Developing Your Morning Routine
“Knowing what must be done does away with fear.” - Rosa Parks
What does your morning routine look like?
Some of the world’s best teach-leaders, entrepreneurs and more have a bulletproof routine where they already know what they are going to wear, eat the same thing, and go through the same motions each and every single day to reduce what is called, ‘Decision-fatigue.’ This way, they can keep their minds sharp, on task, and performing at it’s very best. Some people, such as Jocko Willink, even advise waking up at 4:30 AM to be, ‘Up before the enemy,’ and whether it is your goal to tackle your inbox, give your brain some pause and quiet, or just to get more done during the day, you must focus on developing your bulletproof routine.
I’ve been on this train for quite some time, and as I’ve gotten older, I am really preferring to have the same ol’ routine day after day which I feel helps me be productive, focused and at my best. I’ve tried the 4:30 AM routine (it can be brutal…), but I don’t think it works for everyone. Finding out WHAT works for you is key, but I’d advise you to focus on developing a plan of attack the night before, so your mind can marinate and process on the mornings tasks at hand.
Anyway, here is my routine:
Night before I write my goals, to-do’s, and what I hope to accomplish in a bedside journal
Wake up at 5:30 AM
30-minute morning run with my dog while reading affirmations for the day ahead, finish with 10 dead hang pull-ups, 50 push-ups
Breakfast (always four eggs, toast, avocado, black coffee)
Journal my goals, intentions, gratitude, wishes, expectations, and affirmations for the day
50-push ups and hop into a cold shower
Meditate for 10-15 minutes
Pray
Get dressed
Get to work
Don’t check phone until lunch
Why routine matters:
Your routine should feel like an automatic process. It doesn’t matter what you do, so much as how you do it. We all know the old adage of, ‘How you do anything is how you do everything,’ and when you do things with intention, thoughtfulness and gratitude, you are more apt to be in the receiving mode from your day. We can easily forget our routines and hit that Snooze button a few more times, but when we thoughtfully get up and attack our day, we become the masters of our own fate, the captains of our own ships. It’s so important not to get dragged through your day feeling like you are constantly reacting to what feels like needs to be done.
Get up, go at it, develop your routine and find what works for you. These things above make me feel good and while this is my routine that works, I highly encourage you to find what makes you feel good first thing in the morning that does not involve hitting the snooze button and reaching your phone first thing to check your notifications. Nothing kills creativity more than bypassing your loved one and reaching for that smart device. Skip it. Instead, roll over, say ‘Good morning, I love you,’ and then try feeling gratitude for having another chance to wake up alive and realize the immense opportunity you have ahead of you. An entire day to tackle and conquer as you wish.
Think about that for a second, now, isn’t that a great feeling in and of itself?
Try it out.
Let me know what your morning routine looks like down below in a comment. Is yours automatic?
Does it feel good?
Or are you getting dragged through the day?
Keep me posted and develop your invincible morning routine that allows for pause, clear-thinking, and allows you to tackle your day unbridled.