How To Guarantee A Successful Start To Each Day

As soon as you wake up, you can decide that today will be a success. This is your first and biggest choice of the day. And it is a choice! You can choose to put yourself in a positive frame of mind. You can enjoy a leisurely start and still get to work in good time, with a smile on your face.

Having a good start sets you up for a more productive, more fulfilling day. The method that ensures a good day consists of just a few, simple steps. They are, in fact, laughably simple - but that doesn't make them easy!

Before going to bed tonight, take a quiet ten minutes. Think about what you need to do tomorrow and make sure you've got everything you have to take with you. Then open up a self improvement book and copy out a few lines that appeal to you - like this example from Orison Swett Marden: "Your expectations opens or closes the doors of your supply. If you expect grand things, and work honestly for them, they will come to you, your supply will correspond with your expectation"

Leave this note right by your bed, so you can read it as soon as you wake up.

Set your alarm for half an hour before the time at which you really need to get up.

The first and single most important thing you do in the morning:

Get up early!

This simply means getting out of bed the moment the alarm goes off. Now put yourself into a positive frame of mind by reading the quotation you prepared the night before. Spend a few minutes thinking about all you have to be grateful for. But not while you're still lying in bed! You'll fall asleep again. Do your thinking as you pull some clothes on. Then wake yourself up properly with a little exercise. Get your body moving with a few gentle stretches. Get outside for a brisk walk. Five minutes out and five back is enough - ten would be better. Get your arms swinging and put a bit of a spring in your step. This is your day - you're in charge!

Recite some positive affirmations as you walk. Think of all you have to be grateful for, and whatever you have to look forward to today. Once you're home again, take a shower, get dressed for the day and enjoy a light breakfast. Then head out with a minimum of ten minutes to spare, so your journey isn't rushed.

The alternative? You can start the day with a panic. Get out of bed at the last possible minute. Then dash about, cursing because you need to iron a shirt, and you're already late. So you get to work late and spend the entire morning trying to catch up. Where's the fun in that? Its such a simple choice - but that's how an awful lot of people begin their working day.

To summarize: If you want to make a success of your day, get up early! Get out of bed immediately your alarm goes off. Read a brief inspirational quote. Take a little light exercise - preferably a brisk walk. While you're walking, count your blessings. Take a shower, then have a little light breakfast and set off for work in good time to arrive ten minutes before you actually need to be there. And don't forget to smile! None of this is complicated - it just takes a little forethought. And guess what - it works for me!