LIFE HACK|
Let me just start by saying, I’m not what you would consider a morning person. I’m not a terrible dragon by any means. But, with three kids, the dog, a job and an active life, I have to admit that I like my sleep.
My husband was reading a book recently about the power of a morning routine. I asked him to share the summary of what he learned. It all sounded great, but the idea of implementing a lengthy morning routine or getting up an hour early to do a variety of things makes me want to go right back to bed. We only have so much ‘bandwidth’ and willpower in a day, and personally, I don’t want to use it all up by 7 am.
Have a look at your calendar and see what’s there – integrate your goals and your list of to-do’s so you have a plan of action.
When I asked what he had done with this book’s great suggestions, the answer was nothing. He loved the ideas and concepts but hadn’t changed anything in his life.
This is the thing about most advice (on any topic really). It’s not that it doesn’t work, it’s that it doesn’t work for everybody. Any habit you are trying to change or create needs to take into account your unique personality, lifestyle and challenges.
Read more: How to Use SMART Goal to Become Highly Successful in Life
Have you ever set out with great intentions to do something – a new diet, exercise regimen or morning routine, only to fall flat on your face a few days or weeks later? Then what? You beat yourself up that you didn’t do it ‘right’, that you failed.
Here’s the thing, you haven’t failed, you have just found something that doesn’t work for you. And now, it’s time to find something that does. What works for a friend, colleague or spouse will not necessarily work for you.
There is a perfect morning routine that will make YOU happy and productive all day – you just have to find yours.
Which is why, rather than give you a specific, one-size-fits-all morning routine, I’m going to give you some options. Think of it as a menu. You get to choose what makes sense for your life, with your personality, motivations, goals, desires and circumstances.
The benefits of a morning routine
As Hal Elrod, author of “The Miracle Morning”, says,
“Focused, productive successful mornings generate focused, productive, successful days – which inevitably create a successful life.”
In the “5 Minute Journal”, one of the first things you do in the morning is write down three things you are grateful for. You choose the number- but expressing gratitude for a great way to kick-start the day.
A morning routine is said to boost happiness, increase productivity, reduce stress levels and get you grounded and settled for the day. It’s about getting started on the ‘right foot’.
A morning routine also allows you to start your morning with intention, rather than letting the day run away from you. You control the day; the day doesn’t control you. This positive feeling of being on top of things has resulted in a positive feeling and effect on your entire day.
As with many things in life, small changes lead to big results. It’s the compounding effect.
Tony Robbins’ morning routine “includes a nutritional supplement, meditation, workout, and sauna-to-cold-plunge combo.” You can check it out here. Arianna Huffington shares hers here.
Read more: 6 Ways to have an amazing life
In fact, most great entrepreneurs and leaders throughout history cite their morning routine as a large contributor to their success. But it’s not just entrepreneurs and leaders that benefit from a morning routine. We all can.
A good friend and colleague of mine just started a new morning routine and here’s what she had to say: “I love waking up before my family and having dedicated ‘me’ time. This means my kids aren’t the ones waking me up… if they’re the ones waking me up, it means I immediately have something to do. Waking up for me, early, gives me time to do what I need so when they wake up, I’m excited to greet them for the day.”
We’ve established a morning routine is important and valuable, are you ready to create yours?
How to create your ultimate morning routine:
As a coach and consultant with a diverse background, it’s important to me to look at this from a holistic point of view. Let’s look at the morning routine through the lens of Integrative Wellness principles, which take into account the four aspects or ‘systems’ of you: Mental, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.
You can also think of this as Mind, Heart, Body and Spirit.
You’ll probably notice as we talk through examples that some activities or habits cover multiple systems of your body. Awesome! If you can leverage your time and get two, three or four system benefits for the price of one, even better!
Let’s look at each of these areas more specifically.
Mentally
Put simply, this has to do with your mind, including thoughts, beliefs, values, goals, hopes, dreams, desires and plans.
Any habit you are trying to change or create needs to take into account your unique personality, lifestyle and challenges.
