Mindset Toolkit Archives - The Future Mindset

How To Win Your Day By Morning Journaling

Recently I’ve expanded my journalling to morning journaling. It has helped to sharpen my focus and avoid the procrastination pitfalls that can sometimes happen when you are not conscious of your actions.

I want to share this with you so you can start every morning with a bang and reap the momentum benefits throughout your day.

The best part? It’s a simple strategy that couldn’t be easier to implement.

Here’s what you need to know…

Why You Should Journal?

There is plenty of science-backed research that details the benefits of journaling on a person’s physical and mental health but also your emotional intelligence.

Simply put journalling is essential to overall health. The best thing about it’s accessible to anyone.

I have championed men, especially why taking up journaling is important for developing a healthy but productive mindset. But journaling is for everyone and morning journaling is an underused tool to kick-start your day.

How To Implement Morning Journaling

Here are some of my favourite strategies for making morning journalling a consistent habit.

Make it super easy to start. When you wake up in the morning the last thing you want to do is something challenging. By making morning journalling appealing and easy to start. I download a writing app (Writing by hand is good too) and put the head title “Today’s going to be a great day” followed by when starting my main content “Today’s intention is…”. I do this the previous night so when I start my morning journal I’m ready to go straight away.

Finding a quiet place is essential. Being able to connect your mind to paper in an effective way. Can only be done through alone time without distraction. For me, I have to wake up before my family. Whatever strategy you pick to find alone time. Make it a priority. Your thoughts will be able to flow and get into a zone of peace and focus so much easier.

Make it unique to you. At this moment in time, all I want my morning journal to be is about productivity and focus. But this might change in the future. So when you create your morning journaling habit. Ask yourself what do you want out of it? By asking this question it will lead you to find what will help and make it a practice you enjoy. Omar Itani has some great ideas you can check out here.

Create a time limit. When writing I can easily get carried away and write for a long time. By creating a time limit for yourself is important. You could be doing a school run, having to go to work or other self-care habits in the morning. The sweet spot for me is 15 minutes. This allows me to write for 10 minutes and then have 5 minutes to feel the plan for the day. Pick a time that works for you. Whatever time it is. You will gain something in return.

What Do You Write About?

When I evening journal I tend to focus on;

The feelings of the day
What I failed at
What I achieved
Who and what to forgive
What I’m grateful for
Thoughtful questions I ask myself

I do this until I’ve shed all the unwanting feelings, built my confidence up and have a clear plan for the next day.

When it comes to morning journalling for me it’s like starting an engine. The fuel is already in the tank, it’s being serviced and cleaned. Now it’s time to put it in first gear and get on the road for a productive and enjoyable day.

So I focus on two things;

My intention for the day
Feeling and believing it’s already done

This allows me to have a clear focus of what I need to do but also makes it a done deal. By the end it’s like I’ve just created a movie and when I finish my morning journaling. It’s time to live the movie I’ve watched before.

Morning journaling should definitely have its place in anyone’s morning routine. The benefits far out way the inconvenience of doing it. See if you can give it a go tomorrow. Then come back and leave a comment about your experience. I would love to know.

Want more on journaling? Read this article about the benefits journalling has on the mind.

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When The Mind Can Take No More

Why Finding Time To Be Alone In Solitude Improves The Mind — Photo by Bob Price on Pexels.com

To find out whether you need to spend time alone or go into solitude, There are many signs that you will clearly see if you pay close attention. It could be your snappy with people, can’t concentrate, feel lost, you want to hide away from the world or you feel your motivation has gone.

This happens when the mind doesn’t have time to relax. When we are in contact with colleagues, our children or the work we have to do. Our mind is in external mode focusing on their needs not our own. When turning our attention to the internal mode we find time to focus on ourselves and let the brain relax on what’s best for ourselves.

Finding time to be alone can offer our minds the chance to catch up and recover. Much like sleeping repairs the brain. Finding time to be alone repairs the mind from exhaustion. You probably noticed when you don’t get enough sleep how much easier it is to get annoyed and frustrated. You feel the same when you don’t find time to be alone.

Main Benefits Of Alone Time

Studies have shown that spending time alone or going one step further and finding solitude.

