How to Have a Great Day - Every Day

By Amanda Brandon

Dale Carnegie once said that we put off living, "dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today."

His statement rings true every day of the year. Sure, we should be bettering ourselves personally and professionally. But what happened to just enjoying life?

If you're not doing that right now, it's time to stop and figure out why. You can't better yourself if you can't find happiness in what you're doing today.

And since it's the time of year we're all making resolutions to change or do something to "better" ourselves, I thought it was a great time to remind you how to have a great day, every day.

Here are five tips you can use any day to have a great day. The result will be that betterment you're looking for. When you keep it simple, you'll get to that point of "next steps" much faster.

1. Decide today is going to be a great day. Dicky Fox (a character in the 1996 hit movie) said, "I clap my hands every morning and say, 'This is gonna be a great day!'" It never hurt anyone's day to say these seven words. The trick is believing them.
2. Spend time on your priorities. Are you really going to have a great day every day if you don't have a clue what's most important? This question isn't hard to answer. Figure out the six activities that will give you the most success today and do them.
3. Remember what you're thankful for. I saw this tip recently as a great way to overcome distraction. The writer said that we get distracted by our "brain trash" and that writing out a list of 10 things we're thankful for can help us get our focus back. It can also set the tone for the day.
4. Look out for your health. It may seem like a good idea to skip that morning workout so you'll have more time. But you're not doing anyone a favor when you neglect your health. Eating right, sleeping and exercise are all part of having a great day. Don't skip these important steps.
5. Practice discipline. It's been said that kids do best when they have a routine and boundaries. Adults do too! If you find your days too scattered with activity, get a schedule. Maybe do all of your calls in the morning, meetings on certain evenings and admin one day a week.

Your Turn

What do you do to have a great day, every day?