Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Maximize
Your Mornings
By Kat @ InspiredToAction.com
Introduction
Do you feel like you work all day without getting anything
significant done? Do you feel like you dont have time for yourself to pray, exercise and dream? Do you want to squeeze the most out
of every day?
You can.
In fact, you can accomplish more in an hour than most people
accomplish in an entire day.
2. If option 1 isnt actually an option for you and your kids wake up
early, let them watch a video. Its okay, really. Besides, if they see
you exercising and reading the word they will come to value it as
well. You could even play a Bible based video and tell your kids
theyre learning to have a quiet time too.
No matter what, though, try to do it as early as possible so that you
have the best chance of consistently having that time alone.
Tip #2: Be Prepared
If you are going to get up early, its important that you prepare
everything you can the night before. Decide where and what youll
read, how youll exercise and what you need to plan the day. Put all
your gear together so that you dont have to search your house for
your Bible at 5:32 in the morning.
Tip #3: Adjust Your Internal Clock
If youre having trouble waking up earlier, set your alarm clock back
in 5 minute increments each day/week until you reach your goal
time. Increase your prayer, Bible study and exercise times as you
move the clock back.
Tip #4: Getting Up Early Starts At Night
Dont forget that in order wake up early, we need to go to bed early.
Tip #5: Find an accountability partner.
Text each other at a certain time to make sure youre both up and at
it.
*Action Steps
1. What time will you wake up? ________________
2. What time do you need to go to bed to make sure you still get
enough sleep? ________________
3. Collect all the items you need for your morning time:
- Bible
- Journal
- Music player
- Exercise clothes
- Water bottle
-______________
-______________
-______________
4. Set your alarm clock (and a backup clock, if necessary.)
5. Find an accountability partner. ______________________
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I run. Some of my sweetest times with God have come while out on
a run. He gets my undivided attention and what amazing things He
shares
Never overlook the power of listening.
*Action Steps
1. Select morning worship music.
2. Create or select a Bible study plan.
3. Create or print a prayer calendar.
4. Be quiet and listen.
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Swimming
Cycling
Fitness class at the gym
Workout video
Yoga
Pilates
Strength Training
- Weight machines at the gym
- Pushups
- Crunches
- Squats
- Pull ups (no, I cant do these either. Just thought Id list them
for fun. Goals, people.)
- Small weights to do bicep and tricep exercises
2. Make It Fun
If you you think fun exercise is an oxymoron, then try combining
your workout with meeting another need.
For example, Jimmy teases me that my love language is quality time.
With myself.
While Im energized by people, I absolutely thrive on time alone to
think and process. Running not only keeps me fit and healthy, it
gives me my much needed time of solitude.
I never liked running. I only liked to run when there was a ball or a
racquet involved, but just runningaloneBOOOORING.
However, for a 34 year old woman with 3 small kids, there arent
many opportunities for time alone. So running has become my
retreat.
The good news: Ive actually come to love running. I love the
solitude. I know that I will not be interrupted. I can think complete
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Obviously, this routine can be tweaked for any fitness level. If youre
Jillian Michaels, you can do finger tip pushups and squat your sofa
or small car. Or if youre human and just starting your fitness
routine, you can do knee or wall pushups, basic crunches and easy
squats.
You could also try to do fewer or more reps each cycle. 8 or 15
pushups, crunches or squats.
However you do it, I promise it feels great when you finish and,
again, it only takes 5 minutes.
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*Action Steps:
1. List all the ways you could possibly exercise.
- Run outside
- Run on a treadmill
- Stationary bike
- Rollerblading
- Bicycling
- Workout video
- Gym
- Weightlifting
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-____________________
-____________________
-____________________
2. Specifically Plan Your Workout - Pick the video you want to work
out with. Decide how long you will ride the stationary bike. If youre
running in your neighborhood, pick your route.
