Being an elite business leader doesn’t happen overnight and isn’t accidental. Leveling up in life and business takes consistency and continuity. In Steven R. Covey’s book The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, he says “the key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” Statistically, most millionaire and billionaire entrepreneurs wake up much earlier than everyone else, typically between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. There are many different reasons for this. The biggest reason is that it’s the only way to guarantee time for yourself. Making the most of your personal time is the key.
As you endeavor to use your time efficiently and intentionally, here are 3 hacks to lend flow to your life and help you win your morning.
1. Don’t check your email before planning your day
It’s important that your brain stays in a productive place when setting up your day. Being proactive about your time ensures that it isn’t being siphoned by something less or unimportant.
Brendon Burchard explains it best: “The number one thing that people don’t realize is, they’re losing their day by starting it in reaction. Eighty-six percent of smartphone owners, the first thing they do, they don’t even get out of bed, they turn, they grab their phone on the nightstand … if you jump right into your email, you automatically set the frame in your mind to react to other people’s needs. You’re just reacting to the world, you’re not strategically thinking, What are my moves forward? So, when I begin the day, I’m moving myself forward before I’m replying to anything, and that’s the secret.”
2. Do a brain dump before bed
Productivity expert Stever Robbins suggests you “keep a pad of paper and a pencil next to your bed. Right before you go to sleep, write down anything you’re worrying about that might keep you awake. Your brain will be able to let it go because it knows [the information is] safely written down.”
Not only do you want to write down any worries, but it is also a great time to put words to your creative thoughts that you may have had throughout the day. Checking off lists and beginning new ones for the next day or week could be done before bed to ensure your morning can be as personally beneficial as possible.
3. Leave your phone in the other room
According to a study from the University of Texas at Austin, having phones within sight or within easy reach means some of our brainpower is inevitably used up as we try not to be distracted.
“Your conscious mind isn’t thinking about your smartphone, but that process – the process of requiring yourself to not think about something – uses up some of your limited cognitive resources. It’s a brain drain.”
To avoid a “brain drain,” plan ways to get around having your phone in the bedroom. For example, use an actual alarm clock. Setup a regular bedtime routine that includes charging your phone in another room. Find an accountability partner.
Try these hacks and see how they can improve your mornings. As the CEO Mikael Cho says, “It comes down to how well you manage the small choices you make every day…It’s about putting time in the right places.
