Getting the Day Started
What do you do to inspire yourself to have a great day? How do you set goals and focus on new challenges? I find that I wander rather aimlessly through the day if I don’t get it started on a strong note!
My Routine
Step 1: The Five Minute Journal
I begin with The Five Minute Journal. This is a fantastic journal. See image below.
- You can begin your journal on any date, since you write the date on each page.
- The top of the page has an inspiring quote
- You list three things you are grateful for
- You list three things that would make today great
- You write an affirmation for the day
The journal’s creators highly recommend keeping it next to your bed and writing in it before doing anything else. I confess that I write in it first thing after sitting at my desk.
Starting your day by writing down what you are grateful for is a healthy plan. Focusing on what you hope for in the coming hours helps increase focus on the positive aspects of your life and sets your brain toward new accomplishments. Welcome the day with a smile!
At the end of the day, you record how you did with your goals. Maybe you met the goals you set for a great day, or something else even better came along and made your day great. Reminding yourself of the good things that happened that day helps your brain relax into restful sleep.
Again, I keep my journals at my desk, so I return before bed to sign off the day, recording the day’s accomplishments.
Step 2: Personal Journal
I was encouraged, in a writing class, to keep a daily record of my story and illustration ideas. I have many journals and never seem to get a daily routine going. This time, I was spurred on by this request and began to write daily. I wasn’t writing about story ideas and making sketches, but was finally writing a personal journal!
What I write in this journal is freeform, and I write it after the focused writing in The Five Minute Journal. I reflect on the day before and what I plan for the current day. I mention events, friends, and anything that comes to mind. I find value differently, since I might make more personal notes and/or expand on what is written in The Five Minute Journal. They complement each other. I am on my second journal and find this habit helps me track goals, cheer about successes, and dream.
My second journal contains images to indicate the weather, the day of the week, and the date. I think noting the weather is a fun addition!
Step 3: Walking in Grace 2026
This devotional is a gift from a dear friend of mine. She gave me the first one in 2025, and I loved it, so she gave
me this one for 2026.
Multiple writers contributed their thoughts in this book, and there is a devotional for each day, January 1 through December 31. Each is talented and uses their experience to teach about a verse in the Bible. They can be heartbreaking, hilarious, or everyday moments that teach the love of God.
Some days, the devotional hits right where it needs to and I feel like that day was written just for me. There is always something to learn each day. It is important to be reminded of God’s grace and learn from others’ experiences. I am grateful to have this journal.
Step 4: Jesus Calling
This devotional, written by Sarah Young, is a 365-day devotional. My friend gave me this journal this year because I loved the other one so much. It has a beautiful, soft imitation leather cover. It feels good to hold and is durable.
This devotional is good for any year; each day is labeled beginning January 1st through December 31st. Even a leap year day is included. I am reading for the first year, but my friend has been reading it for years. Every year, she says, the messages hit in a new way. I like the idea of having a book that I can continue to use and look forward to reading every year.
Sarah Young does an excellent job of teaching about Jesus’s message of peace. Each day, verses are included to back up the teaching. I am loving every day and find it a great reminder of our purpose in life and how to begin the day on a solid foundation.
Step 5: Reflect/Begin Workday
After journaling and reading my devotionals, I reflect on what I have learned and begin to focus on the daily tasks. I look over my to-do list to make sure I know what is in store. Then, I go through emails, social media, and play an online word game: Connections by the New York Times.
This process takes time, and I have to be up and at my desk with enough time to complete it before other demands, such as online meetings. Sometimes, I don’t get it done first, and my day feels a bit off kilter. So, I know first-hand that this process is beneficial for me. When I don’t do it, my day doesn’t go as smoothly.
What is Your Process?
Please feel free to share how you begin your day! Everyone has a different process that works for them, and it is good to learn from each other!
