What do you do first thing in the morning? Do you reach for that delicious cup of coffee? Check your social media? Go back to bed? What if I told you there is a cost each time you press that snooze button? We’re all looking to add a bit more productivity to our lives and more money to our bank account. I took the time to take the guesswork out of how to do just that for you. Best part? It’s all based on the habits of billionaires.
Many of us tend to wake up and dive into the day. It seems like a productive instinct, but in reality, most billionaires do the opposite. When we enter social media, emails, and other distractions we are actually letting the day control us instead of the other way around. How can we command greatness when we haven’t first commanded it from ourselves?
What makes billionaires different from the rest?
They simply take time for themselves at the beginning of each day. These simple habits make all the difference.
The 20/20/20 Formula gives us the opportunity to do this in a structured way. This method helps us create the habits of billionaires in a few small steps that are easy to digest. Robin Sharma introduced this concept in his book, “The Methods of Superhuman Productivity.” He references the greats like Ernest Hemingway, Mozart, and Frank Loyd Wright who all made a habit of taking time for themselves first thing in order to be more productive.
The reason for such a formula is to help people become their best and be able to make the most out of the time they’re given. Yes, we’ve heard the early bird gets the worm, but what I’ve learned is that it doesn’t matter what time you do this, just as long as you give yourself enough time to follow these simple steps, you’re good to go.
There are temptations and distractions that get us off our habits and our priorities. Each day is simply about fighting the disruptive currents and getting back on track.
Robin Sharma
The formula is very easy to add to your routine as it’s broken down into three aspects; 20 minutes of exercise, 20 minutes of reflection, and 20 minutes of learning.
20 Minutes of Exercise
Exercising in the morning gets your blood flowing as well as making you sweat. Through sweating, your body is getting rid of stress hormones. Another positive to exercising is that your body also releases dopamine and serotonin which makes you feel happier.
“Sweat more in training and you’ll bleed less in war.”
As the Spartan warriors once said
If you’re working out from the comfort of your home, I have found fun and easy exercises that’ll leave you feeling great. The Body Project has a great 20 minute exercise video on Youtube that I use to get in my daily workout.
If exercise videos aren’t your cup of tea, then try going on walks with yourself or a friend. This way you get to enjoy nature while improving your body.
20 Minutes of Reflection
Using this time to reflect on goals, or what needs to get done for the day is a good use of this time. Meditation is a helpful way to reflect, and with different styles, you can find which one is the best for you.
Did you have a journal you wrote in as a kid? What if I told you that practice is a crucial part of self-reflection. By writing down your thoughts and feelings, you can always go back to reread them or view your personal growth.
Reading inspirational quotes will help you figure out what you want to get out of life, and how to achieve your goals.
20 Minutes of Learning
Ever wanted to learn a new language but just haven’t found the time? Or what about picking up that autobiography you have yet to read? Reading a book, watching a seminar on YouTube, or even taking an online class like MasterClass are all great tools to use that can help you learn something new and develop important skills that can then be added to other aspects of your life. You can even mix it up from day to day.
Use this time to learn anything you’ve wanted to get to but just haven’t had the time for. It could be a new hobby, learning a new interesting topic, or even learning a recipe. Any of these will surely work to sharpen the mind and give new skills that can be used in other aspects of life.
Build Your Version of The Formula
Celebrities have also adapted similar variations to this formula to help them be more productive. Meghan Markle took it one step further with her commitment and wakes up at 4:30 a.m every morning. She does yoga as her morning exercise, then moves on to listening to music while answering emails. Markle even lays out her morning diet plan. These are the extra steps you can take once you start to find your rhythm with the 20/20/20 Formula. Start simple and build what works best for you!
This formula is a way great for you to easily create the habits to reach the next level in everything you do. By exercising, reflecting, and learning you’re making the most out of your day. Self-care is important for being at your best and by following the formula your own way, you can achieve anything.
Have you already tried the formula or some version of it? Think you have a better formula? We want to hear it! Comment down below to let me know your thoughts, and you can even add those comments to your reflection journal.
