It’s Sunday Funday, time to set the tone for the week ahead by exploring how planning and daily gratitude can help us achieve success and happiness. So grab a cup of coffee, and with your favorite pen in hand, let's dive into the power of intentional weekly planning and adding daily gratitude in setting us up for a successful and fulfilling week!
With all the beautiful marketing out there telling you in order to be happy, you need more and more. It can leave you feeling as if what you have in your life is not enough. Having all the new and better will lead us to be happy. Instead of chasing and needing, look at everything you already have and give thanks. You feel more pleased and satisfied when you look at all your blessings. In other words, find time in your busy schedule for daily gratitude. How do you find time, you plan it of course!
How do you set up your day to include daily gratitude?
When you add daily gratitude into your morning routine, this practice will start your day with the right mindset.
But here’s the thing, a morning routine does not need to be extravagant to start you off on the right path. Most people don’t realize that you already have a morning routine, but does your routine set you up for a great day or a day filled with chaos and overwhelm?
It’s time, my friends; grab your calendar or planner.
Why is planning your week essential? I’ve found unplanned weeks to end up being stressful and unproductive.
Because I leave it up to my in-the-moment decision-making, I can guarantee that I will not be working on the right thing at the right time.
I know, I know cut to the chase Michele.
Here are the items to include in planning a week that adds in daily gratitude.
- What is your long-term goal, and what are you working towards this month or this quarter? If you’ve already created a project plan, this will be simple to know your big three actions that must be completed this week to move forward.
- Schedule appointments and meetings: Block out time in your calendar for any appointments or meetings you have scheduled for the week. Be certain to include your family activities and events. This will help you plan your work around those commitments.
- Set priorities for the week: I eluded to this one earlier. Identify the most important tasks or projects you must focus on for the week and prioritize them based on their urgency and impact on your business.
- Break down big tasks into smaller ones: If you have a big project to tackle, break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will make it easier to stay focused and motivated throughout the week.
- Plan your content: If you're an online business owner who creates content, review your planned content for the week. Is every ready to be published or posted for the week? Are you part of the last-minute club? No worries, I’m not throwing any stones here; while you’re planning your week, why not schedule time to create a content calendar for the upcoming week and if you’re feeling really ambitious the upcoming month.
- Review your finances: Financial Friday, anyone? Look at your financials for the week and ensure you have enough money coming in to cover your expenses. If not, brainstorm ways to generate more revenue.
- Take care of administrative tasks: Don't forget to do administrative tasks, such as responding to emails, updating your website, or paying bills.
- Schedule time for self-care: As an online business owner, it's easy to get caught up in work and neglect your own well-being. Schedule time for exercise, meditation, or other activities that help you recharge and stay focused.
- Practice daily gratitude: Of course, last but not least, Include daily gratitude into your week planning by reflecting on what you're grateful for and how it can help you achieve your goals.
Remember to stay flexible; this can be accomplished by adding buffer blocks and fire blocks. A buffer block can be used for anything your heart desires. I encourage my entrepreneurs to have fire blocks sprinkled throughout the day. A fire block is planning for the unknown. No, I don’t think the unknown will magically happen at that exact time; it allows you to shift the action items that were replaced by the unknown into that set aside planned for fire block. Allowing you the space in your calendar to adjust your plan as needed ensures your entire day or week does not get derailed.
At the end of each day, review the day and take a look ahead. Does anything need to be adjusted?
Not one minute of extra time for daily gratitude; weave it in.
Let me guess; as you planned out your week, you concluded you needed to get up earlier. If your first thought is dread of getting out of bed even earlier. Stay with me now; here are a few ideas for incorporating daily gratitude into your morning routine without getting out of bed one minute earlier.
While you are brushing your teeth, list in your mind what you’re grateful for that day.
When you’re getting dressed, this is the perfect opportunity to give daily gratitude that you get to choose from an ampule supply of clothing.
What about the food that you mindlessly eat as you hastily run out the door? What a blessing to have food for your body. Am I right?
In the car alone? Turn off what you’re listening to and take time for giving thanks and gratitude. When I’m in the car alone in the morning, this is my time to pray to God.
I challenge you to sprinkle in gratitude for one week, and surely you will begin to see daily gratitude throughout your day. All those things you took for granted, suddenly you’ll see them differently with an appreciation for what you already have.
I understand your dread.
You see, I get it. The thought of getting out of bed early in the past always was met with resistance. Until one day, I decided I didn’t want to be that person anymore. Instead, I wanted to be the person that popped out of bed early, ready to start the day.
Always Changing
Life is constantly changing; that is a fact. Sometimes it changes slowly, and you hardly notice. Other times it changes quickly and leaves us wondering why things change.
Honestly, my morning routine varies depending on the clients and family circumstances. No matter what, two consistent things in my morning routine are daily devotionals with the Bible App and gratitude.
Do you have one or two things that, no matter what, happen at some point during the day for you?
How can you start with daily gratitude?
What at that very moment are you most grateful for in your day?
As for me, most days, my daily gratitude revolves around the people in my life.
Hey, I’ll admit some mornings, I’m just very grateful for a cup of coffee in one of my favorite mugs and my warm home.
A cup of coffee, tea, or maybe you prefer hot lemon water, whichever you prefer, is not a privilege for everyone. You see my point, right?
You'll not take them for granted when you give thanks for what you already have. Suddenly, you’ll look at what you have, big or small, with a grateful heart.
Today I am grateful for my coffee while writing this post from my warm home. A daily gratitude routine sets my day off on the right foot. It allows me to focus on what I have instead of worrying about everything I do not have.
What are you grateful for today? Enjoy your day; I appreciate you!
