Maximize Your A.M. and P.M. Routine

Having a strong A.M and P.M. routine makes the world of difference. It increases productivity, quality of life, and helps you reach your potential. A morning routine helps you focus and get ready to conquer the day. A nighttime routine helps you reflect and prepare for tomorrow. It helps you get realigned with your values, dreams and purpose.

Here are my morning and nighttime routines. They help me make everyday more productive and fulfilling. Taking the time to do them everyday will truly help you achieve your goals.

A.M. Routine

Time: 10 minutes, plus 10 minutes of meditation
You can adjust it depending on how much time you have and what you want to include.

1. Wake Up and Grab Your Journal – Either in bed or with a cup of tea, whatever works for you. Write down the date and time. Write out the following steps and check them off as you complete them.
2. Scribe – Write in your journal about whatever is on your mind. Use this time to reflect and talk about the day. It can just be a few sentences and feel free to write in bullet form if you like.
3. To-Do List – On a pad of post-it notes or a separate piece of paper, write out what you need to get done for the day. This way you can bring it with you throughout the day and cross items off. I write my To-Do List during my P.M routine and make adjustments in the morning.
4. Review Week Goals – Look at your goals for the week (I’ll go more into detail on another post). It is important to know what you are trying to accomplish during the week. Review these items and check them off.
5. Affirmation – Write a sentence that encourages you to keep working hard towards your goals.
   “I’m working really hard to be ­­­­____________ ” (the best version of me or any goal you might have).
6. Visualization – Think about what your goal is right now. Envision it and the steps needed to get there. Write down the goal and the necessary actions you need to take. Put emphasis on the steps required.
7. Grateful – Think about what you have to be grateful for. Take the time to write down a few things that you have to be grateful about, items big and small.
8. Excitement– What are excited about today? What are you really looking forward to?
9. Meditation – Take some time to meditate. This can be guided or non-guided. If 10 minutes sounds overwhelming, start with 2 mintutes focusing on your breath.

P.M. Routine

Time: 10 minutes
My nighttime routine is very similar to my morning routine, just with a few variations.

1. Get Ready For Bed and Grab Your Journal – Find somewhere peaceful to do this. Write down the date and time. Write out the following steps and check them off as you complete them.
2. Scribe – Reflect about your day.
3. To-Do List – On your post-it note, write out tomorrow’s to-do list. This way you don’t need to think about it while you sleep.
4. Review Week Goals – Read your week goals, check off what you’ve gotten done, and focus on what you still need to accomplish.
5. Affirmation – Write down what you’re currently doing to be great.
6. Visualization – Envision your goal and the steps to achieve it.
7. Grateful – Write down what you have to be thankful for.
8. Accomplishment – Write down what you have to be proud of. What did you achieve today? No matter how small, take the time to be proud of your successes.
9. Breathe, Read or Meditate – Take a couple deep breaths, do a meditation, or curl up with a book. Enjoy this quiet and peaceful time for rejuvenation.

These 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night will truly make a difference in your life. It recentres you, increases your productivity and helps you be more successful everyday.

Creating a morning and nighttime routine is personal. Adjust it to yourself. I find that as you start doing these routines, they slowly adapt to meet your needs. There are so many variations, it takes time to figure out. Do your research, check out some other routines and spend time creating your own.

Have fun implementing your own routine and maximizing your day.

With love,

Lucy