I am not a product of my circumstances.
I am a product of my decisions

Don't be a man who has always did what his circumstances has made him do. But try to be a man who always did what he decides.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

While reading

There are two motives for reading a book;one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it.

writing

Reading & Writing

books

Books

Aditya Mulukuri on Oct 23

You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.

The personality you develop...
The knowledge you gain...
The skills you acquire...

Can never be taken from you...
Keep working on them! 🙃

“You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.” — Eckhart Tolle quotes from Quotefancy.com

communication

Communication

“You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.”

Consistency is at the heart of any routine, says Engle. She recommends setting a fixed bedtime and wake-up time and sticking to them as often as you can. Not only will this set you up for a better day ahead, it can also provide more restful sleep at night. That's because waking up and falling asleep at the same time sets your internal clock, or circadian rhythm, which makes for better quality sleep.

1. Maintain a fixed bedtime and waking time

"It is ideal to break the fast from the night before and eat within the first hour of waking to stimulate your metabolism," says Kaidanian. According to her, stretching out the fasting-like state can slow down your metabolism, which could ruin your day ahead.By comparison, A higher metabolic rate means your body burns more calories as you go about your day; it can also make you feel more energetic.If you're going to be working out, Kaidanian, says eating something before you exercise can help fuel your body. She suggests eating a small apple or half a banana with a handful of nuts.

9. Eat something within an hour of waking up

Scrolling through the news or your social media feeds is a passive activity that could detract from the productivity of your morning. "Engaging with this type of content before one is fully awake or out of bed may make it tempting to mindlessly read content, which may feel purposeful, but is actually a passive activity," says Engle.

5. Avoid your phone

<a href="https://linutritionist.com/">Eleana Kaidanian </a>, RD, CPT, a nutritionist with her own practice, recommends starting your day with water, rather than tea or coffee. She suggests keeping water by your bedside and drinking eight ounces when you wake up. Water<a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/getting-enough-fluids"> </a>is essential because it helps your body digest the food you eat, absorb the nutrients from it, and get rid of the waste products.

7. Drink some water

While you may be tempted to lay in bed and scroll through your phone for some time before you get up, Engle suggests getting out of bed instead. "Getting out of bed is the first step. Then, select one activity that you can bring full attention to, whether that be prayer, affirmation, a physical stretch, or brushing your teeth," says Engle. She says with practice, following a chosen routine<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7535346/"> </a>can help you weather external stress, enhance your capacity to cope with challenges, and better engage with the day ahead.

4. Get out of bed

A morning routine with a typical wake time, a healthy breakfast, and some exercise is a great place to start, says <a href="https://www.columbiadoctors.org/erin-k-engle-psyd">Erin Engle </a>, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist at <a href="https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/">Columbia University Irving Medical Center </a>. Having a more intentional approach to the day early on can help instill self-confidence and lead to a more productive rest of the day, says Engle. Ready to reap those benefits? Here are 10 steps you can take to building the perfect morning routine:

"The best options when it comes to breaking your fast are those that are based on whole foods, i.e., foods that are in their natural state and not processed, with protein and fiber to satisfy and give your body fuel for the day ahead," says Kaidanian. Oats, fruit with yogurt, or veggie egg muffins are some healthy options Kaidanian recommends.

10. Choose healthy breakfast options

Exercising in the morning<a href="https://www.insider.com/insomnia-coronavirus-anxiety-mental-health-stress-sleep-endorphins-fitness-workout-2020-4"> </a>can help regulate your sleep-wake cycle and could also aid weight loss<a href="https://www.insider.com/morning-may-be-best-time-to-exercise-for-weight-loss-2019-8"> </a>, if that's your goal. If you don't have time for a whole workout, try doing a few stretches<a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-stretching"> </a>to warm up your muscles and joints for the day ahead.

