What is one daily ritual that you couldn’t live without and why? (e.g: a cup of coffee in the morning, reading the newspaper over breakfast, etc)
The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
1. Meditating
“I try to take 10-20 minutes out of the day to be quiet and mediate. It helps me de-stress as well as tune into myself, and inevitably it helps with my energy and creativity. A completely valuable break in my day!”
– Darrah Brustein, Network Under 40 / Finance Whiz Kids
2. Taking a Long Walk
“Walking gets you out of your “work zone,” provides non-strenuous exercise and exposes you to randomness. This randomness is why walking is so wonderful for solving problems and thinking creatively; your office is structured so that it’s nearly impossible to encounter unplanned stimuli. Take a walk and there are people, smells, sounds — any one of them could spark your next big idea (or important small one).”
– Colin Wright, Asymmetrical Press
3. Foam Rolling
“Foam rolling in the morning does a great job of breaking up tense muscles and getting you feeling loose and ready for anything. It’s like your own personal masseuse and I couldn’t live without it.”
4. Making My Bed
“While it pains me to admit (mom was right!), making my bed is something I have grown to cherish and need. Making my bed starts my day off with one thing checked off the to-do list. If I get nothing done for the rest of the day and everything is in chaos, I can come home and know that one thing was accomplished. Even on my worst days, coming home to a symbol of accomplishment has proved mentally helpful for me.”
5. Going to the Gym
“I often find myself unable to leave my desk until very late in the evening, and at that point, I’m just too tired from the day. You need to put yourself first and make sure you get a workout done in the morning to help you stay physically and mentally motivated.”
6. Spending Quality Time With My Dog
“Each morning I make sure to spend some quality time with my dog, Bowser. He really is a ball of energy the moment the sun rises, and I can feel myself feeding off his positive energy and attitude towards the day no matter what the conditions. It really helps to set forth a positive mentality heading into the rest of the day.”
– Phil Laboon, Eyeflow Internet Marketing
7. Flipping Through Flipboard
“With limited time, Flipboard is my go-to source of curated real-time news and updates across all of my interests, personally and professionally. It’s absolutely the best!”
– Alex Frias, Track Marketing Group
8. Saying My Morning Goodbyes
“I always read the newspaper before heading to the office, but kissing my daughters and wife goodbye is the one I couldn’t live without.”
– Alfredo Atanacio, Uassist.ME
9. Listening to Spotify
“I listen to my “Get it Goin'” playlist on Spotify. I start with “Good Morning,” by Kanye West and let it play on shuffle from there. I put songs on that list that put me in action mode.”
– Mike Ambassador Bruny, Ambassador Bruny Dot Com
10. Consuming “Brain Food”
“I set aside at least 20 minutes each morning to read non-fiction books that will make me smarter — I love reading about innovation, creativity and business-building. Rather than just getting sucked into reactive email-response mode, I feel like I’m investing in my best asset: my brain and its ability to come up with new ideas and solve complex problems. I also mediate every morning for the same reason; it helps me feel grounded and focused.”
11. Saying Thanks
“It is easy to go about your day taking everything for granted. But when I start off my day by saying thanks to the people around me, I set myself up for success even if I fail at other tasks. By saying thanks every morning, I put myself in a grateful frame of mind that allows me to appreciate any experience, good or bad, that will make me a stronger person and a better entrepreneur.”
12. Laughing With My Family
“No matter what, every day I need a minimum of a few laughs with my family. Whether it’s chasing each other around the house, a standard-issue Nerf war, a small karate brawl, or creating a furniture obstacle course, laughing until it hurts with my fiancé and kids makes every obstacle at work seem much more manageable.”
13. Going on a Coffee Walk With My Husband
“Regardless of how busy we are, my husband (also the co-founder of my first startup) and I walk to a coffee shop and grab a cup together. With our busy lives and workaholic personalities, it gives us a chance to reconnect on everything from personal business to work. If we don’t get that chance in the morning, the day feels thrown off.”
– Benish Shah, Before the Label
Photo Credits
eren {sea+prairie} | StartupCollective