A Great Morning Starts With An Intentional Night

I’ve recently accepted the fact that I’m an early bird, as in wake up before 5am and have worked out, journaled, read a few chapters of a book before 7am type of early bird. The following are tips I use to make all this possible.

1. Plan your day. I use a paper planner because it’s true what they say; writing things down makes you remember them better. Having things to look forward to, and getting all your stressors about the day ahead out of your head and onto paper helps to relax you before bed.

2. Reset your space Put away everything you used for your night routine back into its home. Set your timer for fifteen minutes and tidy up as much as you can.

3. Set your space. Make your morning routine seamless. If you work out in the morning like I do, set out your workout clothes and decide on the workout you’ll complete in the morning. Get your gym bag or gym space ready. If you commute to work, prepare your lunch as much as possible, pick your clothes for the day (whether you work from your home or outside of it). Everything you can do to make your morning shorter, do that the night before.

4. Journal. Let go of the day by journaling for fifteen minutes. It doesn’t have to be pretty or poetry, just get everything left in your head onto a page or a screen so that your mind is blank and ready for sleep.

5. Get enough sleep. This is self explanatory— you won’t want to get out of bed if you’re not well rested.

As I mentioned in my morning routine post, adding extra time to your day by waking up a little (or a lot) earlier really does make the day seem longer in the very best way. But spending thirty minutes to an hour prepping for your day robs you of that newfound time. Use the night before to maximize your mornings.

For The Love Of Reading

Reading is definitely my first love. I raced home so I could curl up with a book and I’ve definitely fallen asleep reading more nights than I haven’t. The ability to open a book and be transported into a new world has always felt a little like magic to me. So it’s no surprise that I resolved to read more this year, specifically I wanted to read more nonfiction. I set a goal to read 52 nonfiction books by the end of the year and I am well on my way. I thought I might share the six books that affected me the most so far during my reading journey this year. I can only hope you find these books as captivating and thought provoking as I did.

The six books that will help you complete those 2019 goals!

1. Just Mercy. This book was definitely a hard read in that it forced me to confront the large problem that is mass incarceration in the United States in a big way. However, it is written in such an approachable and engaging way that it takes the number one spot on my list. This is a must read for anyone living in the US(be prepared to cry a little!).

2. Outliers “Virtually every success story we’ve seen in this book involves someone or some group working harder than their peers… Working really hard is what successful people do(239).” Success is something that I unabashedly chase, through all seasons in my life. Especially this one that looks so different from what I had envisioned for myself. Books about success and how to achieve it pull me right in, this particular book came highly recommended and I see why. Not only is it well written, but it’s funny and informative without feeling like a textbook. If you’re curious about the phenoms in our world like Bill Gates and how to tap into your own drive for success, this is the one for you.

3. Option B This book was an incredibly quick read for me. As I mentioned before, I’m in a transitional period/ odd period of limbo I didn’t plan for, so I didn’t expect it. As a result I find myself feeling lost a lot of the time. This book helped me to realize that setbacks happen to us all(in varying degrees) and it depends on me how I propel out of those setbacks. A practical book that everyone should read. If you get only one book on this list, make it this one.

4. Start With Why Another success book(I am very predictable). Seeing why and how large companies succeed is fascinating. The practical tips extrapolated from the vignettes are really applicable as well. Following Option B with this one is a sure fire way to jump-start the second half of your year.

5. We're going to need more wine Gabrielle Union has been a personal favorite of mine since Bring It On, getting to delve into her life from her perspective was really nice. She is just as funny in print as she is on screen and has really insightful comments. Paired with a great glass of Merlot, this makes for a great(and quick) Sunday evening read.

6. Better Than Before. I loved this book because it was all about meeting yourself exactly where you are and getting to where you want to be. This book shows us how to bring the focus of your success journey away from others and back to you, which is so hard in this age of comparison we find ourselves in due to social media. This book breaks down the big and little steps we need to build habits that we need to build our best selves, so of course, I had to include it.

Whichever of these books you choose to read, I am confident they will help you to achieve your goals. If you end up reading any or all of the books, let me know so we can discuss!

Renewing The Commitment To Our New Year Intentions

Its the first Monday of July. Summer is officially here. How are those New Year resolutions holding up?

The first half of the year has come to a speedy close, it may seem daunting to pick up recommit to your intentions, but I honestly think July is a perfect time to recommit. With six months left in the year, it’s the perfect time to beak bad habits, cultivate meaningful ones and develop routines that will allow us to create the lives we wish to lead.

We get comfortable with only one day of the year dedicated to goal setting, or maybe two if you feel the drive to better yourself on your birthday, but most of us are used to setting lofty goals on the first of January and forgetting them by March. And why is that? It is never the wrong time to renew your commitment to yourself.

It takes about ninety days to create a long-lasting habit, or make a lifestyle change, so six months is plenty of time to work on your resolutions. Whether you wanted to learn a new language, start a blog , read more etc, you can still do all those things. The tips below will help guide you to the self you imagined in January.

1. Start small(but stay consistent). Spend thirty minutes for the next thirty days working on your resolution. You want to get to the point where not working on your resolution feel strange.

