Implementing healthy routines into your daily activities will increase productivity, gear you toward being proactive (rather than reactive) and reduce stress. As a bonus, it will increase your bottom line — guaranteed.
Let’s take it slow and start with a simple morning routine for when you first arrive at the office (and for the love of Pete, don’t run off and google “morning routine” — you will get lost in a wormhole).
Routine 1: Make some time to prep
I would love for all of you to wake up at 4:45 a.m. ready to tackle the day, but I know that’s not a possibility for many people. However, all of you can show up 15 minutes earlier.
A sample prep-time routine might look like this:
- Turn on computer
- Start coffee or tea
- Review schedule
- Tackle the day’s most important task
Photo by Lost Co on Unsplash
You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel at the start of your day by taking 15 minutes to get things ready first thing in the morning. Just try it for a week, and see if it makes a difference in your mindset.
Routine 2: Take a pause on your inbox
Do not check your email when you get to the office.
I repeat: Do not check your email.
Just like scrolling Facebook “for five minutes,” this is a time-suck. If you do not have the willpower, Google and Boomerang have created plugins/apps to help (works wonders with Gmail).
Routine 3: Schedule an hour of power
Whether you call it prospecting, phone time or, as Tom Ferry would say, “my kids’ future is more important than my candy-ass fears,” just schedule it. This needs to be on your calendar for one full hour, and it needs to be done by noon.
Why before noon? Because your afternoon will be filled with appointments.
Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
Here’s an example of a sample routine:
- Take a break five minutes before you start (no bathroom break excuses during the hour)
- Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb”
- Put your headset on (I recommend one that covers your ears to block out office noise)
- Pull out your scripts, call list and goal tracker (email me if you want a simple one)
- Set a one-hour timer
- Get it done
Choosing just one of these routines will improve your productivity, but why not shoot for the moon and implement all three on the daily? Don’t settle for less than your very best.
Stephanie Arnett is the broker associate at Arnett|Rackley Mississippi Magnolia w/RE/MAX Partners in Mississippi. Follow her on Instagram or Snapchat.
