Daily Routines Can Make a Difference

Every year - about this time - most of us ‘gather around’ and make resolutions to create something new in our life! A year later, we look back and notice that not much ended up changing - so we do the next best thing and repeat the process!

 

This year, as Cheryl, Anna and I look at a number of special opportunities we have - opportunities to significantly improve our lives - the question is, what will we do differently to ensure those opportunities manifest?

 

Leadership expert John Maxwell said, “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” 

 

Cheryl is one of the great ‘routine masters.’ In fact she sometimes really frustrates Anna and me with her dogged sticking to her routines - but I’ve noticed something the last few years; she is manifesting significant results in her life in a number of key areas. AND . . . I’m noticing with me......... well, not so much!

 

We all know that success leaves clues and it seems that Cheryl is leaving some pretty good clues that I might heed if I want to achieve these breakthroughs in my life! For the next 90 Days, Anna, Cheryl and I have agreed to partner to create some specific routines that we’ll hold each other accountable to (hey, we’re also posting this stuff on Facebook - how’s that for public accountability?). 

 

Why? Because the goals we each have are bigger and more important to us than issues we’ll have to get through to ‘work together’. In fact, learning to partner more effectively together is one of our goals!

 

Am I excited about creating routines? NO - I’ve resisted them all of my life. But if they are what all successful people use, perhaps that’s a clue I should key into (unless I’m happy not creating the new results I want)!

 

So what are some of my new routines? 

•         Getting up at a set time and going to bed at a set time - creating specific bookends to my day - creating routine.

•         Starting each day with quite/prayer time, daily planning, and personal study.

•         Maintaining a daily exercise fitness program schedule.

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What I’ve noticed over the last several months, as I’ve ‘tried’ to implement the last two routines, is that they happened easily on the days I do the first routine, but not on the days that I don’t! Then it becomes pretty obvious - find a way to ensure that I do #1 and I get #’s 2 & 3 almost as a free bonus!

 

For 2011, what daily routine are you willing to change in order to create something new that really matters to you?

 

One of the books that I’m using to help me with this process and that I highly recommend is: The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy - it’s an easy read and an excellent daily study book to help you create the life you truly desire.