The Power of Morning Routines: How I Start My Day for Success
All over the internet and social media are examples of great morning routines. You can find what every successful person does as they rise from a night a slumber. There are even books about it. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod was my first introduction to the famous morning routine. But even before I read the book, I knew to get my day off on the right foot I had to start early and before the rest of the house. This was especially true when our son was young. I needed to be dressed and ready to go when it was time for him to wake up. My routine has evolved over the years and changes some as the farming seasons change, but the basic essentials are always there. These are things I do even when I travel. I love a good hotel gym! They are usually always nearly empty which I find crazy especially the ones that are loaded with equipment.
My routine is not just for workdays but every day of the week. My alarm is set for 5 am on workdays and 6 am on the weekends. I keep my sleep schedule as close to the same on a daily basis. I try to get up when the alarm goes off and not hit the snooze button. I sleep in my Apple watch so the alarm is a small vibration on my wrist and no loud noises to scare me out of my sleep. A major plus of this - it does not wake up Greg in the process. A quick run through the bathroom to brush my teeth and get dressed is next. I try to lay out my work out clothes the night before so they are ready to go! Next, I mix a drink of Beachbody Energize, a pre workout drink and creatine. I have used Energize for several years now and added 5 g of Thorne brand creatine last year. As a woman in perimenopause, I feel it is important to keep strong muscles and creatine helps build muscle and aids in muscle recovery after a workout.
While I sip on this drink, I usually read a devotional or follow a Bible reading plan. The past few years I have followed one of the plans that guides you to read the full Bible in a year. I am on my fourth time through reading the Bible and hopefully will be successful in completing it for the third time. Before these plans, I used a devotional book. Some of my favorites are 100 Days to Brave by Annie F Downs or several by Lysa Terkeurst including Made to Crave, which I have read several times now. Some prayer and journaling follow this quiet time.
Then it is time for a workout! When we built the shop behind our house, I was able to make room for a shop gym. It was the best thing I could have done for me and my health. We live about 10 minutes out of town and in the past, my morning routine involved at least 20 minutes of driving to go into town to the gym or to meet someone to walk or run. I loved the companionship of working out with someone or a group, but the time is valuable in the morning! I bought a used treadmill for $300, and it is still going strong. Plus, I have built up a great selection of dumbbells and bands for strength training. Now when someone asks me for gift ideas it is usually items for my workouts. I now have an incline bench and a set of adjusting weight kettlebells. As I get stronger, I need heavier weights - which is so motivating! I keep workouts to 40 minutes or less but at least 30 minutes. Weekends might be longer when I have more time.
Coffee is up next! It is like the treat for getting all the rest of it completed. I got a Nespresso machine for Christmas and absolutely love the coffee it makes. Plus, the frothed milk is amazing! Then, I make some breakfast and pack my lunch for the office. Many times, I will do this the night before as I clean up dinner. The evening routine is just as important as my morning routine to keep things on track.
I am lucky that much of my work schedule is up to me. However, there are several months of the year I must be at the office by 7:00 am. Even then, I still complete my morning routine. These are the days the evening routine is especially important. On some days, I feel tired I will just sleep in and skip my routine - which is completely okay too! I tell myself I need sleep and will feel better. But I never do feel better -usually worse! When I miss the quiet time and moving my body it sets me up for a lousy day.
Do you have a morning routine that sets you up for a great day? What does it look like? Please comment what works for you. I may need to add something to mine!