2 Production-Boosting Alternatives to Checking Email First Thing in the Morning

Let’s talk a little more about mornings, and how the first things you do for your business each day can actually set the tone for your productivity for the rest of the day.

So, it’s morning. (Hi. Good morning.)

You’ve got your cup of coffee and the cobwebs of sleepiness are fading out.

You’ve had a decent night’s sleep and feel rested.

Sip by sip, you’re coming clearly into the day that is rolling out before you.

The question is: What’s the first thing you are going to do for your business today?

If your auto-response is, “Check email,” please, push pause on that idea and read on.

No surprises

It’s probably not going to come as a surprise that “checking email” first thing in the morning does not rank in any of the articles we’ve researched to prepare for this post. We’ve read a handful and have been listening to successful business professionals in podcasts and audiobooks for months. Checking email just doesn’t rank, folks.

Plus, it won’t help you focus on your bigger goals. Your deeper satisfaction, confidence or desire for achievement.

Think about it….are you all fired up to work on the bigger life tasks after you check email?

No. If you’re anything like us, or the thousands of other brokers and business people in the States, after you check email, you’re thinking and doing things for other people: their dreams, desires & biggest life achievements.

Not yours.

Making a point

Let us clarify. If you’re in a transaction and the business is hot, take care of it, by all means. Absolutely.

For the bulk of the rest of the mornings in a year, take a look at what that first “check” might look like. Is is a 5-minute glance at the subject lines to scan for emergencies? Or is it more like a 30 minute tumble down the email rabbit hole?

Or longer? Where time gets devoured and all of a sudden, it’s noon?

We’re familiar with this phenomenon.

Some days, that’s just how it goes.

But not every day.

What’s your first, most important task for your business today?

What will move you forward?

Our question is: What are the tasks that will move your career and mindset (& day!) forward?

What will fuel your mind, body & career in a way that will spur more momentum & creativity now that you are fresh from rest & dosed with your preferred morning beverage? AND…are you willing to put email on hold for 30-45 minutes in order to amplify and further your own achievements before spending the rest of the day serving others?

Completing your morning routine will surely get you going, as long as that routine reminds you of your core focus and goals for your business. So, will your current routine get you going toward mastery? Or stall you out in mediocrity-land?

Secret weapon question

This question was inspired by Ritual #2 in a post on Lifehacker.com called 7 Morning Rituals to Empower Your Day & Change Your Life.

Have you identified the most important tasks for you to complete for your day?

Deceptively simple. Incredibly powerful.

And most brokers don’t know what those tasks would be on any given day.

This could take as little as 2 minutes of focused time in identifying and planning. Taking 2 minutes could also save you time in your day from vaguely scurrying through less-important tasks.

Toughest task first

Another option, identify and tackle your toughest task of the day first.

Big fat bonus points for doing this one, broker!

In Inc.com’s post, “7 Powerful Morning Routines of Mentally Tough People,” this was #3. Working on the hardest task first. Other successful business pros like Brian Tracy, author of Time Power, and even Mark Twain make this suggestion as well.

(Mark Twain is known for the quote referring to this approach that goes, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”)

Regardless of the specific tasks you choose to help yourself to more productivity and momentum, our hope for you, and all of the attendees and followers of the Learning Lab, is your best, most fulfilled life of service in a rewarding industry and business.

We’re here to share our best suggestions as you navigate this business and each of your successes!

Be sure to sign up & download our Best Mini-Morning Routine Guide…and follow it!