Hi all, 2022 is 30 days from today. Are you ready? Have your plans and goals on paper? Did you accomplish everything in 2021 that you wanted too? Its been a wild ride for me. It was a great year, much better than 2020 and it has been a busy one. I feel like I accomplished everything I wanted to personally, and professionally, well, I wanted to get more done but I’m happy with my accomplishments and growth. We’ve recently spoken about what it takes to be a good leader, our time management abilities, and how procrastination is our enemy. I’ve shared how important I believe routines are a couple of times, many of you laughed at  

how important I believe making my bed every morning is to me! Anyhow, I received a lot of questions about routines lately. I started seeing and reading articles on the advantages of having good strong, yet realistic, routines since about April or May, or at least that’s when I got interested in what others thought of routines. Today I wanted to share a few excerpts from an e-book I’m about to finish working on, at least a couple of thoughts or bullet points! It should be up on our website by Christmas and of course is free to you for being a WAOC listener. Each of us have routines we follow, but some routines are more successful than others. The star employee at work has a routine, as does the employee on the verge of being fired. Your slim, fit neighbor has a different routine from  

your obese friend. And I believe neither is a negative. Routines are important, because much of the success is the result of small actions over long periods of time. It’s not possible to lose 50 pounds or rise from the loading to the executive suite in a week. Those with more exciting results have more effective routines. It can be that simple. What are a few of your routines? Think about the segments of your life that are repeated on a daily basis. For most of us, this will include getting ready for work, the first part of work, the last part of work, and our evening routine. You already have a routine for these parts of your life, but have you been thoughtful  

about them and attempted to construct routines that help to support your goals? You might think that thirty minutes isn’t enough time to accomplish anything worthwhile. But the benefit of thirty-minute routines over months and years can be spectacular. Consistently being on time, prepared, and spending your work time intelligently and productively separates the successful from the average. Remember how I always harp on being that employee! If you think you can’t spare the time, keep in mind that you’re already spending the time and you already have routines. Purposefully constructing routines that make sense is much more effective.  

I think it all starts with knowing our goals and our direction though. The odds of creating the optimal routines for your life is going be hampered if you don’t know where you’re going. A routine for a retail associate might not work for forklift operator. A marathon runner wouldn’t have the same workout routine as a bodybuilder. If you aren’t clear on your goals, take the time to give it some thought. I think it’s important that we know our goals in at least 4 areas. These are where I start each year: 1. Health/fitness. Do you need to lose some weight? Drop your blood pressure? Manage your blood sugar more effectively?  

It only makes sense to develop routines around achieving your goals. Let’s consider a few routines around enhancing success in a common working environment. I love morning routines! You’ll find that if your morning gets off to a good start, the rest of the day tends to go smoothly. It sets the stage for me to have a good day and perform at my best. Most morning routines are haphazardly designed to allow for getting up as late as possible while barely getting to work on time. Does this sound like the start of a successful day? That guy is not going to be that employee! A morning that enhances success could look something like: Let’s see, I had written down a  

few that I thought were important. Here we are. 1. Get up on time. Are you routinely late? Others notice, whether you realize it or not. Put your alarm clock on the other side of the room and avoid going back to bed after your feet hit the floor. Ensure you’re getting up early enough to comfortably get to work on time. Give yourself plenty of time to complete your morning routine and set your alarm clock appropriately. 2. Morning hygiene. Is your grooming appropriate for your goals? You might be acceptable for your current position but are you acceptable for the position of your dreams? Avoid being the person that shaves every other day or refuses to give up the haircut that went out of style 15 years ago.  

