Start your day right: make your bed
"Start each day with a task completed"
Just 'make your bed'.
William McRaven was a Senior Commander of Navy Seals and described how in his training the first thing he did every morning was to make the bed. It didn't matter if he was hang-dog tired, hurting, or pissed off. He made the bed ready for inspection. Now, years later and after an illustrious career, he still wakes up in the morning and makes his bed. It is something he has credited with a disciplined and productive life (if you read my blog a couple of weeks ago you'll know I have been reading lots of books about discipline - wait till I get onto Stoicism!). McRaven states in his book:
"[Making the bed] was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task." - Chapter 1, Make your bed - William H McRayven
For the last couple of months I have embraced this idea, and found it to be incredibly beneficial. I literally wake up and spend a minute making my bed, fluffing my pillows, tucking the sheets and making sure I don't wake my wife up at 5.30am. It may sound silly, but when I see the neat, crisp sheets in the evening (provided said wife has followed the same idea!) it does make me feel a bit happy. It is a job I don't have to do last thing at night. It is something that is better and beneficial to me because I took some time to do it right, first thing in the morning.
I've been awake for 90 seconds and already completed a task!
So, I have started applying this idea everyday in a multitude of ways. On the train I meditate with Headspace, I practise my Icelandic on Memrise, and I take 10 minutes to send messages to people to let them know I'm thinking about them - to help someone else start their day off in a positive way too.
The results. Particularly this week while I've been thinking about this process, and writing this blog - No procrastination at all. I feel much more focused when I start my day with even small tasks completed. So when I arrive at work I feel able to give my best and enjoy my day, mindful that I get to work with amazing colleagues and students every day.
How about you? I would love to hear what routines you start your day with, and if you do this practise yourself!
Just 'make your bed'.
William McRaven was a Senior Commander of Navy Seals and described how in his training the first thing he did every morning was to make the bed. It didn't matter if he was hang-dog tired, hurting, or pissed off. He made the bed ready for inspection. Now, years later and after an illustrious career, he still wakes up in the morning and makes his bed. It is something he has credited with a disciplined and productive life (if you read my blog a couple of weeks ago you'll know I have been reading lots of books about discipline - wait till I get onto Stoicism!). McRaven states in his book:
"[Making the bed] was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task." - Chapter 1, Make your bed - William H McRayven
For the last couple of months I have embraced this idea, and found it to be incredibly beneficial. I literally wake up and spend a minute making my bed, fluffing my pillows, tucking the sheets and making sure I don't wake my wife up at 5.30am. It may sound silly, but when I see the neat, crisp sheets in the evening (provided said wife has followed the same idea!) it does make me feel a bit happy. It is a job I don't have to do last thing at night. It is something that is better and beneficial to me because I took some time to do it right, first thing in the morning.
I've been awake for 90 seconds and already completed a task!
So, I have started applying this idea everyday in a multitude of ways. On the train I meditate with Headspace, I practise my Icelandic on Memrise, and I take 10 minutes to send messages to people to let them know I'm thinking about them - to help someone else start their day off in a positive way too.
The results. Particularly this week while I've been thinking about this process, and writing this blog - No procrastination at all. I feel much more focused when I start my day with even small tasks completed. So when I arrive at work I feel able to give my best and enjoy my day, mindful that I get to work with amazing colleagues and students every day.
How about you? I would love to hear what routines you start your day with, and if you do this practise yourself!
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