7 Powerful
Morning Routines of Mentally Tough People
How U.S. Olympians and Navy SEALs start their
day off strong (and you can, too).
So how do successful people get through those
crazy days?
It all starts with waking up mentally tough.
Skills can only take you so far without the grit, determination, and mental
willpower to tackle anything life throws at you.
Thankfully, there are some pretty simple
techniques that everyone from Navy SEALs to U.S. Olympians use to stay mentally
strong. Start adopting these powerful habits in the morning to become just as
mentally resilient:
1. They practice positive self-talk
Studies
estimate that we say 300
to 1,000 words to ourselves every single minute.
That's why none other than the U.S. Navy SEALs swear by positive self-talk as a
way to take on a strenuous day.
When their
oxygen flow is suddenly
cut off underwater, SEALs are able to tough it out by telling
themselves that everything is fine and thinking positively. So you can probably
also use this tip to get through a day at the office.
To start, tell yourself how great your day is
going to be as you're riding the subway or driving down the freeway. If you
start encountering a rough morning, go outside for a few minutes and repeat
some more positive affirmations to yourself.
2. They visualize tackling tasks
Champion U.S. Olympians use visualization as
an effective way to stay tough when they're running a marathon or endlessly
swimming.
Rather than
just picturing themselves at the finish line, they visualize themselves going
through the motions of the race. It's a scientifically proven way to boost your mental willpower--whether you're jumping over a
hurdle or filing paperwork.
By visualizing how you'll get through a task
in the morning, you'll not only give yourself the self-confidence to do it,
you'll also come up with unexpected solutions along the way.
3. They work on their hardest tasks first
One thing
mentally tough entrepreneurs understand is the discipline of working on their
biggest or most undesirable task at the start of the workday. It's been
scientifically shown that motivation and willpower is a finite resource that dwindles
throughout the day, so frying your biggest fish first ensures you'll have the
energy to complete the task at hand. Plus, everything that comes after that
will feel like a piece of cake.
Pro tip: Don't let your mornings get bogged
down with answering a ton of email. Answer high-priority messages first, but
save low-priority emails for later in the day after you've completed important
projects.
4. They don't give up their power
How many times have you thought something
along the lines of "my mother-in-law drives me crazy"?
TED Talk star
and motivation expert Amy Morin says
thinking like this "gives away your power."
Instead of thinking that your in-law is driving you mad (or that your workday
is stressful), Morin recommends a powerful alternative: knowing "your
world is what you make it."
Rather than believing you have to get up
early and head to a stressful job, start thinking about it as an opportunity to
change your success and have an impact on the world. By believing you're in
control, you'll start to be in control.
5. They avoid comparisons (and Twitter)
If your morning routine involves checking
Facebook or scrolling through Instagram, you're starting off on the wrong foot.
Amy Morin also spoke about how seeing her "perfect" friends on
Facebook in the a.m. dragged down her whole day. Quite simply, you're seeing
someone's highlight reel, not his or her life story, so it will do nothing but
make you feel inferior if you feel the need to keep up.
As she wisely put it, "The only person
you should compare yourself to is the person that you were
yesterday." Social media aside, only focusing on your own self-improvement
is an excellent way to start the day off strong.
6. They exercise and prioritize their health
It's been scientifically proven that being physically strong is an integral part of being mentally
strong. Doing aerobic exercises has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress and
have other amazing benefits. It's no wonder that ultra-successful people
channel that energy into exercise before they go to work in the morning.
And of
course there's no bigger advocate of exercising and eating right
than Michelle
Obama, who in an interview with Oprah, said, "If I had to get up to take care of my
kids, I'd get up to do that. But when it comes to yourself, then it's suddenly,
'Oh, I can't get up at 4:30.' So I had to change that. If I don't exercise, I
won't feel good. I'll get depressed."
As a busy entrepreneur, life can get crazy,
but putting a little extra time into having a good meal and taking care of your
body is an investment that will pay off tenfold.
7. They connect with loved ones before work
Being an effective executive
doesn't mean sacrificing everything for your job. Even the busiest people in
the world know that a part of staying mentally strong means cultivating a
meaningful life for yourself outside of work.
President
Obama, for example, makes time in his schedule to
eat breakfast and dinner with his wife and daughters, and he helps Sasha
and Malia get ready for school in the morning.
Whether it's a friend or family
member, connecting with someone important to you at the start of your day helps
maintain healthy relationships, and it can also give your day perspective,
while keeping your spirits up while you work.
BY ELLE
KAPLAN
http://www.inc.com/elle-kaplan/7-powerful-morning-routines-of-mentally-tough-people.html?cid=em01016week28a
No comments:
Post a Comment