It’s no secret. How we begin our day sets the tone for the whooole rest of day. Gain positive momentum by engaging in the activities that will put you in the mindset and pattern of success. Here we reveal the 10 things productive moms do before 10 AM.

10 Things Productive Moms Do Before 10 AM:

1. Make the bed

Admiral McRaven, the person who was behind the capture of Bin Laden, gave a golden nugget of advice during a commencement address: “make your bed.” It seems ridiculous, but the truth is that making your bed automatically gives you a “win” at the very beginning of your day. This win greatly impacts your motivation to keep going and, therefore, your actions. So, as McRaven puts it, “if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

Watch McRaven explain how he was taught this productive strategy:

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jflUvxQLkgs[/embedyt]

2. Open the blinds

Light in the morning helps us to wake up, feel alert, and feel energized. While artificial light (the one coming from your ceiling) can help, there is no substitute for natural light pouring through your windows. To cue your brain that it’s time to start the day, open all the blinds in the rooms that you’ll be in throughout the day. Your body’s internal clock is very sensitive to light, so when you open the blinds, your body’s energy level and mood will follow.

3. Exercise/stretching

Exercise not only wakes up your muscles, it also wakes up your mind. When you engage in exercise, endorphins are released into your brain, causing you to feel more powerful, beautiful, successful, and happy. Studies have shown that exercise can help ward off anxiety you might otherwise feel throughout the day because the body is better able to handle stressors. So whether you decide to go on a 30 minute jog or merely stretch for 10, moving your body is important to sustain productivity throughout the day.

4. Get dressed & ready for the day

Looking put together doesn’t just communicate to others that you are ready for the day, you also are sending that important message to yourself. When you stay in your pajamas, chances are you will more than likely have a lazy (aka unproductive) day. By getting dressed, putting on a little bit of makeup, and doing your hair, you are ready for whatever the day has in store. You can confidently answer the door, you can rush out to an important last-minute errand, and you can focus on others instead of on how your don’t look presentable. Perhaps you’re guilty of the “my husband is coming home so I have to hurry and look like I’ve been cute and productive all day” routine. If this is the case, trying shaking things up and actually be cute and productive all day. Start by simply getting dressed.

5. Pray/meditate

We’ve talked a lot about important daily preparations for your body and mind, but what your spirit? Prayer and meditation is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for the day. It helps you to focus on what matters most, on others, and on everything you have to be grateful for. It also helps prepare you to face the challenges life brings. Whether you’re religious or not, spending a few minutes of quiet reflection in your morning will arm you with hope and purpose.

6. Tidy the home

Brian Sansoni, a VP of the American Cleaning Institute, hit the nail on the head when he said, “There is something about a clean house, a clean room. It does wonders for the psyche.” Amen! A clean home is a happy home. Some women insist that their house is messy because they are busy making memories. I agree that a home doesn’t need to remain spotless throughout the day, but when you start the day with a tidy home, it provides a clean slate to create those memories. Tidying the home will not only provide you with another small win for the day, it will relieve stress so that you can fully focus on what matters most.

7. Compliment yourself

As women–thank you hormones–it is so easy to be constantly putting ourselves down. Start your day off right by truly complimenting yourself out loud. Because, in reality, you do have things that are awesome about you. Let’s focus on those instead of the inevitable weaknesses. I mean, hey, no one is perfect, so why focus on what’s not. Whether you tell yourself that you look sexy, that you can make one mean bowl of hot cereal, or that you make angel babies, give yourself a little mental pick-me-up by something something sweet.

8. Read something uplifting & motivational

Starting the day off with a motivational quote or scripture will help you think and feel more positively throughout the day. Quotes and scripture tend to soften the difficult blows of life, they help you identify the good in others, and encourage you to be and do better. Uplifting material, read daily, can shape your day into something better. Zig Ziglar, a war veteran and motivational author, once wrote, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing–that’s why we recommend it daily.”

9. Eat a healthy breakfast

If you were to purchase a fancy pantsy, new car (that, of course, is your favorite color), you wouldn’t put intentionally put the wrong kind of oil in the tank. It could destroy your spankin’ new engine! So why are women okay with putting the wrong kind of fuel in their own bodies, if they fuel up at all?! Taking care of yourself, and others, requires that you provide your body with the proper nutrition that it needs in order to be amazing. As you take care of your body, you are communicating to yourself that you are important. And when you feel important, you will do important things.

10. Tell someone, “I love you.”

When you say, “I love you,” it’s only words, right? Wrong! Those three simple words means so much more. When you tell someone that you love them, you are showing them that you (1) acknowledge them, (2) care for them, and (3) are thinking about them. Saying that you love someone is important within a marriage or parent-child relationship. If those are not words that you are used to saying, read this blog post by guest writer Ashley LeBaron. She explains why we need to be more kind and generous within our relationships and why vulnerability within marriage is important. As you tell someone every morning the words, “I love you,” you will go about your day with more charity, compassion, and joy, characteristics essential to success as a mother.

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