What Do Inspirational Women Have In Common?

Happy International Women’s Day!

Not only is this a great time to celebrate the inspirational women in our own lives, but it’s also one of the best times to remember that there’s no secret ritual or magic trick involved in becoming a successful woman.

A good night’s sleep, hard work, self-care, and a routine that is sustainable in the long term all help contribute to any person’s success.

We thought it would be best to gather some of the most common traits shared by women trailblazing their own paths today, along with what we can learn from them:

Waking Up Early

What do Mari Kondo, Jessica Alba, and Michelle Obama have in common? These inspirational women each get up and out of bed before 6:00 in the morning.

Turns out they’re in good company - according to one poll conducted by the Huffington Post, 90% of executives wake up before 6 am on weekdays.

It’s no wonder these women get so much done in a day - they’re all waking up early to allow plenty of time to work out, eat breakfast, care for their kids (if they have them), and plan for the day ahead of them, all without feeling overly rushed.

Of course, waking up early relies on having a good night’s sleep. It’s important to try and aim for anywhere between 6-8 hours of sleep, depending on what your body requires.

Finding the most comfortable mattress you can for your rest, and coupling this with a bedtime routine that works to calm you down, can help when it comes to achieving that alluring early start.

Be Mindful

So how do inspirational women calm and center themselves before getting started on a productive day?

Beyoncé, Serena Williams, and Maria Shriver all purport to have adopted mindfulness for better decision-making, presence of mind, and keeping themselves aligned with their goals.

In an interview with BEAT magazine, popstar Beyoncé explains the first thing she does every morning is pray and meditate. Former First Lady of California Maria Shriver does something similar, saying daily mindfulness is key to feeling more centered.

Looking to begin a mindfulness practice of your own? Using an app like Headspace or Calm can help you get started.

These apps also have dedicated mindfulness routines to get you primed for a busy day, for self-love, or to get yourself calm for a peaceful night’s sleep, all of which can be super useful.

Working Out

Another thing inspirational women tend to have in common? A value of physical health, so much so that working out remains crucial to their morning routines.

Nancy Pelosi, Payal Kadaki (CEO & Founder of ClassPass), and Shonda Rhimes all have their own versions of getting in some form of physical activity first thing in the morning.

Pelosi, who is speaker of the House of Representatives, is 80 years old and makes time for three miles of early morning speed walking before she starts her day. Award-winning screenwriter Rhimes has a more creative approach, saying she has a morning dance party before she gets started.

Not only has exercise been proven to help you get a kickstart on energy and focus, but it’s also a great mood regulator, which makes it the perfect way to get your mind and body aligned before getting started on your day.

Visualize Your Perfect Day

The power of visualization might sound a little out there, but it is a powerful tool that can help you set yourself up for success.

Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn & Oprah Winfrey are among the many inspirational women who make a habit of rehearsing what they want their days to look like before setting upon achieving as much as they can.

As Oprah Winfrey explains to her own fans, ‘Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe’.

Getting your day started by visualizing yourself accomplishing everything you have on your to-do list primes both your body and mind to have a great day.

Use these tried and tested methods from successful women to get going on accomplishing your own dreams! Have compassion for yourself and those around you will help you get that much closer to achieving everything you want, and more.

So what are you waiting for? Your best day yet awaits.