8. Exercise or stretch

Saying positive affirmations out loud or writing them down can help build confidence, counter negativity, and potentially benefit your relationships in the long run. You can choose your own affirmations or try some of these:<ul><li>I am smart, strong, capable, and kind</li><li>I am worthy, grateful, and blessed</li><li>Today will be a great day</li></ul>

6. Try self-affirmation

Engle recommends giving yourself enough time in the morning to accomplish everything you need to do. She suggests planning backward from your first engagement, like your first meeting, or the starting time of your children's school, and waking up early enough to fit everything in; you may need anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for your morning routine, depending on how many tasks it involves.  "Engaging thoughtfully in each part of the routine may reduce rushing and reactivity, and increase the sense of calm and pleasure obtained from completing the routine," says Engle.

2. Plan how much time you'll need

"Snoozes are a false start to the day. In the short-term, hitting snooze may feel like a win but it has limited utility in advancing the goal of achieving rest long-term," says Engle. If your body needs more rest, then you may need to adjust your schedule accordingly. Adults typically need between seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Onthe other hand, if you're hitting snooze because you're feeling overwhelmed by everything you have to do in the morning or trying to avoid the day ahead, Engle suggests waking up and doing one or two activities that bring you peace and enjoyment.

3. Don't hit snooze

To build a great morning routine, don't hit the snooze button, avoid scrolling on your phone, and try to wake up at the same time every day.

productivity

Productivity

health

Health

habits

Habits

10 steps to building a great morning routine to improve your productivity and happiness

Regular and deliberate practice helps you repair your weak points. Like our school tests, it fortifies what you are learning in your memory. Tip: Teaching someone else is one of the best ways to practice your learning.

10. Practice, practice, practice

Goals are like a beacon and a timeline is the milestones you can check off when you begin your learning journey. Clear time bound goals also help you stay accountable.  Tip: Think of your learning as a long term project with clear timelines and SMART goals.

3. Set clear goals

The very essence of a mini-habit is to start small. Break down the learning goal into the tiniest step possible. Tip: Browse the syllabus for a course and start with the smallest logical unit in it that takes just a few minutes of commitment. For example, watching a 3-6 minute video lesson in your chosen GoSkills course<a href="https://www.goskills.com/Courses"> </a>, or spending a minute to read the accompanying quick reference guide.

1.Start small

Establish a fixed time in your schedule. Mini habits take just a few minutes so it isn’t difficult to carve them out from a busy schedule. Tip: Preferably do your learning first thing in the morning. The brain has a reservoir of energy and you won’t fall to the tyranny of a busy day.

4. Find your ideal time

Taking on too many skills to master is a bit like multitasking. Repeated research on productivity has already found that doing too many things has a switching cost.Tip: Start with a simpler skill as an experiment to test the power of mini habits.

2. Focus on one skill at a time

Behavioral science and proponents like B.J Fogg say one of the best ways to build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behavior on top. This is called habit stacking. Tip: Taking an online course? Make it the start page in your browser so it opens up when you launch your browser first thing in the morning.

6. Use habit stacking

Mini habits take up very little time so the risk of interruptions is also minimized. Still, set your boundaries. Remove distractions like mobile notifications and other demands on your time.  Tip: Keep everything you need to learn with at hand. Reading a page is easier if you have the book next to you.

5. Remove distractions

What we do not go back to we forget. <a href="https://www.goskills.com/Blog/Ebbinghaus-forgetting-curve">The Forgetting Curve </a>shows that you as a learner will forget an average of 90% percent of what you learn within the first month. So, it is critical to build a revision schedule into your learning habit. Spaced repetition helps to flatten out the forgetfulness curve.

9. Revise regularly

Thanks to mobile phones, you can tap into microlearning videos and other tools to learn on the go. Every minute of downtime (for instance, while commuting) can be turned into an upskilling opportunity.

7. Take advantage of microlearning

Motivation can flag with self-directed learning. Tiny rewards at periodic junctures can help improve focus. The best thing about these rewards is that you can set them up yourself

8. Give yourself rewards

problemsolving

Problem Solving

career

Career

The Key Benefits of Micro-Learning

Find out how you can learn faster and stick to your goals by setting mini habits. 

While reading

Aditya Mulukuri on Oct 23

“You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.”

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

10 steps to building a great morning routine to improve your productivity and happiness

CURATED BY

While reading

Aditya Mulukuri on Oct 23

“You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.”

It's time to Read like a Pro.

10 steps to building a great morning routine to improve your productivity and happiness

CURATED BY

It's time to
Read like a Pro.