Every opportunity I have to visit the sea, I always enjoy sitting and watching the waves rolling in, the people walking past, and the boats gliding by. I am fascinated by how boats both big and small appear to glide so smoothly and effortlessly through the water.
When you stop to think about it, it really is amazing how even huge ships are steered by a relatively small and simple device: the rudder.
The rudder has an enormous impact on the vessel it steers—the slightest adjustment, the smallest angle of difference, and the destination can change completely. Just think about the big ocean liners and cargo ships traversing the open seas; imagine how a slight change of rudder angle would affect the ship’s heading and play out over the course of a couple hundred miles!
Obviously, the rudder’s position is crucial to the heading and destination of the vessel. Likewise, I believe there is a small part of our daily lives that is crucial to our day’s heading and destination. As Henry Ward Beecher once noted, “The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.”
Have you ever thought much about how the start of your day affects the rest of your day? Think about the first hour of your morning. What is your routine? How intentional is it?
Entrepreneur Alex Assoune explains “That first hour sets the tone for everything that follows.” He goes on to note,
“As your day goes on, it is easy to get lost checking messages, replying to email, checking the news. The first hour of your day is precious and should be treated accordingly. It determines what your entire day will be like… Spend the first hour of your day on activities that actually add value to your life. Make the first hour of your day the most powerful hour.”
What could you be doing with your first hour that would set the tone and direction of your entire day? That valuable, tone-setting first hour might include:
- A healthy breakfast while going over your schedule and priorities for the day.
- A cup of coffee and conversation with your spouse before the rush of getting the kids ready and out the door for school.
- A quick, intense workout and nice hot shower before starting anything else.
- Quiet and solitude in your favorite chair while reading, praying, or meditating.
- A phone call to your loved one, checking in and catching up before your day gets busy.
- A slow wake up, peaceful music and yoga routine to get your body and mind off to a good start.
However you choose to spend it, you should intentionally choose to spend your first hour in a way that actively adds value to your life and sets the tone and direction of your entire day. Leverage the rudder that steers your day. I guarantee, you won’t regret it!
