Do you feel as though you’re always having a bad day? Are you often wondering why the world is against you? Or why you seem to have the absolute worst luck? If this sounds like you then you will benefit from these tips to have a successful day.
Did you know that there are things you can do each day to combat those feelings? Did you know that a “good day” is really just a state of mind?
Nobody can make you have a bad day but *YOU* because life is 20% of what happens to you and 80% how you react to it! One of my favorite phrases is “It’s a great day to have a great day”.
Sure, it might annoy some of my family and friends to hear it nonstop but I truly believe that you can wake up in the morning, set your intention, and declare that today you will have a great day.
An important component of a “great day” is feeling successful and productive in some way. Feeling like you accomplished something will always make you feel good when your head hits the pillow at night.
How to Make Sure You Have a Successful Day
I want to see you experiencing success in your life…whatever that may look like for you.
That’s why I want to share my 7 best tips to have a successful day.
Implementing these tips into your daily life will ensure you have a successful day – every day – and are living your best life.
While these tips will help immensely, there is one overarching thing required before you’ll be able to really set yourself up for success each day and I believe that is a mindset shift.
Changing the way you think about your life will go a long way in changing the way you manage your time and live your life, in general!
When I felt as though I was struggling to manage all. the. things.
I stumbled upon this course called Control Your Crazy and knew it could make a difference for me!
As someone who struggles with anxiety, I knew I needed to change the way I viewed my life.
I knew I needed to reprioritize and put some systems in place to really help me feel productive and successful each day.
This mini-course is super digestible and easy to get through in just a day.
It has five modules that help you make the necessary mindset shifts to conquer five crucial areas of life and included a workbook and actionable steps to help you live life fully instead of just surviving.
Let’s get into the tips…
1. Plan Your Day the Night Before
Trust me, I know you are busy.
You might work long hours or be chasing around your kids all night.
And if you’re anything like me you are just about to collapse on the couch at the end of the night from exhaustion, so adding one more thing to your to-do list before bed is not what you want to hear right now!
Hear me out…
Taking even just 5 minutes the night before to set your intentions for the next day will make a huge difference.
Maybe for you, this looks like quickly jotting down the top 3 things you’d like to accomplish the next day and if that’s all you can give it then that’s a great place to start.
Remember, just because you plan out your day doesn’t necessarily mean the universe will oblige but consciously creating a plan for the day will help with time management and will allow you to be intentional and make things happen instead of wandering through the day waiting to see what will happen to you.
2. Create a Morning Routine
Creating a morning routine you can stick to such as eating a healthy breakfast and waking up at the same time each day (even on weekends) will help you form new habits that will set you up for success each day.
If you’re constantly finding yourself feeling like you have no time one of the best things to do is to begin getting up earlier each morning.
Maybe you need some extra time in your day to work out? Maybe you need some extra time and your day to sit and drink a cup of coffee in peace? Maybe you need some extra time in your day to get things done around the house?
There are only 24 hours in a day. Each one of us is given the same 24 hours. Ever notice how some people seem to accomplish so much more than you do?
I’d be willing to be they’re probably getting up earlier in an effort to make more time for the things that are important to them.
Make it a point to set your alarm earlier but in order to make it a habit you have to be consistent.
Waking up early here and there won’t have near the same impact as doing it day in and day out.
Many high achievers even wake up early on the weekend and their days off.
Repetition will help your body get used to its new schedule and soon enough you’ll be able to wake up without an alarm clock!
Now that I get up a lot earlier, I crave that time in the morning before the rest of the household gets up. It’s MY time and I often find it to be my most productive time of the day.
3. Take Some Quiet Time Before You Start Your Day
Regardless of what time you get out of bed, taking just a few minutes of quiet time will help you have a more successful day.
There are no rules here…it can be just sitting in your bed for a couple of minutes reflecting on the prior evening or the upcoming day.
This could be some prayer time (if you’re religious or spiritual) or even a quick morning meditation.
Whatever it is, just pause for a bit and give your mind a few minutes to wake up and clear the fog before the chaos ensues…it might be the only downtime you get all day.
4. Practice Gratitude Daily
The practice of gratitude has completely transformed my mindset over the past few years and has made – hands down – the biggest difference in my life.
Saying you’re grateful for something and actually practicing gratitude are two different things in my eyes. The practice of gratitude is an actual act.
It is important to verbally express gratefulness, of course, but to remain in an attitude of gratitude is a way of life.