Strongly increased happiness
Better life satisfaction
Improved stress management
Reduction in depression symtoms
Creative thinking

This goes to show why in everyone’s mindset toolkit, alone time or solitude has to be included. Being more introverted myself. Finding time alone away from the responsibilities of life makes me a better person when I’m present with my wife, children and work.

Even extroverted people need time to be alone too. They excel at being the life of the conversation, life of the party or exuberant leaders of people. As much as they love this role there will come a time when it’s time to take a break and find time alone away.

This is healthy and every human needs it as you need sleep. Without you will be drained and not the person you want to be.

How To Find Time To Be Alone

Making time to be alone will go a long way in increasing your wellbeing, productivity and performance. Below are just some of the activities you can do to strengthen the mind with alone time.

Travelling Alone

Travelling alone is a refreshing way to claim your thoughts back. This could be taking the train on your own or it could randomly pick somewhere on a map to travel to for a weekend alone. Doing this takes all the external responsibility away from your life where you can just focus on yourself. Whether that be finding time to read, learn about a new culture, or find out more about yourself.

Hiking In Nature

Exercising the brain is important and hiking in nature is a great way to spend time alone with yourself. You will feel challenged and at home in nature. As nature allows you to connect with it in a way that’s peaceful for the mind. When hiking you will have time to listen to your thoughts, come up with new ideas and focus on what you really want from your life. I always take a small notebook with me to jot down any new ideas and systems I want in my life.

Work Alone

Teamwork makes the dream work is a famous saying that’s actually true. When humans work together magical things happen. But there is also space for working alone too. If you’re constantly getting distracted or need time to process your own thoughts. Get away and find your space to work alone. If I’m at home working I find time in my week to work from a cafe. This allows me to focus on myself rather than be distracted by what’s at home.

Do A Hobby Alone

A great way to find your alone time is picking up a hobby that can be truly yours. This could be joining an MMA class, photography, writing or learning a new language. Whatever the hobby is it will give you space where you can take the mind internally to focus on the self-care of the mind needs.

Plan For It

Planning your alone time can go a long in preventing any symptoms of a lack of alone time popping up. Scheduling in your hobby or when it’s time just for you can go a long way in making sure you make it a habit in your life. It will make you excited and be able to give your external responsibilities all your attention. You can even plan for time in your day when it’s just for you. Waking up before everyone else or having your own room to do whatever you want will help too.

How To Find Solitude

Cabin In The Woods

Famously every year Bill Gates spends 2 weeks out of the year on his own in solitude. This is a time where he can reflect and plan for what he wants to do next. This is a great way to recover the mind the external responsibilities of life. In Scotland, many affordable cabins are far away from human life to spend in solitude. Wherever you live find somewhere you can go to find your solitude for a couple of weeks out of the year.

Your Own Space

You’ve probably heard of a man den before. There’s a lot of jokes about this and females can think it silly. But this is a super healthy way for someone to take a step back to find time for themself in solitude. It’s crucial in your own life to create somewhere in your home that’s your space. Whether that’s your own room, garage, shed or a time in the day that’s yours to command.

The Benefits Of Seeking Solitude

Clears the mind
Increases focus and what’s a priority
listen to what you really want
Problem-solving

Remember It Has To Be A Fine Balance

We are of course social creatures so we feel at our happiest when we have family, friends and a community around us. Because there is a clear distinction between loneliness and finding time to be alone. This article isn’t about overcoming loneliness it’s about finding space in your life to internally heal, repair and stimulate your mind.

Only you will know how much alone time and solitude you will need in your life and I expect introverted will need more than extroverted people would. But finding time to be alone with yourself and your thoughts is the foundation of mindset strength to build your relationship, career, and habits.

Let’s all find our alone time, our place of solitude and become stronger mentally for it.

PLEASE COMMENT AND SHARE YOUR STORIES

Has this helped you today? What’s your favourite mindset strategy you’re going to try out. I would love to hear your thoughts and your experiences with dealing with a negative mindset. Always remember you are not alone and everything can change.

A Final Word From The Future Mindset

I hope you enjoyed today’s article If you’re struggling with dealing with mastering your own mindset. Don’t worry you’re not alone. Millions of people go through the same experience every day. I hope the article has helped in some way. If you need extra help or any questions answered. Don’t hesitate to contact me at adam@thefuturemindset.com

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