QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Your first ritual that you do during the day is the highest-leverage ritual, by far, because it has the effect of setting your mind, and setting the context, for the rest of your day.”
– Eben Pagan
IDEA OF THE DAY
Raise your hand if the first thing you reach for in the morning is your phone.
And now… raise your hand if the last thing you touch before bed is also…your phone.
Even if this isn’t true every single day, for most of us, our phones are the first and last thing we engage with. It makes sense—the entire experience of having a smartphone is designed to be addictive. With endless stimulation at our fingertips, it can be hard to look away.
I used to start my mornings glued to my phone. But over time, I realized I didn’t like how it made me feel. Reading the news left me stressed, seeing my inbox full of unread emails made me anxious, and when there wasn’t anything exciting to see, I felt oddly disappointed. That wasn’t the way I wanted to start my day. So, I decided to change my morning habit, being more intentional with how I interact with my phone.
The key to changing any habit? Start small. Make it easy, simple, and achievable. (Advice I give my clients all the time—so I figured I should follow it myself!)
I started plugging my phone in the kitchen at night. This created a ripple effect:
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In the morning, instead of scrolling, I read a page from one of the books by my bedside.
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Then in order to get to my phone, I have to physically get out of bed, drink a glass of water, and begin prepping breakfast- all tasks that I conveniently placed in my pathway to my phone.
About 30 minutes before bed, I put my phone in the kitchen for the night—no exceptions. This helps me wind down, and I usually end my day reading until I drift off to sleep.
These routines might not be world-changing, but they’ve made a real difference. By giving my phone a designated “bedtime,” I’ve created space for more joy and intention in the morning and more gratitude at night.
Routines will always evolve, but noticing what works (and what doesn’t) is the first step. If there’s something in your daily rhythm that could use a tweak, give it just a 1% nudge in a better direction. Small shifts lead to big changes over time.
I believe in you!
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What helps you truly unwind? What is simply a distraction?