Some Christian leaders  wake up and say, “Good morning, Lord.” Others wake up and say, “Good Lord, It’s morning!”  The key to a good start in the morning is going to bed at a decent hour and getting a restful night’s sleep!

Dan Rockwell shares some practical and pertinent advice on how to maximize your morning to set you up for a fruitful day.

Guest post by Dan Rockwell

Beginnings don’t always determine endings. You win the morning by setting clear intentions. But good intentions get lost by afternoon. I live by intention in the morning. By the afternoon I’m doing the next pressing thing. I choose how to show up while I’m in the shower. By 2 p.m., my best self is taking a nap.

Begin by winning the morning.

5 Ways to Win the Morning:

Mornings are for choosing how to show up.
Afternoons are for facing what showed up.

Own the morning, before the day owns you.

1. Decide your mood. Will you show up curious, bold, kind, focused?
2. Choose your focus. What matters more than urgent noise?
3. Build momentum. Fuel energy by earning one win before 10 a.m.
4. Do the hard stuff first. Read: Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy.
5. Avoid electronics the first hour of the day.
   

   4 Ways to Win the Afternoon:

   You own the day in the morning, by afternoon the day owns you. Discipline fades. Focus scatters. Energy dips.

   Spend energy in the morning. Replenish it in the afternoon.

   1. Choose one thing. Pause in the middle of your day to notice if you slipped into reactive habits. Pro tip: What meaningful thing will I accomplish this afternoon?
   2. Move more. Set an alarm every 40 minutes to remind yourself to get up!
   3. Eat healthy snacks. Drink water. Habit tip: Drink water every time you use the restroom.
   4. Practice drive-by encouragement. Send a short email. Make a quick call. Notice something good. Express gratitude. Encouragement fuels your own energy, too.

   Lift yourself by choosing wins.

   What does it mean for you to win the morning? The afternoon?