One of the greatest philosophers, Aristotle, once said that excellence is a habit. This saying implies that success is the result of all the wise and right things we do each day. It also indicates that the habits you choose to cultivate can determine the quality of your life. Thus, if you wish to achieve your goals in life, it is crucial to take a good look at the things you repeatedly do. Are your daily routines helping you move forward or are they jeopardizing your growth? To accelerate your path to success, the following are some routines you can add to your day:
Morning Routine
Eat, exercise and meditate.
Your morning habits can play a big role in your goal to be healthy and wise. That is if you regularly do things that nourish your body and refresh your mind a few moments after waking up. As we all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day so it is worth the effort to prepare a healthy and yummy dish every morning. Aside from breakfast, another thing you should not skip is exercise. There are many studies saying that just as short as fifteen minutes of regular exercise a day can do wonders for your health. Then if you wish to further power up your morning, you can add meditation to your routine. Your quiet time to meditate can clear your mind of negativity and help you focus on the things you want to accomplish.
Learn something new.
Treat each day as an opportunity for growth by allotting time to learn something new. It can be as simple as reading a number of pages on an informative book or a few minutes to learn a new skill. You can learn a foreign language, play a musical instrument, or attend an online course. It is also a good idea to enhance existing skills such as painting or singing. It is recommended to set your learning time in the morning so you would not be tempted to set it aside once your day gets extremely busy. Likewise, it is a nice feeling to accomplish one important goal early on in the day.
Practice gratitude.
Gratefulness is like a magic potion that can transform even dreary days into joyful ones. It can help you see the positive side of every situation and gives you strength to overcome any difficulties. So start your day by practicing gratitude for everything that you have. You may also want to list all the things you are thankful for and you may even be surprised at how happy and fruitful your day will be.
Evening Routine
Bond with loved ones.
At the end of the day, it is nice to remind yourself of the things that truly matter – the people you care about. Do not let the day end without taking time to catch up and bond with them. It can be as simple as a short conversation over a hearty family dinner. More so than not, family and loved ones are one of the main sources of happiness for many people, making it essential to reserve time to enrich your relationships with them constantly.
Assess your day.
We all have some bad days and some good days. Nevertheless, no matter the outcome of your day, you may want to reflect on your actions and decisions. This practice can help you see your worst actions and best decisions. Ultimately, it can help you correct your mistakes and improve yourself.
Prepare for the next day.
You want to sleep soundly and one way to do it is by knowing that you are well-prepared for the next day. One way to do it is by listing your tasks for tomorrow. It can also be tasks that aim to correct the mistakes done the past day. To fully give your body time to recharge, you may also want to give yourself a rest from everything at least an hour before bedtime. It can mean not eating or drinking anything more and turning off your gadgets.
Are your daily routines helping you move forward or are they jeopardizing your growth? Since the way you spend each morning and evening can affect how happy and productive your day will be, you may want to start examining the way you start and end your day.
