Shaun Grove has worn many hats in his 47 years, from being a semi-pro football player in Europe to working as a lawyer and FBI agent. For the past decade he has focused on fitness, serving as president of Club Pilates and Rumble Boxing.
Grove believes his dedication is what allowed him to hang so many things on that hypothetical hat rack.
“I am dedicated to achieving the goals I have set for myself. I have always had a high level of confidence and self-belief, which has helped me succeed in many different professional endeavors,” says Grove Fortune.
Grove says he also believes his past experiences help shape the leader he is today. He shared that he would never ask his team to do something that he wouldn’t do himself.
“I have always considered myself ‘in service’ of something bigger than myself. Anyone who works in the FBI has to have this mindset, and that carried over to my leadership roles at Club Pilates and Rumble,” she says.
Despite Grove’s busy schedule, he says he always tries to have a structured routine. He swears that doing these seven things every day helps him stay motivated and on track to reach his daily goals.
1. Wake up early
Grove’s routine usually starts at 6am
“I always try to wake up early to take full advantage of the day ahead,” Grove says.
Waking up early has many proven benefits, including increased confidence and reduced stress, which can impact mental health. Early risers also have more access to daylight, a natural mood booster.
Grove also starts to wind down every evening around 9pm
“Then the lights go out around 10.”
2. Drink a lot of water
Grove says he keeps a bottle of water next to his bed and drinks it first thing when he wakes up.
The National Academy of Medicine suggests that men and women consume about 125 ounces and 91 ounces of water per day, respectively. Eating foods that keep you hydrated, such as fruit, and drinking other beverages, but not just sugary drinks, also help with water intake.
3. Elongation
After drinking water in the morning, Grove says he spends 15 to 20 minutes stretching, breathing and meditating.
“It helps wake up my body and puts me in a positive mindset,” she says.
Stretching also helps increase blood flow to the brain and throughout the body, improves posture, increases flexibility and range of motion, and helps prevent injuries.
4. Exercise every day
It’s probably no surprise that the Rumble chairman prioritizes fitness. No matter how tight his schedule is for the day, Groves does some form of exercise.
“If I have a little more time I can do a full workout, in which case I prefer to do some functional fitness. I enjoy lifting weights and also do some high intensity Rumble workouts when I can. If I’m short on time, I still make exercise a priority and do something like walk the dog for half an hour,” she says.
Groves also credits exercise with helping him limit accumulated stress from work.
“Movement is medicine.”
5. Take mental health breaks
No matter how busy or stressful his day is, Groves says he always sets aside moments throughout the day to take a deep breath, even if it’s just five minutes.
“It can go a long way toward making us more productive and balanced,” Groves says.
Overwork and burnout can lead to high levels of stress, anxiety, exhaustion, worsened work performance and even depression. It’s important to take a break when you need it. Try taking a short walk away from your desk, changing activities to something less stressful, or prioritizing a hobby you enjoy after work to clear your mind.
Groves also believes in addressing challenges as they arise, to avoid further exacerbating stress.
“If I feel something, I try to express it in a constructive or professional way in that moment, so the negativity doesn’t fester. if you bottle things up or sweep them under the rug, they will come back later as a bigger problem,” she says.
6. Spend time with loved ones
Groves says he usually has dinner with his family after the workday ends. He also carves out time to spend with friends whenever he can.
“Keeping in touch with friends and family is important. Having a healthy work-life balance helps me perform better during the hours I work,” she says.
7. Reflecting
Groves always tries to end the day by self-reflecting and planning for the next one. He says that the time dedicated to reflection allows him to think more logically and concretely about the next day’s decisions.
“Nightly reflection helps me process and resolve business problems or challenges, so I can effectively close out the day and not carry any negativity into the next,” she says.
You don’t have to be an entrepreneur, a former semi-professional athlete, or work for the government to be considered successful; If you’ve established a routine that prioritizes time for yourself and the things that matter to you, you’re already on your way to achieving these goals.