7 of 58 for 58: Ease Into The Day

I woke up very early this morning. That's nothing new. I needed more sleep, but felt energized (and a bit anxious) about what's on my plate during the next month.

I'm entering an especially busy period. That keeps my mind working overtime. And when I wake up I want to get going ASAP to complete items on my to do list.

That's the approach I took for many years. It left me exhausted, frustrated, and unfocused. I "got things done." But that came at great cost to my peace of mind. It also hindered any progress towards achieving longer-term personal and professional goals.

Now I ease into the day, taking time to complete what I've referred to previously as a morning practice. This morning, for example, I closed my eyes and meditated for 15 minutes. Thoughts came and went, as they usually do. In the process, I gained some clarity on how I needed to proceed. I didn't do any free writing in my journal this morning. However, I often do so as a way to let this clarity flow through me via my handwriting and, ultimately, appear on paper. 

And now, as I write this, I feel on task and on target. Had I rushed into the day I wouldn't feel nearly as calm and focused. Now I do. Thanks to my commitment to ease into the day.