When the day goes bad, you can choose to get back on track

Published 1:30 am Thursday, March 29, 2018

Have you ever had your day begin with a rocky start? Maybe you spilled your coffee, stubbed your toe or got out the door late after searching for your car keys. Sometimes it just feels like the day is going to go from bad to worse. But, it doesn’t have to continue on that path. We have the power to turn things around with our attitudes and thinking patterns. We have the power to steer the day in the right direction by how we start it when we wake up.

We have the choice and the power to decide how we’re going to start each and every day. You can reap the rewards of the many benefits of starting your day off right, such as:

■ Leading a more positive life in general.

■ Being a good example for friends, family and co-workers when you’re pleasant to be around.

■ Feeling positive and having more energy can lead to increased productivity. Increased productivity has the potential to lead to a better life balance when you consistently get your work done and meet deadlines.

■ Improving your focus and concentration.

Set your intentions before you even roll out of bed. Give yourself five minutes in the morning while you’re still waking up to think about what you want for your day. You can actually start your morning the night before. Plan what you want to accomplish the next day according to your schedule. Have structure to your days that you can count on. Some of us have schedules and locations that change every day and that can be more challenging than a consistent eight-hour schedule working from one location. So, your structure may vary each day, but you can still create a plan of action daily for making phone calls, processing email, calling clients and attending meetings.

Have routines built around being prepared for the next day. I’m sure you’ve heard these ideas many times over the years, but do you really implement them?

You can prepare breakfast in advance, you can put your lunch together the night before and you can lay out your outfit, including shoes and jewelry. Don’t forget about having everything you need to leave the house by the door, such as backpacks, keys, your purse and things that need to be dropped off or returned somewhere. Not rushing around searching for things at the last minute can go a long way toward starting the day feeling in control.

Create rituals to prepare yourself for the day ahead. It’s so tempting to sleep as long as we can in the morning which may force us to jump out of bed and rush around to get ready. Building in time for rituals can be a gift to yourself to start each day on a positive note.

I’ve already mentioned setting your intentions for the day before you get out of bed. Other rituals could be:

■ Getting up before your family for some quiet time.

■ Taking the dog for a morning walk.

■ Enjoying a hot cup of coffee or tea.

■ Exercise

■ Stretching

■ Yoga

■ Deep breathing

■ Meditation

■ Reading

■ Journaling

It can be challenging to make our mornings run smoothly. But it really is worth the extra planning and effort. I’d rather take on the challenge to start the day on the right foot than the challenge of starting the day with a struggle.

Monika Kristofferson is a professional organizer and productivity consultant who owns Efficient Organization NW in Lake Stevens. Reach her at 425-220-8905 or monika@efficientorganizationnw.com.