The morning routines of 11 successful women
HAVING a positive attitude, a reliance on faith, and a strict daily plan is the recipe for success for several of Jamaica’s powerful women. Before facing the world, they must first prepare for and start their day right. The women below have demanding jobs and so to function properly throughout the day, they need to start their morning right. Here is a glimpse into what transpires for 11 of Jamaica’s most successful women.
Ambassador Audrey Marks, founder of Paymaster:
Before I do anything else in the morning I have my hour of power, which is usually between 5:00 to 6:00 am. That hour is usually dedicated to building and strengthening myself. I read my Bible, I pray, I meditate on the Word. I do yoga in the morning as well, either Sri Sri Yoga or Kundalini Yoga.
Diana McCaulay, award-winning Jamaican writer and founder and CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust:
I get up in the mornings and I write for two hours at a time. I will ensure that I have my coffee, of course, but I write.
Lisa Hanna, Minister of Youth and Culture and Miss World 1993:
I wake up at 3:30 am and then I read the newspapers. I will then go and exercise for about an hour during which I will lift mostly weights. Then I will come back around 4:30 am and then get ready. I will then take Alex to school. Then I’m off. Most days I have to travel all around the island.
Minna Israel, special advisor to the vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies:
I wake up pretty early in the morning. My trainer will come by at about 5:00am and then we will work out for an hour or so. Once I have had my workout, I feel like I can take on the world.
Kelly Tomblin, CEO, JPS:
My alarm goes off at exactly 5:15 am. I get up, I meditate and I work out. I try as much as possible to centre myself before my day even begins. I then get ready for work. After dropping off my son at school, I am ready to attack my day.
Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom:
In the morning I spend some time just lying awake and planning my day. I also pray and read the Bible. I am part of a Bible study group from my days back home and I read along with the passages they are reading. I also check and respond to my personal messages and e-mails because with the time difference, while I am asleep Jamaica and the USA are still awake so I get many messages overnight. It is important in this job to keep abreast with what is happening here in the UK and Europe as well as back in Jamaica. At about 8:00 I then have a shower and dress for work. Breakfast is a shake, and I am out of the house usually by 9:00.
Yaneek Page, managing director of Future Services International Limited:
My morning routine is always the same. I am usually up by 4:45am. I work out with my husband in the morning. Then I will make breakfast while helping to get the children ready for school. I must have the same breakfast every day– fruits and oatmeal, don’t know why. I read the paper, watch a little television, check e-mails and social media. After all of that, most days I am off to work before 8:00am.
Kerie-Ann ‘Kiki’ Lewis-Thombs, radio & television host and producer:
I personally have not established a morning routine yet. For example, if I’m working on a project, I eat, sleep and breathe that project until completion. My one consistent morning routine is to ensure I thoroughly have a conversation with God. Depending on what is happening in my life, my morning routine at one point is to get up early, meditate, give thanks in my gratitude journal, do pilates, watch my daily dose of Joyce Meyer and TD Jakes, and then I would start my day.
Beverley Anderson-Duncan, radio host and former wife of Prime Minister Michael Manley:
Every morning I centre myself. For me that is a process. I clean my vessel mentally by choosing to forget everything that happened in the past. Every morning I choose to create a new day.
Senator Imani Duncan-Price, chief strategy officer at JMMB Group & Miss Jamaica World 1995:
I wake up every morning at 4:30. I do a walking meditation with my brother and my cousin. When I get back from my walk, it’s time to get the children ready for school. Once they are ready, it’s time for me to get ready for work.
Paula-Anne Porter Jones, media personality & communications lecturer/tutor:
I have to be honest, I literally fight with my alarm; it goes off at about 3:00/4:00 am. Needless to say, I hit the snooze button most times until absolutely the last minute when I have to get up. I take a shower, grab something hot, then I rush off to work. I’m on air for 5:00 am so I have to be in the studio before then.
