I am not a morning person. Maybe you are and that is great. I wish that I was because the house is quiet, the kids are briefly calm and my mind is motivated and excited for the challenge. Unfortunately, my problems start before the alarm even goes off. About 1 minute before my scheduled “wake time” I roll over and check the clock, hoping against hope that I have two maybe three hours left – but no…. my heart sinks and I realize the time is NOW. In my heart I know mornings are best for me to get things accomplished but my head wants just ten more minutes of sleep. I used to indulge. I was a “snooze bar” king often extending my bliss for 2-3 HOURS, 10 minutes at a time (this is before the 9 minute iPhone snooze- thanks Apple). I even coined the term “Jake Appreciation Day” for all the times I would miss class or other worthy alternatives. I think you get the idea- I struggle with mornings.
I say “struggle” but should say “struggled”. I had to make a change. Living my passion and providing for my family required an adjustment so I developed a morning routine that has served me very well. Below are my six secret weapons.
1- Wake: For me it is 5:30am. I set my wake up notification (not alarm) to be something soothing and not abrupt or startling. I prefer to use instrumental music that starts soft and slowly builds in volume.
2- Motivation: A year ago I set up a free Mail Chimp account and designed a motivational template. I then set up a daily motivational quote to be delivered at 4am to my email box. Each morning I grab my phone and read my daily quote. If you would like to receive my daily motivation quote just click here.
3- Hydrate: after the motivation, I reach down and grab my Nalgene Water-Bottle and take a long drink of room temperature water. This has been a great step as it tells my body it is time to get going.
4- Sit-ups and push-ups: I hate this part but am always grateful when I am done. It gets my blood pumping and energy charged. Yes- I do sit-ups and push-ups every day during the week- it is a “routine”. Thanks to the motivation of Darren Hardy and his book “The Compound Effect” I add an additional push up and sit up per set (I do 3) each week.
5- Mediation: Now that I have invigorated my mind (motivational quote) and jump-started my body (exercise) I am awake enough to enjoy 10 minutes of meditation. I use this time for prayer and reflection on the day ahead and calming the “idea chatter” of my mind.
6- Go: I am ready to take on the challenges of the day, reading, writing, additional cardio, a shower, or breakfast with the kids.
The world awaits and this whole routine only takes 20 minutes. I am set on a course for success because the journey of a thousand miles begins…with waking up.
“The heights of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night” or in the morning as it were — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Go make it happen!