Master Your Morning

I believe having a daily routine is essential for productivity and success.  But what is more important than that is having a morning routine.  The morning is your time to start anew and to start fresh. Through various podcasts and articles I’ve come across the last few years, a common theme that all of the entrepreneurs, health experts, and influencers preach about is constructing a morning routine. The more and more I heard these various high performers speak on the value of their morning routine, I decided I would want to form one for myself.

Cultivating a morning routine can have a host of benefits:

• It gives you time to yourself
• Gives you a sense of normalcy to ease your mind
• Creates a sense of purpose
• Builds emotional resilience
• Allows you to be more disciplined

Personally, I consistently have my most productive and fulfilling days when I adhere to my morning routine. It gives me a sense of accomplishment before I leave my place to start my day. In addition, each task builds momentum towards getting the next one done. This process started out slow at first. I focused on one micro-habit at a time and gradually added to it until I found my groove. It took some trial and error, but giving myself the autonomy to experiment with different routines allowed me to find what works for me. This is how my morning routine currently looks:

Make My Bed (3 minutes)

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you probably noticed that I posted a picture of my freshly made bed for 66 days in a row on my story. Current research shows that it takes 66 days to form a new habit. This is the first habit I formed in my morning routine since I start each day by waking up and hopping out of bed. It’s right there so what could be more manageable? It is something so simple but has a major impact on me.

Every time I make my bed I start my day with a quick win since I got the first task of my day completed (mini dopamine hit). This adds a sense of pride for me and enables me to move on to more wins throughout my day. Also, what’s more gratifying than jumping into a nice freshly made bed at night after a long productive day?

Drink Water with Real Sea Salt (2 minutes)

Right after I make my bed, I head straight to the kitchen and drink 16 oz of water (from my Aqua Tru purifier) with one teaspoon of sea salt. Adding quality salt to your morning water has a host of benefits, my favorite being the instant boost of energy I get upon drinking it. Other benefits include:

• Rich in trace minerals (typically 60 different ones)
• Helps avoid dehydration and balance fluids
• Excellent electrolyte source
• Provides proper brain, muscle, and nervous system function
• Digestive health aid
• Nutrient Enhancer

Starting your morning with a glass of salt water is a quick, easy way to optimize your health and jumpstart your day.

Movement (3-20 minutes)

Moving in the morning upon rising helps me increase my energy, focus, and mood. The type of movement you perform can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Typically, I usually do some combination of jumping jacks, yoga-type flows, 360 mace swings, or kettle bell swings for anywhere from 3-20 minutes depending on how much time I carve out.

Getting blood flow throughout my entire body in the morning really boosts my nervous system and gets rid of any brain fog I may have. My suggestion would be to focus on safe movements that you are comfortable with first. There is no need to fully exert yourself. Yoga, walking, and stretching are all suitable options. Just move!

Mindful Meditation (10-25 minutes)

Once I finish my movement, I like to switch gears and meditate. My morning mindfulness meditation practice ranges from 10-25 minutes, depending on what feels right during that moment. I’ll start by breathing normally for my first few breaths. From there, I’ll start to focus on breathing deeper into my stomach and feeling the sensation of my stomach rising and falling. Whenever my mind wanders off of this sensation, I catch myself, acknowledge whatever thought came up, and return to the sensation of my breath.

I’ll either stick with this or switch it up and add in some box breaths (4 second inhale, 4 second hold of the breath, 4 second exhale, 4 second hold of the breath, repeat). Meditating in the morning creates a sense of stillness for me and rids my body, mind, and spirit of any anxiety or stress that I may feel.

Gratitude Journaling (5 minutes)

I culminate my morning routine with some gratitude journaling. This practice allows me to appreciate and acknowledge all of the positive aspects of my life, big and small. Today, it’s easy for many of us to focus on the negative parts of our lives and what we don’t have. Not only do I find this common, but it’s also the easy way out. Misery loves company and that’s why it’s so easy for us to lament and sulk with others. I used to do this regularly without even noticing it. It would affect my mood, my relationship with others, and my relationship with myself.

A lot has changed though. I now understand that every day is a gift. Journaling offers a daily reminder of how good my life is. This helps me set a positive tone for my day and usually carries over into everything that I do. An attitude of gratitude is a game changer.

Make Time For Your Morning Routine

While many people complain that they do not have enough time in the morning to establish a routine, it does not have to take a ton of time. I am able to complete all of this in as low as 25 minutes. Creating the space in the morning to do this is necessary in making it happen. For me, waking up 30 minutes earlier each day is a catalyst in boosting my productivity, mood, and energy for the next 16 hours. I know what it’s like to feel rushed…it sucks. When I race out the house in the morning because I didn’t create enough space, my whole day feels cluttered. On the days that I create the time to do my morning routine, my whole day is free flowing, smooth, and organized.

What does the ideal morning routine look like for you? Only you can answer that question. My advice is to form a routine around activities that give you energy, allow you to feel fulfilled, creates space for reflection, and can be done on a daily basis. Research has shown that it takes 66 days to create a new habit. Take it one day at a time my friends.

- Alvey aka Mr. You Can 2