Lifestyle

The other day while reading one of my favorite business websites there was  an article on a 20 minute routine that is guaranteed to make for a more productive day or as they put it “make your day better.” Eagerly, I read the article hoping to see if some of my daily practices made the cut; perhaps even with the hopes of some type of validation as to these were some of the habits of CEOs of major companies. Imagine my disappointment to read their only strategy for a productive day…working out.

Don’t mistake my disappointment as disagreement. I wholeheartedly agree that a healthy workout regimen gives you that extra pep in your step.

But heading into 2014, I was hoping for something a little more inspiring. Then it dawned on me, “Shameka, you own an online magazine and you have a daily or regular routine that helps you live a more productive life, so why not write about it.”

And so here we have it!

My routine came about as a necessity. Five years ago, I ventured into full-time entrepreneurship. Every morning I’d wake up and ask myself, “What the heck am I doing?” I had just brought a new car, had a mortgage to meet and no one to share the load; just me, myself and a dream. For a while anxiety and fear were really taking over my life. I had to find a way to ease that stress. Here are my steps for having a productive day. 

  1. Prayer and Meditation

    This is a great way to start the day! I’ve always prayed, but meditation is something that I adopted when I became an entrepreneur.  Praying allows me to connect with the Creator, communicate my concerns, cares, desires, hopes, dreams, and fears. Mediation forces me to be still, clear my mind and hear what He has to say about all those things. Oh! Make sure to have a pen and paper handy during this time. Some of my best ideas have come during prayer and meditation time.

  2. Exercise

    Who really wants to get up early to exercise? But,  it is a great way to start off your day! It gets your metabolism going, burn more calories and you sleep better at night. Experts say you should get at least four hours of exercise a week.

  3. Journaling

    Journaling is one of the last things that I do at night. It’s not something I do it every night, but I do write regularly; especially when I’m facing a tough decision or experiencing a milestone. It’s been very inspiring to be able to go back and read entries that were written during various times of my life.

  4. Planning

    On Sunday nights, I make my “to do” list for the week. I plan for my companies (Savvy Inc., Savvy Lifestyle and Savvy Encore) and make a list of things that I need to get accomplish for my clients.  I mark them off as I complete them. I also make sure I give myself time to commute to meetings. I hate feeling rushed.

  5. Responding vs. Waiting

    Decide what needs an immediate response or reaction. Throughout the day you receive many stimuli. Some pleasant, some not so pleasant and some can be very inconvenient or distracting. Life is spontaneous and things happen.  Decide what needs your immediate attention and what can wait. This also helps in keeping your emotions under control.

  6. Enjoy the Journey

    Life is too short to live with any regrets. Don’t sweat the small stuff.  If you make a mistake(s), own up to them, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep living. Being happy is a choice and you have to make that choice every day. Enjoy the journey of life. Live, laugh, love. Try and live a balance life. Too much of anything, be it work or play, isn’t good. Keep everything in perspective and in moderation.

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