With small, incremental changes, you’ll reflect and see that you are successful because of the following powerful daily routines.
This article does not promise to makeover your entire life or guarantee that you’ll become a morning person ready to run five miles before the sun rises – unless that’s your goal, and if so, rise and grind! This article will, I hope, provide some opportunities for a shift in perspective. With small, incremental changes, you’ll reflect and see that you are successful because of the following powerful daily routines.
Only you can define what success means for you
Before you go out and buy planners, journals and organizers, spend some time in self-reflection. What is it that you want to achieve that would mean success?
The key to this is to be specific. When defining success, try to be as exacting as you can. Many people like to create SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. There are reasons for this.
It boils down to developing habits of success. If you can set personal SMART goals, you will find them achievable, thereby establishing a successful routine.
You’re re-wiring your brain. There are plenty of TED Talks, podcasts and books that talk about success and happiness. It can all be distilled into a specific area of psychology referred to as cognitive behavior therapy. You didn’t develop your habit of staying up late or not exercising in just a day, so it’s going to take that much more to unlearn and re-learn a new pattern in its stead.
Once you have a Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely goal laid out for yourself, write it down! There is no exception to this. Neuroscience research proves that the act of writing makes your mind more efficient by helping you focus on the important stuff.
Find a system of accountability
There’s a reason why so many New Year’s Resolutions never make it past February. We as humans are a fickle sort and are easily distracted. If we can think of an excuse not to do something (such as cultivate a routine for success), we will find that excuse. And then the habit fizzles out.
Make it a routine
This may seem obvious, especially for an article entitled “Practicing Powerful Daily Routines for Success,” but humans are creatures of habit. If you want to give yourself the best chance of success, plan your SMART goal in a way that you can achieve it routinely, preferably, daily. Here are some examples of goals that can quickly become routines, therefore having the most excellent chance of sticking and making you feel successful:
Make the bed every morning.
Lay out work clothes the night before.
Meditate before bed.
Turn off electronics by 11 p.m.
Again, your un-habits weren’t formed overnight, so it will take that much more effort to unlearn and then practice new habits in their place. You can do it!
Practice Gratitude Daily
Whether your daily gratitude practice is in meditation, prayer or journaling, this is a powerful daily routine that is transformative. It can be as small as finding gratitude every morning before your feet hit the floor or writing out something you’re grateful for while writing the day’s to-do list. Every person is different, but if you can incorporate, “Today I am grateful for…” as a daily routine, it will guarantee your success.
Practicing gratitude eases symptoms of anxiety and depression, fosters better moods and is linked to positive feelings and a sense of well-being. With a daily gratitude practice, you provide your brain with the neurochemicals that allow it to be primed for positive habits. Your daily routines for success will compound and you’ll find it to be easier to add new goals. Practicing gratitude is foundational to building your personal, powerful daily routine for success – one that only you can define.
Best wishes on your journey! QCBN
By Jamaal McCoy
Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.