One of the best ways I’ve found to start practicing gratitude is to write in a daily gratitude journal. This is the journal I’ve used for years and it’s worked well for me.
I usually take about five minutes and try to fill the page with everything I am grateful for from the day before.
This method has worked well for me, but you can write whatever you want in your journal…it’s not as much about what you write as it is about the actual process of writing and experiencing those feelings of gratitude every single day.
Some prefer to simply write down three things they are grateful for each day. Practicing gratitude can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be.
In fact, one of the most simple ways to begin the daily practice of gratitude is when you first open your eyes before your feet even hit the floor!
Try this: when you wake up in the morning tomorrow, require yourself to think about things that you’re grateful for (maybe start with just three things, then move up to five after a few weeks).
If you struggle to think of even one thing you’re grateful for, just keep doing this every day. It will become easier, I promise.
I don’t know you or your situation and I know sometimes life can be so difficult and it feels as if there is nothing to be grateful for but TRY.
It can be something simple such as you opened your eyes this morning and made it through the night, or you have a job that allows you to pay the bills (even if you hate it).
Fake it till you make it if you have to, but just try.
Practicing gratitude on a daily basis is going to have such a positive effect on your mental health, your spirituality, and will put you in the right frame of mind to have a successful day.
READ MORE: How Changing Your Mindset Can Improve Your Life
5. Read a Few Pages of an Inspirational Book
Strive to read a few pages of an inspirational book each day. If reading isn’t your thing then listen to an audiobook or even a podcast.
If you’re currently working to improve your finances check out my list of must-read money books. You can read/listen to any topic but I highly suggest a non-fiction book.
Fictional books are great but the purpose is to stimulate your mind and I don’t believe that simply listening to a made-up story has the same effect as a self-help book or a topic you are passionate about.
Choose something that is going to help you learn and grow. This is such a beneficial habit that will pay off exponentially in the long run.
I know you might feel as though you don’t have time to read, but being a life-long learner is so important.
Again, start small and build up. Commit to even 3-5 pages a day and don’t be afraid to multitask.
Listen to an audiobook or a podcast on your drive to work or while running errands. Turn your car into a traveling classroom. Over time, you will start craving this part of your day.
Reading and/or listening to something motivational each day can help you improve many different areas of your life over time.
“Rent” free books or audiobooks through the Hoopla app with your library card or get two audiobooks for FREE when you sign up for an Audible trial today.
6. Move Your Body
Move that body.
This tip is the hardest one for me by far, but one of the most important. Moving your body in some way will definitely contribute to a successful day.
This doesn’t have to be a hardcore workout in the gym every day – simply grab a yoga mat and spend a few minutes stretching on the floor, a light run or jog or a yoga workout on YouTube.
Whatever your preference, exercise also has so many benefits that aren’t just physical.
Regular exercise can help you better focus and can even change your brain to improve memory and thinking skills.
I also believe working out earlier in the day will help you experience increased energy and be more productive throughout your day.
7. Eat That Frog
Say what?!?! Let me explain…
Eat that frog is the title of this book by Brian Tracy that was written for mega-procrastinators just like myself.
If you also find yourself putting things off till the 11th hour then listen up.
Do you find yourself spending half your day trying to avoid doing that one thing that really needs to be done because you don’t feel like dealing with it?!?
In his book, Brian Tracy refers to that as eating the frog. He wants you to get that most important and most dreaded task out of the way asap.
When you’re planning your day the night before or you’re writing out your to-do list for the next day, take a second to put a star next to the one that’s the most important and hands down has to be completed that day.
If you prioritize that task (the biggest frog) first, you will feel a huge sense of relief and accomplishment. If nothing else gets done that day at least you have completed the thing that was the most important.
This tip is still a work in progress for me and I still struggle with procrastinating but I can tell you that the days that I eat my biggest frog first are the days I always feel the most productive.
These are the seven tips that I have found to help me set myself up each day to have a successful day. I have come to depend on these tips and notice when I don’t include each one I feel as though something is missing from my day.
I hope you’ll work to implement these tips in your daily routines and will benefit from their positive impact on your life. Don’t forget to check out Control Your Crazy to set up simple actionable solutions for the 5 main areas of your life.
Kristin Stones is the owner of Cents + Purpose, an online community dedicated to sharing practical personal finance content. Her mission is to equip women with the necessary tools and knowledge to take back control of their money and live a more purposeful life. She creates actionable content to help her audience achieve financial wellness using her simple approach to managing money - all learned through her personal experience of paying off almost $55,000 of debt in under two years.
