I’m starting to believe that how you spend the first ten minutes of your morning determines how your day will go. Take this morning for instance, I got up late and then spent a few minutes in gratitude and offering the day to the Universe. Then I went to make the coffee. Once we had that, I set about writing down what I wanted to achieve through the day.
Things didn’t go according to plan. Although, I have several pending projects, mostly involving writing, I was interrupted. Since I had already surrendered the day, even though I was cross with certain events and people, I was able to settle back into doing what I had planned. The day is halfway through, and I’m happy to say, I’ve accomplished quite a bit.
I know I need to include a lot more ‘fixed’ events into the first ten minutes of my morning, and I’ve been researching this a fair bit. The idea is for me to stay creative, inspired, productive and at peace at the end of the day. I thought I’d share some of my ‘findings’ with you.
This is something I came across from the Harvard Business Review on this subject.
“Mise-en-place is the religion of all good line cooks,” Bourdain wrote in his runaway bestseller Kitchen Confidential. “As a cook, your station, and its condition, its state of readiness, is an extension of your nervous system… The universe is in order when your station is set…”
The “Meez,” as professionals call it, translates into “everything in its place.” In practice, it involves studying a recipe, thinking through the tools and equipment you will need, and assembling the ingredients in the right proportion before you begin. It is the planning phase of every meal—the moment when chefs evaluate the totality of what they are trying to achieve and create an action plan for the meal ahead.
Sounds like a great idea but I’m more a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of operator. I know this must change, if I am to be creative and productive.
I really loved this infographic from Entrepreneur Magazine encouraging us to take our mornings back – and I really want to do that.
Also read: A list of 10 things the most successful individuals do within the initial 10 minutes of the workday from Inc.com
Summer is here and the sun comes up early in my part of the world, so I’m hoping to start waking up much earlier and getting a routine in place.
How do you spend the first ten minutes of your morning? Did any of these ideas strike you?
Happy to be linking in with The 1Word Blog Challenge. Held every Wednesday – the words given were ‘secrets’ or ‘morning’. I chose ‘morning’.
The link-up hosts are:
Lisa @ The Golden Spoons
Janine @ Confessions of A Mommyaholic
Marcia @ Blogitudes
Hi, I couldn’t agree more, the first ten minutes of our morning will definitely flow through the day, I usually start my day with a gratitude prayer, that works well to give me a peaceful morning, coffee and exercise follows next, that gives me the energy to start my day. Thanks for sharing a very informative post.
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Well I certainly can see some things I need to change immediately from that infographic! I didn’t know that bout the snooze button but it makes sense. I need a subscription to that magazine. What a challenge this post is – a good one. I try to start my morning in prayer, reading my Bible and just sitting quiet for a bit, then write the top 5 things I need to accomplish that day. I need to get better at it! Very inspiration post – I’m saving it!
This is a brilliant post Corinne – I usually waste the early part of my day, dithering, reading blogs and reading email newsletters … I am going to seriously re look at it .
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I think it’s important to find out what works best for you in the morning. I can never do my most mentally demanding tasks first thing, my brain needs time to come up to speed. I know that so I plan around it. And yes, have I intentions for the day but if I wake up and realise that these don’t feel right – I am adaptable aka “if it don’t fit, not force it”.
I like to begin my day with tea savouring half an hour of alone time. Very true, Corinne, we need those 10 minutes to set the tone of the entire day. Loved the infograph.
This is a much-needed post for me, Corinne! Thank you! I work a full-time afternoon/evening shift – so I get up each morning with a limited amount of time to work on my blog and other personal matters before I have to get ready and leave for work. Those hours need to be productive because it’s midnight or after before I’ll return home again – there’s not much time then to do much before retiring to bed. I get up each day with a plan in mind, but then (as the marvelous infographic warns) I check email or social media … and then I’m off and running in all sorts of directions that carry me away from my plan. Before I know what’s hit me, it’s time to leave for work and I’ve accomplished very little of what needed done for the day. I can definitely improve my mornings by following several of the helpful suggestions you’ve included in this marvelous post! So glad you linked up with One Word and posted this! Thank you!
Corinne, my first ten minutes since Lent has started: I pour a glass of water, set the coffee pot on, sit out on our deck while I drink my water, meditating on God’s creation. I then get my coffee and head to my special place for Bible study and journaling. So far, so good! I’m greeting each day with such a positive attitude and being so much more productive, I know I’ll keep up the routine far after Lent is behind me.
Wonderful post!
Blessings!
This is all great advice and it is evident that I am terrible at mornings! I do several of these “don’ts” including hitting snooze, screen time until I fall asleep (sometimes), and checking emails/blog/etc right away. The first thing I usually do is take a shower which is helpful, though.
I completely agree, the first 10 min of the day do set the tone for the day. Some very good suggestions, thank you!!
There just might be something to this. Of course, I always do it wrong.
You know Corinne when I was a student , if I didn’t start studying in the beginning of the day I just couldn’t start studying at all that day…For me planning a day is so important and yes it doesn’t always go as per plan but just the thought of me having planned and scheduled gives me the sanity to go through the entire day
The infograph is interesting. Corrine I love the subject/theme of your posts. The first thing that comes to my mind when I open my eyes in the morn is that I am alive and in one piece. My next thoughts dwell on my mother who is old. I feel blessed to be her daughter. I think of my husband and son and get going.
Oh yes The way we begin the day determines, to a large extent, how the rest of the day pans out. I usually list things the night before – the must-dos-s so I start with a plan. The mornings, of course are always spent in the kitchen, which I find wonderfully therapeutic.
Love the infograph, Corinne.
Ah yes, you’re a list-girl. I’m starting to do that too – and guess what? It works! 😛
This was great Corinne Rodrigues! So confirming to me in many ways. Looks like we are on the same track. I definitely can’t get online first off, ruins everything, BLACK HOLE is an understatement. I still try and do my “morning pages” exercise from THE ARTISTS WAY each morning. I’m saving this one for the next time i get off track 🙂 KL
Let’s keep each other honest then, Kay Lou! I must get back to The Artist’s Way and soon!
I admit I am definitely an ky by the seat of my pants kind of girl by nature, but I have learned to reign it in the mornings to be a bit more productive myself. Love the info graphic by the way and definitely some great suggestions 😉
I hope I can be successful at that too, Janine!