I have long been aware of the power of a solid morning routine. When I was in college, I started to get in the habit of getting up before my roommates so I could make breakfast and sit down to journal and read something before starting my day. Maybe I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but this practice laid the groundwork for me in the midst of a transition in my life, and I took it with me when I moved into another state, the beginning of my life. career, get married and have children. . (That last one posed the biggest challenge to my morning routine, but motherhood makes it more important than ever.) Through it all, I learned that how we start the day set the tone for everything after that. And along the way, I’ve learned which behaviors in my life promote a successful morning routine — and which behaviors can sabotage it.
But first, why have a morning routine? For me, it’s about starting the day proactively rather than reactively. By intentionally taking this time to focus my thoughts on the day ahead, I’m prioritizing what’s most important to me and channeling my energy into it, rather than scattering it on anything else. happens for the rest of my day. Remember that we only have a certain amount of time and energy in a day, and we can choose How do we spend it?. During my morning hours, I frequently remind myself of this quote by John Maxwell to set the tone:
“Make every day your masterpiece.”
Convinced yet? If you’ve been trying and struggling to establish a solid AM ritual, it’s possible that one or two behaviors are getting in the way of fully experiencing the power of this time. Learn some of the things that can sabotage your work, along with tips for a successful morning routine.
Stay up late
For me, staying up too late was the fastest way to make my morning routine impotent. Personally, I need 7 to 8 hours of sleep to feel refreshed, alert, and energized, and bringing that energy into my ritual is essential to sparking creativity and presence. full. I would also include anything in this category that results in Poor quality of sleep: drink alcohol alcohol or post it on social media before bed, to name a few of the biggest offenders.
Remember that if you need to get up 30 minutes earlier than usual to make time for your morning routine, you’ll have to go to bed 30 minutes earlier so you don’t have to sacrifice sleep in the process. Set up a “bedtime mode” on your phone and work towards a consistent goal Z.
Forgot to prepare the night before
A little advance planning will help you remove barriers to your morning routine. My 6-year-old Henry tends to wake up very early – as soon as I’m in the chair drinking my coffee. Usually, he’s already getting his breakfast stats ready, so I try to get the ingredients out the night before so when he wakes up, my ritual isn’t interrupted for too long.
It also helps if you take a few minutes in the evening to decide how you want to spend your time in the morning. I keep mine Workbook Vision on my desk, and once a week, I go through it, check in with myself to see if I’m spending time on what matters most, and journal about it. Or I may have a specific problem or business challenge that I’d like to dig deeper into, journaling about how I’m feeling and looking up some resources. The point is, by planning what I’m going to do the night before, I won’t end up drinking coffee and journaling, staring into space in a semi-conscious state. I can dive into anything I want to get done and make the most of the first hour of my day.
Look at social media as soon as you wake up
Have you ever planned to work on an important project, but first you “quick look” email, text or social media… and suddenly 30 minutes go by and you still haven’t done anything. You intend ? I think this is the barrier that gets the most people up and I’ve been there for sure. I learned the hard way that I had to practice some discipline with my input to make this period sacred. So if you want to get the most out of your AM routine, turn off notifications and distractions, close your email, and put away your phone. Prioritize the most important things first.
Another destructive part of looking at email or social media in the morning is that it can get you to react — seeing a certain DM or a triggering post can make your mind spin. deflected within 5 minutes of waking. Instead, I like to be proactive with the energy I’m bringing to this part of my day. There is strength in knowing that I I can choose how I want my morning routine to go.
The act of living to the fullest by making time for the things that matter is a balancing act. Abnormal results require focused attention and time. Time spent on one thing means time away from another”.
Something, by Gary Keller
Procrastinate what matters most
There is a saying that goes, “Do the hard things first”. And taking time in the morning, before you’re pulled in a million directions by other people’s priorities, is the perfect time to do it. If there’s something important you left unfinished, try to do the first thing, before anything else can get in the way. Sometimes when I make a plan the night before, I write it down one thing it’s the most important thing for me to get work done the next day. It’s ridiculous, it’s usually just a matter of minutes, so inculcating that into my morning routine will set me up for a productive day, no matter what happens during the day. its remaining time.
In a recent email newsletter from writer Mark Manson, he shared what he calls Principle Do Something. He says, “When I’m feeling unmotivated or completely lazy, I use what I like to call the ‘Principle of ‘Doing Something’.” Based on the observation that action is not only the effect of motivation but also its cause. That is, we not only act when we feel motivated to do so, but action creates the motivation to take more action.
And so, if we can manage to do something—anything really—this almost always sets off a chain reaction where action creates motivation, action creates motivation. more motivation… etc
Don’t feel like exercising? Just wear your workout clothes. Let’s see what happens…
Don’t feel like making those business calls? Just go to your desk and open your notebook/planner and get a little more organized in your day. Let’s see what happens…
Don’t want to work on the book you’re writing? Just start on an outline for a section of a chapter. Let’s see what happens…”
PHOTO: image of Riley Blanks Reed
Do not drink water
It may seem small or obvious, but try drinking plenty of water throughout the morning and see how much more alert and engaged you are when the first thing is to stay hydrated! I have a slightly different beverage routine than the typical “warm lemonade first thing,” the mantra most people in the wellness world swear by. When I wake up, I drink an 8-ounce cup of black coffee before any other beverage. The idea that coffee dehydrates you is a legend. Although caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, our bodies quickly make up for it, so coffee and tea have a hydrating effect, not to mention loads of water. Other health benefits when consumed in moderation.
Okay, climb out of my coffee soap dispenser, then I continue with a 12-ounce full cup of filtered water that I sip on and refill for the rest of the morning. For me, it’s all about there’s water right next to me all the time – I don’t even notice I’m drinking it, but when I do, I’m more alert and less likely to reach for a random handful of granola for an energy boost.
So what We What leads to a successful morning routine?
In addition to avoiding spoilers, there are plenty of proactive ways to establish a morning routine that changes your day for the better. Here are a few simple things I make time for in the morning:
- Breathe. Once I’ve settled into my chair with my coffee and diary, I begin with a minute of contemplation, mindful breathing grounds me and reminds me to be present.
- Prioritize your time. I’ve read through the goals, priorities, and “everyone” list in Workbook Vision to make sure that the way I spend my time aligns with what’s important to me. I keep them against my calendar for that day to see if my day is geared towards those priorities. If not, I find a space to make time for them. This could be spending some alone time with my child after school, setting aside some time for focused writing, etc.
- Create a ritual. My morning routine consists of little cues that speak to my senses, reminding me to be present and to acknowledge the moment as sacred. When I wake up, I pour coffee in my favorite cup, turn on one relaxing playlist no voice and light a candle lying on my desk. The repetition of those sounds and scents reminds me to get in the area. When my alarm went off at 6 a.m., I found myself really excited to participate.
I’d love to hear about your morning routine in the comments! What barriers have you encountered? What practices promote a meaningful start to the day?
