Developing a morning routine can be a game changer. The benefits of doing a few things to get your day started on the right note have been well documented.
I spent four years trying to figure out my ultimate morning routine. My biggest piece of advice is start simple and with no more than three items and then add one more item once you’ve done the three for 30 days.
And then only add the next item once you’ve done all four for another 30 days. Experiment with what works best for you and do what leads to your best days.
Below is my morning routine and I’ll share a little secret with you, I don’t always do everything on the list. But what I’ve realised is that when I don’t follow my round, my chances for an amazing day decreases.
When I do everything below it’s unlikely I’ll have anything less than an 8/10 day. I often refer to this approach as structured freedom, it’s very contradictory, I know, but it works for me. ‘Structured freedom’ is about having a list that needs to be done, but allowing flexibility in when and how the items are completed.
Wake up time - between 7am and 9am. I’ve never been a morning person, I don’t have a standard wake up time and for the most part I try not to set meetings until after 12pm.
Toilet and reading on the toilet. This is much better than Youtubing on the toilet. That's disgusting. Reading on the toilet, now that's elegant
Write in journal - clear my head and connect with myself.
Meditation - 20 mins mantra meditation timed on my Calm App.
Wim Hof Breathing 3 cycles and pushups (add link).
Cold Shower and listen to music.
First key action for the day.
There's nothing groundbreaking or new in the above routine, similar to a good diet, similar approaches to the above are now tried and tested, with their impact well documented.
At times I've fallen victim to making my routine too stringent and it started to make me feel like a failure opposed to doing what it’s meant to, which is setting up my day and starting it positively.
The main point here - is from today onwards make a commitment to start the day on your terms. Make the choices and sacrifices needed to make this happen. It might be as simple as setting your alarm two minutes earlier to make your bed. Or it might just be taking FIVE deep and slow breaths to start your day.
Figure out what works for you, test and experiment.
Do something proactive as soon as you wake up that gets your day started on the right note.
My Approach
Setup your routine at a template in an app like your phone's Notes, Evernote or Asana.
Copy the template daily
Add some commentary and mark the items as complete.
Try and get a streak going where you don't miss a day.
You can copy and paste my template below:
Morning Routine
As soon as a I wake up, I’m going to breathe slowly and deeply until I feel tingling in my arms.
⏱ Wake up and get out of bed
📖 Read
🧘🏽♂️ Wim Hof in Study and exercise
🧘🏽♂️ 20 min TM
🧘🏽♂️ Journal in study / plan -
🧘🏽♂️Cold 🚿Kgs / Body fat %
❤️Connect - love and laugh
💸💡🏃🏾♂️ 📖 😊 - 1-3 key actions for the day