be as simple as walking)

What will set you up for success each morning? Write down what you want your morning routine to look like. Take each early morning addition one day at a time until they become daily habits.  

Going to Bed… Really

If you’ve got a lot of things to include in your morning routine, you might be thinking — just how early do I have to wake up? And if you’re accustomed to staying up late, either working or otherwise, the thought of getting up even earlier might sound a little daunting. If you aren’t new around here, you’ve probably heard me use the phrase “bookending your day” a few times. I repeat it because it’s crucial to maintaining a healthy physical, mental, and emotional state in the chaos that is life and leadership! “Going to bed” could mean something different for different people. For a lot of us, it means getting into bed and proceeding to check emails, social media, etc. until an hour or two later when you finally try to get some sleep. Bookending your day means creating a stopping point in your work day; the time when you are really going to stop working and really go home. It could be the same with going to bed. Pick a time each night that you’re really going to go to bed and get the sleep you need to be able to wake up early and invest in your day.   It’s important to remember that developing these habits isn’t a punishment; waking up early doesn’t have to be painful, and neither does going to bed at a decent hour. While it may be hard at first, especially if it’s different than your normal routine, the end results will leave you feeling more in control of your day — and more rested — which can reflect success in so many other aspects of your life. Happy sleeping!    

LIKE THIS POST?

Sign up to receive my posts via email and get a FREE copy of 21 Actions to Jumpstart Momentum! 

[activecampaign form=3]]]>