What______________________________________________________
Where_____________________________________________________
When______________________________________________________
3. Create Your Habit - What is the 1 thing youll try to do
EVERYDAY? Mine is my 5 minute workout. Yours could be walking
around your block or 50 jumping jacks. Anything that will help you
to develop the fitness habit. Remember to keep it simple.
Habit Workout
___________________________________________________________
4. Set A Goal - Why are your exercising? How will you measure your
progress? A race? Pounds/inches lost? Consecutive workout days?
My goal
_________________________________________________________________
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Dinner
I also plan what Im making for dinner and when I need to start
cooking.
I write my daily plan on a little card and carry it with me. The
template for this card (also available in notecard and full page size)
is in the resources section.
Its ridiculously helpful to have my day completely planned out and
available at a glance. If I dont, I am easily distracted and end up
running around doing a lot yet accomplishing nothing. By taking a
few minutes each morning to plan things out, I dont miss important
events, I get important tasks done each day and Im not scrambling
at 5pm to figure out what to make for dinner.
Action Steps:
1. Create a Master Calendar with all your events and responsibilites.
2. Make a Master To Do List - get your to do list out of your brain
and onto paper (or pixel). Separate your tasks into Active and
Someday lists.
3. Select 3-5 recipes to make each week.
4. Print out the Daily Overview ( or make your own) and fill it out
each day.
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Once it was a habit, I actually WANTED to get out of bed at 5:30 and
I had to force myself to stay in bed if I was sick or whatnot.
Tip #3 Prepare - I set everything out that I need the night before. I
set out my journal, Bible, ipod and laptop. I hang up my running
clothes. If I have everything ready, it maximizes my time and it
reduces the obstacles to prayer, exercise and planning.
Tip #4 Get Uncomfortable - My ideal morning devotion time would
involve a cup of tea, a warm fire, soothing music and a soft cozy
chair. And I would be asleep in 6 seconds. I've learned that getting
comfy early in the morning isn't a good idea. In our old house (we
moved in August) I spent my morning quiet time in the grandeur of
my garage. It wasnt comfy. There were bugs. It was cold. But it
helped me stay focused and intentional about my time.
Tip #5 Plan, Plan, Plan - Decide how much time you're going to
spend reading, praying, working out and planning your day. Plan
what you're going to do during each section. What book of the Bible
will you study? Who will you pray for each day? What exercises will
you do? Plan it out, because the less you have to think at 5:30am the better.
CONCLUSION
Remember, the simple goal is to just get up and out. Don't make it
more complicated than that. Sometimes my Bible study times are
less than stellar. Sometimes my workouts are lame. But by simply
getting out of bed, I'm being made more faithful every day.
The goal is faithfulness and balance - NOT perfection.
So take a few minutes today, fill out the workbook and set your
alarm.
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Maximize
Your Mornings
eWorkbook
By Kat @ InspiredToAction.com
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_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
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Now print out your Bible Study plan or purchase your Bible Study
Book (try buying it online so that you can get it right now) and put it
with your Bible.
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Where_____________________________________________________
When______________________________________________________
3. Create Your Habit
What is the one thing youll try to do EVERYDAY? Mine is my 5
minute workout. Yours could be walking around your block or 50
jumping jacks. Anything that will help you to develop the fitness
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Printable Resources
Here are all the forms Ive referenced.
1. Progress Chart - print this out to keep track of your progress as
you develop the habit of getting up early.
2. Prayer Calendar - print and place with your Bible.
3. Master To Do List - print out as many of each page as needed.
Write down EVERY task filed away in your brain. Be sure to divide
them into Active and Someday lists.
4. Daily Overview - Print out on business cards or card stock. Cut,
fill out and carry with you for your day at a glance.
5. Weekly Overview - You can use this in addition to the Daily
Overview or in lieu of it.
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My Weekly Overview
Daily Checklist
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Bible Study
Workout
Plan
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Events/Menu
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Events
Menu
To Do Lists
Monday
Tuesday
2009 Inspiredtoaction.com
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Week 1
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Week 2
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Week 3
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Week 4
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2009 InspiredToAction.com