How you start your day sets the tone for everything that’s to come, and beginning with this simple question can have a long and lasting effect.
Have you ever noticed that what happens in the first 20 minutes of your morning sets the tone and direction for your entire day? If you stub your toe getting out of bed and are presented with bad news shortly after, as much as we hate to admit it, most likely your day is going to be downhill from there. But if you wake up feeling refreshed, look outside to find it’s a glorious sunny day, and you start thinking about something you’re looking forward to, things will probably be looking up and up as the day goes on.
It was this realization that led me to a recently instated daily practice that is as short and sweet as it is impactful. I ask myself this question:
What am I excited about today?
Before the worrying starts, before the stressing starts, before the looking over your seemingly neverending to-do list starts, begin your day with excitement and anticipation.
Answers could look like…
I’m excited to get to be my own boss today.
I’m excited to have a Zoom chat with my friend.
I’m excited to work with a client I love and appreciate.
I’m excited to go for a walk later and enjoy this beautiful day.
I’m excited to eat tacos for dinner.
I’m excited to have my first guitar lesson (that’s me – today!)
…or literally anything else.
Remember Newton’s first law of motion, that an object at rest wants to stay at rest and an object in motion wants to stay in motion? I’ve found that our moods are a bit like that – if we’re in a good mood, we’re likely to stay in a good mood, and if we’re in a bad mood, we’re likely to stay in a bad mood. It all starts with the first 20 minutes of your day.
For more from Janelle (that’s me!) at Ellanyze on finding happiness, check out these other quick ‘n easy reads:
How to Find Happiness Again: I Bet You Haven’t Tried This
Mindful Self Compassion: Give Yourself Permission to Feel _________.
PS: And if ALL else fails, here are 34 Ways to Bust a Bad Mood from Greatist.com.