Some options to create a positive mental space in the morning include:
Set goals
I have a friend that puts up three Post-it notes every morning. They include the three most important goals she has for the day. This gives her something to focus on – and make sure she achieves throughout her day.
And because it’s only three things, it still leaves room for other things that come up – so there’s built-in flexibility too.
Read more: How to overcome your biggest enemy in life: Fear
Make a list
Get it off your mind. Sometimes in the night, we worry, waking up thinking about what we need to accomplish. This means we wake up already feeling behind. Instead, if there’s something you know you need to do, write it down.
Make a list so you can free your mind for more important thinking.
Create a plan/schedule for the day
When you know you’ve got a hectic day ahead, a little planning can go a long way. Have a look at your calendar and see what’s there – integrate your goals and your list of to-do’s so you have a plan of action.
Read something that feeds your mind
My Dad loves reading the Wall Street Journal in the morning. It starts his day on the right foot.
It all sounded great, but the idea of implementing a lengthy morning routine or getting up an hour early to do a variety of things makes me want to go right back to bed.
A friend of mine reads for 10 minutes and this habit has brought her immense joy. The way she sees it, if she reads a page a minute, her 10 minutes a day will turn into 3,650 pages read by the end of the year or 12 300-page books! For someone who could never find time to read, she’s now finishing great books and feeling awesome about it.
Emotionally
This is all about your feelings, emotions and relationships. You can think of it as all things related to the heart.
Read more: How to use a mind map to organize your life
Some things you can do in the morning to help your emotional well-being include:
Express gratitude
New research continues to surface on the science and benefits of gratitude. Studies have now proven a multitude of benefits from expressing gratitude; ranging from how it improves relationships, physical and emotional health, sleep, mental stamina, energy and overall happiness. I have a simple practice; before I get out of bed in the morning, I think of two things I feel grateful for. In the “5 Minute Journal”, one of the first things you do in the morning is write down three things you are grateful for. You choose the number- but expressing gratitude for a great way to kick-start the day.
Hug your kid, spouse or pet
Hugging boosts your oxytocin levels (the love hormone), increases serotonin (elevates mood and creates happiness), strengthens the immune system, boosts self-esteem, lowers blood pressure, balances the nervous system and releases tension. Put simply, hugging makes you feel good. Find someone – or something – to hug. It only takes a few seconds and it can put you in a positive mood for the day.
It connects him to something greater than himself and makes him feel calm going into the day, knowing that he has invested in his spiritual and personal relationships before anything else.
Connect with a friend, family member or anyone who makes you feel joyous, happy and connected
When I wake up my kiddos, it would be easy to open the door and call for them to get up. Instead, I take a few extra moments to go up to each of them (not easy when they sleep in loft beds), kiss them good morning and take a moment to connect. My husband takes his morning commute time to call friends and family and connect with them. In both approaches, we’re not taking more time out of our day or adding something to our to-do list, we’re including it in something that already is happening in our daily routine.
Identify what makes you feel good
What brings you happiness, joy or excitement for the day ahead? What makes you feel grounded or connected on a deeper level? Meditation, yoga, breathwork? Get more of that.
Read more: 27 simple ways to improve your life
Physically
All those things we think about what we can do with our body or physical space. This might include what we eat or drink, how we move and anything that has to do with our physical selves.
Here are some options for increasing your physical well-being in the morning:
Get moving.
Get the blood flowing. We all know the benefits of exercise. This might be a run, hike, trip to the gym, yoga, stretching or finding your own short workout. Remember, what works for one person will not work for everyone.
For example, my husband and I thought it would be a great idea to get a trainer once a week. Every Thursday we woke up at 5:45 am, got ready and worked out from 6-7am. This might have seemed like a good idea, but it really didn’t work for me. I really didn’t like getting up that early and forcing my body to work out before it was ready.
We only have so much ‘bandwidth’ and willpower in a day, and personally, I don’t want to use it all up by 7 am.
