Key Takeaway: Don’t check your e-mail first thing in the morning because it immediately puts you in a reactive mode.

As someone with big goals, you need to be proactive with your life. And one thing that you can do to be proactive with your life is to not check your e-mail first thing in the morning.

Here’s why: checking your e-mail immediately puts you in a reactive mode.  When you check your in-box, you’ll probably see some e-mails that need your “immediate” attention.

A client is unhappy with something that you did and wants you to fix it immediately.

Your business partner needs you to review a proposal “right now or we won’t get the deal” — it can’t possibly wait until this afternoon.

A vendor of yours is telling you that he won’t be able to meet the deadline that you set for him to complete a specific project.

The next thing you know, your anxiety level has risen, and you’re reacting frantically to all of these e-mails — and you haven’t even gotten out of bed yet. (You also haven’t brushed your teeth yet, so you feel kind of gross too.)  

On top of that, you haven’t eaten yet either (and you’re starving!), so you’re grumpy. In your haste, you fire off multiple angry e-mails to try and gain control of the situation. Did I mention that you haven’t even gotten out of bed yet?

Instead of getting all riled up from your e-mails, imagine if you started your day off by reviewing your goals and your personal philosophy. Journaling. Reading an inspirational book. Planning.  Listening to a great podcast. Working out.  Eating a healthy breakfast.  Anything else that allows you to be proactive and set the tone for your day.

Afterward, you’ll really be in the state of mind to really dominate your day — and perhaps even check your e-mail.

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