Daily Gratitude in Your Everyday Morning Routine
With all the beautiful marketing out there telling you that, to be happy, you need more and more, it can leave you feeling like what you have in your life isn't enough. Like the new and better thing is what will finally make you happy.
Instead of chasing and needing, look at everything you already have and give thanks. You feel more content and settled when you look at your blessings.
In other words, find time in your busy schedule for daily gratitude.
How do you find the time? You plan it, of course.
What Is Daily Gratitude?
Daily gratitude is the simple practice of pausing each day to notice and give thanks for what you already have. It doesn't require extra time, a special journal, or a perfect morning. It can be woven into the moments you're already living, like brushing your teeth, getting dressed, or driving to work.
How Do You Set Up Your Day to Include Daily Gratitude?
When you add daily gratitude into your morning routine, you 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 they already have a morning routine. The real question is, does your routine set you up for a great day, or a day filled with chaos and overwhelm?
It's Time, My Friend. Grab Your Calendar or Planner.
Why is planning your week so essential? I've found unplanned weeks end up being stressful and unproductive.
When I leave things up to in-the-moment decision-making, I can guarantee I will not be working on the right thing at the right time.
I know, I know. Cut to the chase, Michele.
Here's what to include when planning a week that makes room for daily gratitude.
Know your long-term goal. What are you working toward this month or this quarter? If you've already created a project plan, it will be simple to name 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 this week. Be sure to include your family activities and events too. This helps you plan your work around those commitments, not the other way around.
Set priorities for the week. I alluded to this one earlier. Identify the most important tasks or projects you must focus on and prioritize them based on urgency and impact on your business.
Break big tasks into smaller ones. If you have a big project to tackle, break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. This makes it easier to stay focused and motivated throughout the week.
Plan your content. If you create content for your business, review what's planned for the week. Is everything ready to be published or posted? Are you part of the last-minute club? No worries, I'm not throwing any stones here. While you're planning your week, schedule time to map out your content calendar for the week ahead, and if you're feeling ambitious, the month. And remember, you don't always need something new. Often the best content is something you've already created.
Review your finances. Financial Friday, anyone? Look at your numbers for the week and make sure you have enough coming in to cover your expenses. If not, it's time to think through ways to increase revenue.
Take care of administrative tasks. Don't forget the admin work, like responding to emails, updating your website, or paying bills.
Schedule time for self-care. As a business owner, it's easy to get caught up in work and neglect your own well-being. Schedule time for exercise, rest, or whatever helps you recharge and stay focused.
Practice daily gratitude. Last but not least, include daily gratitude in your week planning by reflecting on what you're grateful for and how it can help you move toward your goals.
Leave Room for the Unexpected
Remember to stay flexible. You can do this by adding buffer blocks and fire blocks to your calendar. It gives you white space in your calendar for breathing room.
A buffer block can be used for anything your heart desires.
I encourage my business owners 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. What a fire block does is give you a place to shift the action items that got bumped when the unknown showed up. It gives you space in your calendar to adjust as needed so your entire day or week doesn't get derailed.
At the end of each day, review your 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. And your first thought was dread at having to get out of bed even earlier.
Stay with me here, friend. Here are a few ideas for adding daily gratitude to your morning routine without getting up one minute earlier.
While you're 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 thanks that you get to choose from an ample supply of clothing.
What about the food you mindlessly eat as you hurry 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 to give thanks. When I'm in the car alone in the morning, this is my time to pray.
I challenge you to sprinkle in gratitude for one week. You'll begin to notice daily gratitude showing up throughout your day. All those things you took for granted, you'll suddenly see differently, with an appreciation for what you already have.
I Understand Your Dread
You see, I get it. In the past, the thought of getting out of bed early was always met with resistance.
Until one day, I decided I didn't want to be that person anymore. I wanted to be the person who 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 you wondering why.
Honestly, my morning routine varies depending on client work and family circumstances. But no matter what, two things stay consistent: my daily devotional with the Bible App and gratitude.
Do you have one or two things that happen every day for you, no matter what?
How Can You Start With Daily Gratitude?
Start right where you are. What, in this very moment, are you most grateful for?
For me, most days my daily gratitude revolves around the people in my life. And 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 hot lemon water, whichever you prefer, is not a privilege everyone has. You see my point, right?
When you give thanks for what you already have, you stop taking it for granted. Suddenly, you look at what you have, big or small, with a grateful heart.
Today I am grateful for my coffee as I write this post from my warm home. A daily gratitude routine sets my day off on the right foot. It helps me focus on what I have instead of worrying about everything I don't.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daily Gratitude
How long does a daily gratitude practice take?
It can take less than a minute. The simplest daily gratitude practice is to pause during something you already do, like getting ready or driving, and name what you're thankful for.
Do I need to wake up earlier to practice daily gratitude?
No. Daily gratitude works best when it's woven into your existing routine instead of added on top of it.
A Gentle Next Step
If planning your week feels harder than it should, it may not be a time problem. It may be that your business is still running on you holding every detail together. That's exactly what I help business owners untangle in a Business Ops Review, so your week has structure, room to breathe, and room for gratitude.
Want to hear more? Listen to the episode “Sunday Funday: Incorporating Daily Gratitude into Your Week Planning” on the Content Systems for Growth Podcast.
What are you grateful for today? Enjoy your day. I appreciate you!