I tried it for several months, trying to convince myself it was good for me. But it didn’t feel good. I didn’t enjoy it and it didn’t help me have a more productive day. What does work? My husband gets up and takes the dog for a walk/run and I take my morning hike/do my exercise/yoga once the kids are off to school. Again, this is about what works for you – listen to your body.
Drink lemon water
Before you reach for that first cup of coffee, reach first for something that hydrates you. I drink warm lemon water. I got this tip from a 94-year-old grandmother in Australia almost 20 years ago. She swore her health and her life benefited from this habit.
Read more: Learn 8 Realities, Improve Your Life
Need a few more reasons? Check these out here. I usually throw in a bag of ‘detox’ tea and drink this as I take the kiddos to school.
Eat a good breakfast.
What does that mean for you? A protein smoothie? Great. Avocado Toast? Awesome. Oatmeal? Fantastic. Eat a healthy, ‘real-food’ breakfast to get you going.
Ground yourself
You can do this in many ways.
A few years back, I was going through a period of high anxiety. A bodyworker recommended I start each day by stepping out of bed and grounding my feet into the earth. I sit at the edge of my bed and feel the earth under my feet for a moment, picturing the roots of a tree. You can then feel this move through your whole spine and body.
While I don’t do this exercise every day, if I wake up feeling slightly anxious or stressed, I take the extra minute to the ground and get connected. Another technique I use most days is to place one hand on my heart and one on my stomach and just breathe for a few minutes. This instantly calms and relaxes my entire body.
Clean your physical space.
When our physical space is cluttered, our minds often feel the same way.
What makes you feel settled? I have a client who feels better when she makes her bed. If she doesn’t, her day seems to go downhill.
Do you hate waking up to the sounds of the ‘alarm’ and need a better way to rise? Perhaps you are decimated by negativity and need to make sure you protect yourself from the negative news or people early in the day?
What works for you? Tidy up your workspace. Get the clothes in the hamper. Whatever makes you feel more settled in your physical space, it is worth the effort.
Read this article if you aren’t sure how to declutter.
Spiritually
This can be anything related to you and a feeling of inspiration, which means, ‘in spirit’. While it doesn’t have to convey religion, it may for you. It’s more about what you need to feel connected to something deeper, bigger, higher – and what makes you feel most connected to yourself.
Here are a few examples:
Meditation.
While some of you may be reading this thinking, YES, I love my morning meditation practice, others might be feeling a sense of stress or trepidation reading yet another article about meditation.
Read more: How to get back up after life kicks you in the…
If you’re feeling hesitant but want to try it out, there are a ton of great apps (The Mindfulness app, Headspace and Calm) and other resources out there for you. I found this guided morning mediation years ago and still use it when I need something short and sweet.
I also love the free 21-day guided meditations from Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey Many clients and friends have found this an ‘easy entry’.
And, if you’re one of those people who feel they can’t meditate (I feel you, I WAS one of you!), guided meditations are your new best friend. Check out a few and see what works for you.
Be in nature
Find a place you can sit or walk and just be. Notice the colors of the trees and the sky, the smells in the air. What do you hear if you listen closely? Take a moment to feel the earth beneath your feet or the breeze against your face.
Take a walk in nature and you’ve got physical and spiritual needs covered all in one go!
Interestingly, I was raised Jewish and went to temple growing up. Until at some point along the way, my Mom decided that the best way for her to connect with something greater than herself was to be outside. From that moment on, we spent all of our ‘high holidays’ outside in nature together.
Religious study
My brother is an incredible example of this. Every morning, he gets up early and does his bible study. He sits at the kitchen table (or wherever he is at the time), reads a passage and writes notes. He then finishes by writing a note to his wife. Since he’s not a verbal person, it allows him to ensure that his wife knows he is thinking about her.
I found this guided morning mediation years ago and still use it when I need something short and sweet.
