The Importance of a Morning Routine
When I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, “Oh shit, he’s up!”
Your alarm goes off at 5.30am. It’s still dark and you’re tired, it’s cold but you’re cosy, and now you have to get up… but guess what? That’s the worst of it.
Once you are able to accomplish the worst part of waking up early (which is, surprise, waking up early) it’s only uphill from there.
The importance of a morning ritual can’t be underestimated. It can help you be healthier, fitter, stronger. It can maximise your effectiveness. It can help you accomplish things you’ve only ever dreamed of — writing a book, learning meditation, getting a 6-pack at the gym. Whether it’s cooking breakfast, journalling, exercising or writing, starting your day off with positive vibes and good intentions sets the tone for the rest of the day.
On a smaller scale, giving yourself enough time to have a glass of water, stretch, eat breakfast, make your bed, have a shower, brush your teeth and pack your bag can provide a sense of calm. Starting your day off feeling rushed is a waste of energy, so start waking up a little earlier to ensure you give yourself the start you deserve.
“Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.” — Lemony Snicket
Benefits of a Morning Ritual
- Our memory, alertness and concentration are often at their best in the AM, making it a great time to accomplish certain tasks in the most effective manner
- It provides opportunities to stimulate your mind (reading, writing, journalling)
- Gives you control of your day from the get-go
- Starts your day off with a sense of calm (instead of feeling rushed/stressed)
- Helps you set your intentions for the day
- Set the tones for the rest of the day
You’ve got to want it.
We all know there’s a big difference between waking up at 5am because you have to go to work, compared to waking up at 5am because you need to get to the airport to catch a flight to a tropical island. Waking up for something you desperately want, that excites you or is something you are passionate about makes a world of difference when it comes to willpower and motivation.
A morning ritual should include something you love, (or something you believe you could learn to love). Or, it should include steps towards something you really want. If you want to lose a few kilos, your determination will trump the desire to sleep in. If you want to be a published author, the desire to write even 500 words each morning to get you that much closer to your goal will push you out of bed.
“I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, “Oh shit, he’s up!” ― Steve Maraboli
Make it easier for yourself.
We aren’t all ‘morning people’. Staying in our warm, toasty beds is one of the most satisfying thoughts of all time. Lure yourself out of bed with the thought of freshly brewed coffee (even if it means strolling to a local cafe). Buy your favourite, healthy breakfast and have it waiting patiently for you in the kitchen. Lay your gym clothes out the night before so that the prospect of finding your shoes doesn’t scare you into hitting ‘snooze’. Set up your ‘writing zone’ so it’s a comfortable and desirable place to be. Help yourself out by putting things in place to make mornings less of an enemy and more of a friend.
If you’re in the early stages of creating a morning ritual, take baby steps. Start with giving yourself 20 minutes, then expand the time to whatever feels best.
Make it work around your own schedule.
When I was younger, I used to love reading the hourly breakdowns of how a day was spent by someone I admired (whether it was an athlete, author or actor). But these days, these people will begin to explain their rituals in the 8am — 10am arena, and they’ve only just begun talking about cooking breakfast or going for a run. It’s no longer relevant to me. Not in my world, honey! I leave the house at 7.30am, for an hour commute. I work until 5.30pm and get home just before 7pm (usually later, because of those amazing hours in the advertising world…). My ability to have a morning ritual comes down to me ensuring I wake up an hour earlier than ‘necessary’. I need to practice a strong sense of mental discipline to get myself up and at ’em. My cousin wakes up at 4am to hit the gym, because she knows her children will rise and greet her at 5am. No matter what, you can make it work if you really want it.
Notable people and their morning routines:
Stephen King: Has a glass of water or a tea, writes for an hour at 8am, has a vitamin pill.
Steve Jobs: After showering and making his bed, he would look in the mirror and ask himself, “If today was the last day of my life, would I be happy with what I’m about to do today?”.
Winston Churchill: Would wake up at 7.30am, and then eat breakfast, talk to staff and read the paper until 11am from the comfort of his bed.
Einstein: Ate breakfast whilst reading the daily papers.
Tim Ferriss: Makes his bed, meditates for 10–20 minutes, exercises, drinks tea and journals.
Jennifer Aniston: Wakes at 4.30am, washes her face, meditates for 20 minutes, has a breakfast shake followed by a spin class or yoga.
Richard Branson: Has a swim in the ocean, kite surfs, then follows with a game of tennis… (yeh, okay! morning ritual goals?)
Rise & Shine.
A ritual in the morning can’t be undervalued. It’s up to you whether you start your day inspired, energised and calm, or rushed, defeated and exhausted. A morning ritual may mean you need to wake up a little earlier, but it has the potential to give you a far bigger pep in your step than an extra hour of sleep ever could (just make sure you’re still prioritising those 8-hours of sleep). You have nothing to lose, so rise and shine.
