Early to Bed & Early to Rise

Early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

- Benjamin Franklin

his quote has been a powerful guide for my current success regarding my morning routine. Over the years, I have learned that waking early is extremely important, and has helped me stay accountable to my goals and aspirations, but it hasn’t always been this way. I used to be such a night owl! I cherish my morning time, because I have learned that I can do much better work first thing, before any other distractions arise. There is a level of peace that allows me to focus and set my intentions for the day. I have found that early to bed has been key to keeping my routine, which my kids find humor in as I go to bed before they do. Why has this made such an impact on my life? I am excited to wake up and I look forward to my morning routine. It is by far one of the best things I do for myself. I spend several hours each morning preparing for my day. First, my awesome husband makes me FRESH BREWED COFFEE, and I take my handful of vitamins, which was suggested to me by a good friend with a wealth of knowledge. READING has become a staple in my morning routine and it is one of my favorite parts of the day. I set an intention to read a few chapters every morning and enjoy switching between topics. For example, during the week I will read more professional development, whereas weekends are typically spiritual growth and biographies. My accountability partner and I work together by texting our “THREE TO THRIVE” for the day. These are the three most important tasks we need to get accomplished for the day. This is not an easy feat! The list never ends so I am very intentional and strategic about what the priorities for the day are and if I can realistically complete them. I don’t think we all realize just how distracted we are, and how unrealistic our expectations can be on ourselves. This has been a simple way to stay on track for personal and professional goals, and I get to feel a daily sense of accomplishment. Another staple in my morning routine is my GRATITUDE AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICE. I meditate

for about 10 minutes on how grateful I am, and ask that any obstacles be removed that would keep me from being the woman I was created to be. I sometimes take this opportunity to reach out to a few of my folks and wish them well. This next part may appear unusual, but is a total game changer. I jump into a COLD SHOWER! There are several benefits to cold showers, my favorite being that it energizes me in the start to my day and gives me an endorphin rush. If I skip this, I regret it for the rest of the day. Lastly, I send out an email to my team to set INTENTIONS FOR THE DAY and make sure we are all on the same page. These daily check-ins are a great way to increase communication with your team, especially if you don’t see them some days. If you are looking for a way to improve your day-to-day grind, might I suggest one of my morning staples? There is no perfect way to do it and mine have changed several times over the years. Just do what you feel is right and what works for you.

Maria Sorrentino

Maria, President at Pest Pros, is on a mission to create a better quality of life for people, which is reflected in how she does business and supports her team. Maria immerses herself in leadership activities allowing her to be a resource for entrepreneurs who want to make a positive impact on the world.