7 morning habits to fuel your day so you can move the needle, triple your output, and multiply your influence.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I constantly checked my email, especially in the mornings. I would start my day by reading and replying to emails, then rush to get ready for work, making sure to arrive just in time before the teachers and students showed up for school.

However, I soon realized that I was failing as a school leader because:

• I was constantly tired.
• I wasn’t allocating any time to work on important projects.
• My to-do list kept growing, but I couldn’t find the time to complete tasks.
• I unintentionally distanced myself from others, especially during evenings and weekends.
• I didn’t feel connected to my family, friends, or my team.
• The teachers I led felt unsupported.

My leadership was suffering.

After rereading the book “5 Gears” by Jeremie Kubicek & Steve Cockram, I began incorporating seven habits into my morning routine, specifically focusing on the recharge gear (gear 1). These habits helped fuel my day, increase my productivity at work, triple my output, and multiply my influence within just 30 days.

7 Morning Habits to Recharge

I tested and tried these seven morning habits, treating them as a menu from which I could choose and use each morning for 30 days.

Habit 1: Exercise

The goal is to wake up the body with exercise, ranging from 5 to 30 minutes.

Light exercises include:

• Going for a walk
• Stretching
• Using the elliptical machine
• Walking on the treadmill

Heavier exercises include:

• Running
• Strength training
• High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
• Rowing
• Weightlifting (using dumbbells)

Even just 5 minutes of exercise makes me feel accomplished and relaxed.

Habit 2: Make Breakfast

Taking the time to make breakfast helped me be intentional with my food choices.

I noticed that my mornings were more productive when I took the time to decide what I was going to eat. I became more intentional about consuming protein, fruits, and occasionally vegetables in the morning. When I made my own breakfast, I found myself eating less bread or cereals.

Using the microwave, air fryer, and toaster made breakfast preparation easier with minimal mess.

Habit 3: Journaling

Journaling helped me organize my thoughts by allowing me to unload any lingering thoughts from the previous night onto paper. This cleared my mind in the morning.

I also used specific journaling prompts to guide my thoughts. Here are some of my favorite prompts:

1. Affirmation: What am I made to do?
2. What did I do yesterday, and what did I learn from it?
3. What is one thing I must complete today?
4. What upcoming events do I need to pay attention to?
5. What am I currently learning?
6. Gratitude: List five things I am grateful for.

I used prompts #1 and #6 every day and chose one or two from prompts #2 to #5 depending on the available time. I wrote by hand, with an Apple Pencil, or typed. Journaling provided me with a space to organize my thoughts, leaving me with a sense of purpose. I felt confident about what I accomplished the previous day, had a clear goal to move forward with that day, or felt optimistic about the future.

Habit 4: Affirmation in the Mirror

I learned this habit from world-class leader Jeremie Kubicek and his book, “The Peace Index,” where he suggests calling yourself up every morning in front of a mirror.

The idea is that you need to lead yourself because the hardest person to lead is the person you see in the mirror (Andy Stanley). By starting the day with self-affirmation in the mirror, you remind yourself of who you are. Here are some personal examples:

• I am loved by God of the universe.
• I am a child of God.
• God created me and gifted me with the voice of a Pioneer (from the 5 voices) to use for His glory.
• I am a liberator who fights for the highest possible good for person A, B, C (I would name them).
• Today, I will intentionally do X, and I will succeed.

Affirming myself in the mirror helps me know myself so that I can effectively lead myself. It allows me to start the day with a clear understanding of who I am and what I need to accomplish.

An added benefit of calling myself up to lead a particular person and fight for their highest good is that I make an effort to share what I learned with that person, thus multiplying my influence.

Habit 5: Read

I enjoy reading, whether it be the Bible, leadership books, non-fiction books, or novels.

I typically read books, rather than articles, in the morning. This allows me to immerse myself in ideas, evaluate and reflect on the book’s content. I consider which parts resonated with me and which parts did not. I contemplate what was true and what was not.

By engaging with the author’s thoughts in the morning, I walk away feeling like I’ve learned something and interacted with a very intelligent person.

Habit 6: Meditate

For me, meditation involves combining it with prayer. This is the time I spend thinking and praying over my day.

I review my calendar, consider the people I will meet, and the topics to be discussed in each meeting. I identify the most important task I need to complete that day. Then, I pray and ask God for wisdom and the power to help me be efficient with my tasks and effective in my interactions with others.

By meditating and praying in the morning, I feel prepared when I actually start working or meet with people. I am able to produce results or connect quickly without wasting time thinking about what I need to do or say.

Meditation also helps me focus on God and what He wants to accomplish that day. Knowing that He is in control allows me to relinquish responsibility for things not working out. I can then concentrate on following His commands and fulfilling my responsibilities rather than being overly concerned about the results, which are often beyond my control.

Habit 7: Devotion

Devotion involves spending time reading God’s word, understanding its meaning, and planning to apply its principles to my life.

To stay focused and avoid feeling overwhelmed, I follow a four-step process:

1. Pray to ask for wisdom to read and understand the Bible.
2. Comprehend the text: What does it say?
3. Interpret the text: What does it mean? What principles can I draw from this passage?
4. Apply: How will I use this principle in my daily life today?

Sometimes I don’t have time to complete all four steps, but I make a note of where I left off so that I can continue from there the next day. Devotion gives my life purpose and direction, allowing me to feel closer to God and His heart. This closeness provides me with the confidence and strength to persevere when things become more challenging.

How I Use These Habits

I use these habits as a starting point for each day. Typically, I choose one habit and practice it for a month. If there is still time after practicing the first habit, I move on to practicing one or two additional habits.

Initially, I started with only 30 minutes a day, but now I spend around 60 minutes each morning to recharge my batteries. This ensures that I have the capacity and energy to take on the challenges of leading a school.

If you are just starting to build your recharging habits, I recommend starting with just one habit for a month. If you have the capacity, you can add another habit. Remember, it’s important not to try to adopt all seven habits at once. Human beings require gradual changes that eventually lead to transformation.

However, if you prefer having a menu to choose from each day, you can use mine or create your own.

By incorporating these habits into your routine, you can become more productive and multiply your influence.