2. Track your progress. Not only will it boost your confidence, tracking goals help reinforce your habit making.

3. Write down your resolution(and all related goals). Get very specific, write about challenges you’ve faced in the past how you’ll overcome them in the future. Write out where you want to be by specific dates in your calendar of choice(GCal, planner, bullet journal) so that you have a physical reminder as time passes. Written goals are achieved more than spoken ones.

4. Find and accountability partner. Reach out to a friend or acquaintance that you know is also working on a goal and use them to motivate yourself to work on your goals, and reciprocate the energy. Goal-getting is definitely a group activity.

5. Be patient with yourself. There will be setbacks, but you have the knowledge to overcome them. Remember to treat yourself during these setbacks how you would treat a friend going through the same thing!

I challenge you to revisit the goals you set in January, and use the tips above to renew your commitment to the intentions you set in for the year of 2019.

You’ll only thank yourself when December comes and you can look back over the year and see your growth.

How And Why I Give Myself Three Extra Hours A Day

Time isn’t the main thing; it’s the only thing. -Miles Davis

At this point in our lives, with little responsibility other than to feed, clothe, house and care for ourselves. we have all the time to change our career paths, find the hobbies, activities and people enjoy, change who we are. This is when we decide who we are meant to be.

But who has the time? Literally, when you work eight hours, work out, cook and clean after work, its already time to go to bed, maybe squeeze in one(or two, episodes of a show or some face time with a loved one) . But after work hours are the only free time you have and hey don’t seem all that free? Right?

Not quite, we have all the time in the world before work. And it really does make a big difference. For the past thirty days I’ve been using the iPhone bedtime feature to get to bed around 12am and wake up at or around 6am. I work at restaurant at night, so realistically I can wake up at 12 pm and still have time to do things before work, but I wanted to see if y productivity levels and general sense of happiness improved the earlier I woke up(I have always had a sneaking suspicion that, given the right environment, I would thrive as a morning person). And I have been thriving. I give myself three hours, I read somewhere that three hours a day is about how much time we spend on social media and streaming services, so I wanted to see if i could intentionally carve out that time to work on goals that I set in the first quarter.

At six am I get up and turn off my alarm( I have to get up because I set my phone and alarm clock as far away from my bed as possible, which helps me get and stay up). Then I make my bed so I’m not tempted to get back into it. After working out, I shower and dress for the day,(anther safeguard against going back to bed ) sit down at my desk and try to complete as many of the items in my agenda for the day as possible. I a studying for the LSAT and working on getting back to fluency in Spanish and Portuguese and I find that around 645-845 is the time when my brain is most open to new ideas and my house is quietest, so I use these two hours to study as much as I can. I’ve noticed that even though I set my timer for two hours, I generally want to(and do!) work past that time frame, and I feel all the better for it.

The crazy thing is I am to sleeping any more or less than I used to, I don’t have any more or less free time. I’ve simply redistributed my waking hours to time before work rather than trying to be productive after work. If you often find yourself wishing for even just an hour more daily to do more, set your alarm an two hours earlier than you have been. even if you don’t think you’re a morning person, try an earlier wake up time for just thirty days.

You’ll only thank yourself for it.

You Don't Have A Mission Statement; That's Why Your Goals Are Failing

It is the fourth Monday in March, how are your New Year Resolutions going?

Did you just flash back to the hazy promises you made to yourself (and all your friends when you were three flutes of champagne in)? Me too. Or, last year it was. This year, for me, things are different. And they can be different for you too, next year.

Last year I read The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People where Stephen R. Covey stressed the importance of having a personal mission statement, that gives what you want to be actionable steps. I remember putting down the book and typing up my personal mission statement, which I’ve since dubbed Jada’s Creed. The idea that all the things that I wanted to accomplish were going undone or, even worse, poorly done because I’d yet to clearly define what I wanted my life’s legacy was jolting. Sitting down and detailing what I wanted my legacy to be was eye opening. From the time I’ve been six I knew who and what I wanted to be or, so I thought. In answering what I wanted my legacy to be, what I truly wanted to bring and leave the world I realized that the goals I set for myself at six had changed. While the main career has remained changed, I have redefined the parameters of my chosen career field. How the career choices I’ve made or actively not made are working toward my various goals. Since reading this book, I have been so intentional with my time, friends words, and deeds. Everything that I do and consume is a reflection of who I am and who I ultimately want to become. And all of it leads back to being on one accord with Jada’s Creed.

This is the age of social media(and I love that I am becoming an adult in this age, social media is great). But there are challenges in this generation that have emerged due to social media(I talked a bit about it here (link first MM post)). The comparison game happens so much more frequently when everyone’s biggest and shiniest accomplishments are on your phone for you to internalize twenty-four hours a day. This leads to wanting to adopt everyone else’s goals, go after those same achievements because they sound so good. Just because it sounds good, doesn’t mean it’s meant for you. Read that. Internalize it. Write it on a post-it and stick it next to the rest of your affirmations. We are all individuals, with individual goals. A secondary effect, but an amazing one I’ve noticed over the past year is that having your own personal mission statement means you’re only comparing yourself to your past self. You appreciate and encourage people who are doing well in their own lane while you’re doing well in yours.

This book was truly life changing. Buy The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People from your local bookstore, on amazon or Thriftbooks, Goodwill. Check it our from your library. Any way you can, get this book. Read this book. Study this book. Write your own creed. And change your life.