Incredible and romantic? Yes. This also covers his spiritual and emotional needs in one go. More importantly, it grounds him. It allows him to reflect on the day ahead. It connects him to something greater than himself and makes him feel calm going into the day, knowing that he has invested in his spiritual and personal relationships before anything else.
Connect to yourself
Know what it means to be true to you and take a moment to get grounded in yourself. Here are 11 Ways to be true to you to get you started.
Additional tips for the ultimate morning routine
As you build your morning routine, there’re things you need to remember.
What to keep in mind
1. A healthy morning routine starts the night before.
Getting quality sleep is essential to starting your mornings off right. Make sure you get the recommended 7-9 hours (or whatever works for you). If you’re going to get up earlier for your morning routine, you need to go to bed earlier.
Read more: If you face these 6 struggles in life: you’re highly intelligent
Here are some basic ways to get a good night’s sleep:
- Get off your electronics at least an hour before bed (and set them to DND or leave them outside of your bedroom).
- Make sure you have a comfortable pillow and mattress.
- Set a consistent sleep routine, reduce outside noise and sleep in a well-darkened room or wear an eye mask.
You may want to take reference of Lifehack’s CEO Leon, who has a consistent night routine to keep him sleep well and wake up energetic.
2. Keep it simple.
Find one or two things (three max) that you feel will work for YOU to get you on a roll. Start with a quick win and work your way up from there.
I don’t recommend choosing eight things and then giving up – or beating yourself up because you couldn’t make it work. If you put too much on your plate, you won’t do anything. Eventually, you’ll want to have at least one activity from each of the four categories, but you can start small and work your way up.
3. Take a test drive.
Once you’ve settled on a few concepts that you think will work for you, try them for a few days before you decide if it does/doesn’t work. Like with any habit, you need at least 21 days to create something that sticks.
Having a great morning routine that energizes you is also as much about what not to do in the morning!
4. Set a reminder.
Put something in place that reminds you of your morning routine. Here are 24 habit tracking apps you could try.
Or if you’re more old-school like me, find a symbol to remind you – put a Post-it on your bathroom mirror, a note on the fridge or a physical symbol to remind you what you’re doing.
5. Integrate.
Find ways to integrate your morning routine into what you’re already doing, rather than adding more on your ‘to-do’ list. You can also double up, finding activities that covering a couple multiple ‘systems’ of your body.
What not to do
You now have some great options about what to do. But having a great morning routine that energizes you is also as much about what not to do in the morning!
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Think about what doesn’t work for you. Are there things that happen or you do that get you started off on the wrong foot? That pull you off-track or out of stride?
Do you hate waking up to the sounds of the ‘alarm’ and need a better way to rise? Perhaps you are decimated by negativity and need to make sure you protect yourself from the negative news or people early in the day?
For me, it’s my phone. I have my best mornings when I don’t check my phone or email. I find that when I check my email, it distracts me from my morning and starts me off in the wrong direction. My mind has gone down a rathole of everything I’ve just read, how I’m going to respond, what I need to do…. and I’m not longer present in my morning. I’ve made it a non-negotiable part of my morning routine to not check my emails before my kids go to school.
You’ve had a look at the menu, now it’s time to decide what you’re going to have. It’s time to create your ultimate morning routine.
Remember, like with anything in life, there’s no one-size-fits all approach. If you’re:
- Someone who thrives from positive energy, make sure whatever you do first gives you that burst of positivity.
- Someone who needs to have a plan, then try the three Post-it strategy or create your plan for the day.
- Someone who needs to physically exert yourself, go for that morning run or hike.
- Someone who needs to think, find time for your reading, strategizing and journaling.
- Someone whose mind races, try meditation.
Take a moment to think about what resonates with you the most. Do you need five minutes or an hour? What feels like it will ground you or energize you?
Maybe there are a couple ideas that stood out, or one in particular you just know you need to do. What can you commit to right now in your life, with your current circumstances and everything you know about you?
Then do it. Get started tomorrow morning.
You’ll be more happy, productive, energized and thankful you did.
The Article was first published in Life Hack.