Start every day with time for yourself. 

What you do first sets the tone for the rest of the day (and the rest of your life). 

If you want to lead others—and yourself—in the best way possible, you need to make quiet time a priority: 

• Time to clear your mind
• Refocus on what is truly important
• Refuel your energy
• Reconnect spiritually
• Strengthen your inner leader so you can perform at extraordinary levels during the day.

Before a plane takes off, a pilot has a ritual of checking the flight plan, setting the controls, and evaluating the instrument panel. Only then are they ready to fly. A similar ritual applies to leadership.

Rituals and routines are powerful. 

Try it. Regardless of when you wake up, examine how you begin your day. I recommend dedicating the first hour to yourself. 

The space you create for yourself will lead to better results. 

The most effective leaders have a morning routine. 

A morning routine doesn’t mean you have to get up at 4:00 am. However, you can discipline yourself to get up 30-60 minutes earlier than you normally do so you have a little bit of extra time for yourself.

Quiet time is my favorite morning routine. Having time to reflect, in a quiet atmosphere, gets me into the right “mindset” before the day begins.

Others examples of a healthy morning routine include:

• Morning exercise
• Meditation
• Writing in a journal
• Eating a healthy breakfast
• Reading a chapter in a book
• Reciting your affirmations
• Writing a note to a loved one
• Drinking a glass of water

Find the ones that work the best for you. 

If you want a different experience, you must do things differently. 

Start by creating a morning routine. It sets the tone for the day ahead. 

Want more on this topic?

Tune into this week’s episode of the Getting Results podcast: Develop a Morning Leadership Ritual. In this episode, I discuss my struggle with creating time for me. Earlier in my career, I wasn’t a morning person and we had little kids vying for our attention. Like you, I had to make some changes. The changes I made had a profound impact on my life and the quality of my most valued relationships. I share those changes in this week’s episode. Check it out: Develop a Morning Leadership Ritual.