Written by: Oriel Ross McKinney, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As a natural morning person, getting up early always worked for me. I always have my day in front of me. It is just a practice I learned from my father. Working with entrepreneurs from all walks of life, I realized while mornings are optimal for me, there are efficiency habits Early Risers and Night Owls can meld together. What if you are not a 5 am riser? Should that mean your day is done before it even begins? Absolutely not! As with anything, you learn to work around it. 5 am risers work well in their realm because that habit is ideal for those of us who work nine to five days, and they have structured their business to complement that schedule. Simply stated, this does not mean you cannot be efficient and ambitious if your circadian clock works differently.
Here are four value-added habits for your success.
Habit Creation: Create habits that you value. Individualize the effort. This will help you to avoid burnout. Forcing your creativity into some guru’s schedule will drive you bonkers. Set yourself up for success. Try this hack.
Hack — Take a week and track your most productive hours. This will help you guide your schedule toward efficiency.
Decision Making: High-value decision-making happens when you release your mind from daunting tasks. For example, I brain dump and create my to-do list at night. The benefit is I jump right into my tasks in the morning without a second thought. I prioritize the list and assign minutes to each. The feeling of accomplishment is an amazing stress reliever. My creativity is at its peak.
Sleep Patterns: Getting enough sleep is paramount to a healthy lifestyle. Look at a sleep cycle that works for your schedule. The goal is productivity, not following someone a latent formula. Understand the activities that create a peaceful environment. When are you most relaxed? How can you ensure you rest for seven to eight hours per day?
Personal Mission Statement: Create a Personal Mission Statement and a Family Mantra. Recite your personal mission statement to yourself every day before starting your task list. Place your Family Mantra in a visible location of your work area. This keeps your workspace energy in an ideal emotional state.
Remember, you drive your own success. Being productively assertive is a choice. Being ambitious is a commitment. It is a daily commitment to keep you and everyone around you at your peak, fighting weight to think clearly, tackle issues, and create the next bright idea. CEOs become CEOs because of their ambitious nature.
Oriel Ross McKinney, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Oriel Ross McKinney is a renowned Business Strategist, Author, and Speaker. Known as The Small Biz Engine®, her experience includes a successful 20-year tenure in Business Strategy and Development, Finance, Non-Profit Management, and Entrepreneurship.
As the mastermind behind several success stories, brands, and businesses, she methodically assesses her projects and delivers profit-driven strategies again and again. As a producer and co-host of the Many Hands Podcast, Oriel hones in on business & socially conscious topics while unveiling success in a brilliant way. For those looking to transition from corporate workplaces to entrepreneurship, read her anchor chapter in the anthology, Soaring Beyond the 9 to 5, or tap into one of her signature F.U.E.L.® Academy courses.
On a personal level, Oriel's biggest challenge and gift is being a mom to two children who were born prematurely. In her spare time, she supports preemie babies and their families in any way she can. Her motto is “You’re your greatest asset; invest in yourself.”
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