and at least a little disgruntled about going to work. But that’s what makes a morning routine so important. It’s an easy way to outperform the person on the other pallet jack or the guy working on the other load. You don’t have to outrun the bear. You just have to outrun your hiking partner right! Arrive at work a little better prepared, a little more energetic and cheerful, and looking your best. A slight improvement in many areas can be easily achieved and make a huge difference. Making small changes over time will improve the likelihood of lasting change. Add one thing to your morning routine until it becomes easy to perform. Continue adding tasks until your  

routine is complete and is something you are comfortable with. Next let’s look at our work routine. A general work routine is difficult to recommend due to the wide variety of careers. My work routine may be way different than yours. A morning work routine for an equipment operator is going to be different than an inventory control clerk. An appropriate morning routine should enhance your workday and take care of the routine critical tasks. Gather the information you need in the morning to make more informed decisions about how to best spend your time and energy. During our morning start up meetings we may learn our case  

counts, our shift objectives for the day and a wealth of other information that we can use to create our daily plan. An example of a morning work routine for a manager could be: 1. Chat with your supervisor. Ideally, your supervisor will have a routine that includes informing you of the shifts happenings. 2. Greet everyone else on the team. It’s so important to take a few minutes to say hi to everyone that works for you or influences your team’s efforts. Everyone likes to feel important. It’s also a great way to get the scoop on everything that’s going on. 3. Give your email a quick look. Most email is varying degrees of worthless noise, but there are often a few that are important. Find these important emails and make a plan to address them.  

or can’t answer the important questions, your reputation is going to suffer. 8. Get started on your first to-do item. Getting some real work done early in the day creates momentum for the rest of the day. Your prioritized list is your guide for your time and efforts. A good morning at work increases the odds of having a good day. Reflect on your current routine and consider how it can be enhanced. Spend your morning effectively and the rest of your day is likely to be productive and stress-free. We’ve had a productive and successful shift so now we’ll need to have a end of work day routine right? Most of us are frantically working until a lull near the end of the workday permits escape. However, how you end your workday  

has an influence on tomorrow. A late afternoon routine can enhance your effectiveness and success at work. Take advantage of the lull that commonly happens in the afternoon and get ready for tomorrow. Use your afternoon effectively: 1. Tie up any loose ends. Few things weigh on our minds more than unfinished business. Afternoons tend to be a little slower for most of us. Focus on getting things completed, get the plate set for the next shift, and clear our mind. 2. Create a new to-do list. Your list of critical tasks is always evolving. Before clocking out for the day, create a new list for the following day. Some leftover items from today’s list may or may not make it on  

the new list. Again, the importance of journaling! 3. Ensure that you’re prioritizing your list in a way that makes sense and highlight the 3-5 most important items. 4. Check-out with your boss. There’s a good chance they’ll have a comment or two that will impact your task list. 5. Maintaining regular communications is important. 6. Check-in with your direct reports and co-workers. Gather as much information as you can without taking too much time. Focus on getting critical information. In time, your employees and peers will learn to provide what you need from them. 7. Schedule 10-15 minutes at the end of each day to tidy up. Getting a fresh start in the morning is priceless.  

unwind is good, too. Just ensure the time is being used effectively. I love flipboard, so I’m usually winding down with a few articles! Consistently doing things that others won’t do is a common theme on the road to success. A good plan and a fresh to-do list will work wonders for your mood and productivity. Now a specific morning and evening work routine won’t work for everyone, there are common themes though that are important to consider for nearly any career. 1. Be motivated 2. Avoid isolating yourself. Communication with others is going to make you successful 3. Avoid distractions and drama. Do not get wrapped up in others drama! It is a waste of time.  

people do you know that spend even 10 minutes a day getting better at their jobs? 5. You could learn how to be a more effective communicator or how to be more organized. Think about your weaknesses and learn something that will address them. No one else is doing it, which is exactly why you should be. 6. Review your to-do list. Give your list a quick glance before going to bed. Add any important tasks that need to be completed tomorrow. You’ll wake up knowing exactly what needs to be done. 7. Review your goals. Before turning out the light, take a moment to review your goals. Sleeping after focusing on your goals is very powerful. You’re instructing your brain to find solutions that will make your dreams come true.  

Well, I went a little long today but I hope I brought up something that helps you with planning your routines for 2022. If we can help in any way just shoot us an email to [email protected] and we’ll get back in touch with you. Be sure to check out the website at the end of the month and download the newest ebook for free. Until next week, plan, get those goals set, and take 30 minutes to plan your success every day. Put safety first while were at work people.