I’m feeling a little bit pleased with myself today. I’ve managed to tick off all of my to-do list, and not just from shifting things to another day (yes, it’s a thing).

I started my day with “me time”, focussed on growing into the person I see in me. For some people that’s a spiritual devotion of some sort, but for me it’s usually an online training session (Brendon Burchard’s HPX this week as it happens). I stuck to my lovely colour-coded schedule, thank you Google Calendar. I got work tasks done, thank you Wunderlist. I even vacuumed the floor and did a bit of a workout to break up my day, thank you bathroom scales. I’ve been listening to music that I haven’t listened to for ages - my music, the stuff the rest of the family don’t like. In short, I owned the day.

It felt so good to be in control.

There’s a lot to be said about starting the day in your own terms, unrushed and in control. In fact, a lot has been said about it. Just google “morning routine” and you’ll see what I mean. For some years now I’ve had a habit of making my bed as soon as I get up. Over time I’ve incorporated and few other small wins into my morning and I’ve noticed that when I let that routine slip my whole day slips.

Here’s the thing - humans are creatures of habit (so are cats, I can confirm). Everything we do is a habit. Consider which shoe you put on first, how you cut an apple, where you sit in your lounge room. Habits. They’re automated programmes that your brain runs to conserve energy. Crafting your habits into routines that empower you with a sense of control, as opposed to being shaped by the wants, needs and routines of others, is the key to keeping yourself on the path to your best life.

Today, I managed to follow a routine that worked for me. It’s been a work in progress, for sure, and I know there’s still a ways to go to make it a consistent part of my life, but we all have to start somewhere.

The great thing about working on building a morning routine is there’s always another morning to work on it. If you didn’t get today off to the best start then you can try again tomorrow. Set yourself up to win.