Recently I discovered a simple but powerful life power-up! Morning routines!

I mean it isn’t a new idea at all. But I never thought it would be so effective at changing my life trajectory to one I love!

Basically when we wake up our brain is like a blank slate. What we put into it is what we run with for the rest of the day.

Every day is a new beginning. Take a deep breath and start again.

Ain Eineziz

If we have a bad habit like I used to do with playing computer games this will be the first thought that pops into our heads. Many mornings I found myself in front of my favorite game for “just a quick hour of play before work.” This more often than not led to thinking about games all day, grabbing another hour at lunch and doing a lot of game related browsing online instead of getting stuff done in my day.

If it works so well for bad habits it makes sense it will work just as well for good habits. After setting up a new routine and habit in the mornings this last month I can tell you it really does make a huge difference, shifting my day from a total waste to being productive 99% of the time!

Now every morning routine will need to be tailored to each of us as we are all unique with different life goals and priorities and different skill sets. But we can certainly tailor our mornings around a few key concepts.

Key Concepts for a Successful Morning Routine

  1. Get Present: Acknowledge your current energy levels and what you can do to improve them. This grounds you in reality. Some days you start strong; other days, you have to work to get in the zone.

  2. Set Your Mindset: Determine your big goal for the day and remind yourself why it’s important. Write down one small step you will take toward achieving that goal. This not only gives you forward momentum but also builds confidence as you experience small successes.

  3. Practice Gratitude: Acknowledge the good things in your life. A positive mindset fosters creativity and improves problem-solving abilities.

  4. Get Some Movement: After being inactive for 7+ hours, your body benefits from movement to remind it’s alive!

My Morning Routine Example

  1. First thing I do is try not to get distracted.
  2. I take three deep breaths with my eyes closed to connect with my body.
  3. I journal a set of questions: My energy level, why I feel that way, adjustments for my morning routine, my big goal for the day, one task I will take towards it, what I’m grateful for, when I plan to stop working, what skill I want to improve, and my word for the month.
  4. I exercise for at least 20 minutes while learning something from a video or podcast.
  5. I practice mindfulness meditation or visualization based on my energy assessment.

Once I got into the habit, it became a priority. If I wake up late or get interrupted, I just schedule my routine for the first moment I am free. It doesn’t feel like my day really started until it’s done!