I love reading and learning about what morning routines look like for high-performing individuals. I like the idea of a morning routine and the possibilities it has for setting one up for success for the rest of the day. In the last few months, I have been tweaking my morning routine and keeping the new elements that I feel help me be more focused and productive during the day.
I don’t work a regular 9-5 job. I like the flexibility this affords in making my own schedule and being around a lot for my family. I used to wake up without an alarm, which meant I would wake up at varying times, sometimes having time for the things I like to do first thing and sometimes not. I found that when I was waking up too late to do these things, my day would start out unfocused and rather disorganized. Lately, I have been, most days, setting my alarm and waking up at the same time every morning whether I feel like it or not. This has allowed me to have the time and space I need to start my day in a more focused, less chaotic way. Here are the elements of my morning routine as of fall 2018:
- I set my alarm for 6am every weekday. Some days I spring out of bed 30 minutes earlier, and others, I sleep right until it rings. The alarm ensures that I am up and have the minimum time required to start my day off on a good foot.
- I fill a large mason jar with water and put a few drops of lemon juice in it to rehydrate my body. I got this idea from Aubrey Marcus’s Own the Day, Own Your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex. He suggests adding a pinch of pink sea salt to remineralize what was lost through sweat, but I didn’t like the taste of the salt water; it made me feel thirsty; so I just add the lemon juice. I take my water to my cozy chair in the living room and sip away.
- While I sip, I meditate for 10-15 minutes using the Headspace app. Meditation is everything for me. It helps me relax and get my head right, especially on those days when motivation and mood are low. I always have my earbuds in because sometimes a kid or two will be up. My kids know that when Mom has her eyes closed and earbuds in, they are not to disturb.
- After the meditation is finished and most of my water is gone, I make myself a hot cup of coffee with a tablespoon of whipping cream in it. I return to my cozy chair and sip my coffee. While I do this, I pull out my goals and read them. I may also journal a bit during this time.
- When my coffee is maybe three-quarters finished, I change out of my pajamas and walk the dog for 30-45 minutes. During this time, I am listening to a podcast or an audio book. Always learning! The walk is super refreshing.
- By the time I get home, it is time to eat breakfast and get ready for the day. After I have dropped my kids off at school, it is around 8:45am. I take a few minutes to clean up the kitchen and am ready for my work day by 9:00am. No more house stuff or mom stuff will get done until later on in the afternoon.
The above routine is one that has been working well for me at this stage of my life. It likely will change over the months and years, but I really, really like it now. It helps me greatly, especially on days when I don’t want to get up. I’m always glad I did. Do you have a morning routine? What elements are important to you to start your day off right?
Until next time,
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