We all have those days. You know…the ones where you just want to stay in your pjs until 4pm, watch too many episodes of The Office, eat more crap than you thought humanly possible, shut out the world & just feel sorry for yourself. Yea. Well, too bad we aren’t talking about those kind of days. I’d rather discuss the other kind of days. The ones when you wake up feeling so full of passion and purpose. You have an excitement for life & you feel like a world changer. Those are the kind of days I love & live for. But let’s be honest, sometimes those days don’t come natural & you really have to work at it. In that case, I have created a list of simple things to implement into your day to help you stay focused, so that you can achieve all of those great, beautiful, meaningful things you want to do with your life.

1. Wake up early.
Early enough to carve out time just for YOU. Life gets crazy & we all need a little time to ourselves to be still, breathe, and reflect on the day ahead. So instead of reaching for your phone to scroll through Facebook as soon as your eyes open, take a moment to give thanks & decide that today you will be happy.

2. Take an inner bath.
I know this sounds w.e.i.r.d, but trust me! It only means to drink a liter of water as soon as your feet hit the floor. When we wake up our bodies are dehydrated from not having any water for 8+ hrs. I know its hard not to go for that cup of coffee first thing, but this will make such a difference in your clarity, circulation and energy.

3. Pray and practice gratitude.
There is something so powerful about prayer. Isn’t it crazy to think that the God of the Universe wants to talk to us? Ask him what you can do today to be a blessing to him and to others.

4. Workout.
Even when you don’t want to! Doing this will make you feel so much more energized and ready to conquer the day. If you’re bored with your workout, try something new! Take a class, look up a fun workout on pinterest, turn on your favorite playlist and have a dance party. Just get moving & Remember that “a body in motion, stays in motion.”

5. Make lists.
Studies show (no but for real) that we tend to get more accomplished if we make a list (in writing) of the things we need to tackle that day. It really helps during those times when you’re like, “uhhh what was it that I needed to be doing right now?”

6. Spend time outside.
Go barefoot & feel the grass between your toes. Nature loves to communicate with us as much as we do to it. Do you have a dog? Walk him/her. Go somewhere you haven’t been before. Find a new trail. Feel the sun on your face. There is nothing more healing than being in mother nature.

7. Drink lots of water.
Drinking the recommended 8 glasses a day will keep you energized and curb your appetite. Change it up and add a drop of lemon or peppermint essential oil.

8. Eat clean.
Nourish your body with clean, nutritious food that will keep your body fueled throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be boring to eat healthy. There are so many amazing clean eating recipes. I will be doing a post on this soon.

9. Read.
If you find yourself with 10 minutes to spare, pick up a book & strengthen your mind. Learn something new. Instead of turning on the TV at night before bed, make a cup of lavender chamomile tea & read a book. If you want a better quality of sleep don’t use any electronic devices before bed. The blue light will disturb bedtime patterns & it will take you longer to fall into a deep sleep.

10. Listen to music or a podcast.
There is something about music that sets my soul on fire. Listening to the right song can completely change my attitude and turn my day around. I also love listening to motivational podcasts. They inspire me & give me that feeling of “let’s get crap done!”

11. Be present.
Stop worrying so much about your future & look back on how far you have come. Remember the things that you prayed for that you now have today. Be happy and enjoy the beautiful things.

12. Take time to share love with your family or friends.
Your relationships are one of the most important things in this life, so cherish the time you have together. Have lunch with a friend. Take your grandmother flowers. Play hookie with your kid and spend the day doing things you know they’d love.

13. Do something bigger than yourself.
Even something as small as complimenting someone, or paying for the car behind you at Starbucks can change someones whole day. Be compassionate toward others. You never know what someone is going through.

14. Get more sleep.
Make sure you are getting the sleep your body needs. They say you need at least 8 hrs for your body to function at its highest level.

I hope these small things will empower you and help you become the best version of yourself. Please let me know if they worked for you. I would also love to hear some of your secrets to a successful day! “Make today count, because you will never have it back.”

image via pinterest