I started watching videos about how successful CEOs like Bezos, Zukerberg and others built their morning routines when I was in university doing my undergrad. My theory, at this time, was that if I copied them, then maybe, just maybe I might be able to one day achieve the level of success they had. This was of course childish, I was nowhere as busy as they were and I didn’t have the full context of their lives, but still, I copied. The flaw in my thinking was made painfully clear to me when, one day, I woke up one day at 5 am (like the video I watched said I should) and then realised I had nothing to do for 4 hours and couldn’t get back to bed. I ended up watching multiple episodes of come dine with me, regretting my attempt to be like Bezos. Not very productive
However, things have changed a lot since then. I'm now the CEO of 2 companies, Director of 2 charities and I manage a string of projects and campaigns for personal clients and much more. I’ve since realised that the videos I used to scoff at about morning routines are actually gold. There is no way I would able to live my life or complete the things I need to do each day without a detailed and organised morning routine.
People often ask me how I get all my tasks done and the single more honest answer is that I have a solid routine I have known for years that very rarely changes. I'm honest, disciplined and very uncompromising about the routine! I hope sharing it with you will help you.
Tap Into Your Will Power Reserves
A solid morning routine has long been the backbone of my achievement and even self-care practice. It makes a noticeable difference in my mental health (and I definitely feel an even bigger difference when I skip it). You don’t have to take my word for it, though. Therapists will be quick to tell you the mental health benefits of starting your day this way. “A healthy, low-stress, [and] focused morning routine sets the tone for the whole day,” clinical psychologist Ryan Howes, Ph.D., tells SELF.
It’s not just about being able to pat yourself on the back for following your routine like a Real Adult. Cementing some morning habits can make it easier to prioritize your mental and physical health throughout the rest of the day too. As soon as you wake up, every decision you make dips into your brain’s willpower reserves. The brain is an incredible organ, but even it has its limits, and there’s a lot of research out there that points toward our willpower being a limited resource. At some point, those reserves run dry, and it becomes a lot harder to turn down instant gratification, which may be why you find yourself skipping an insanity session you normally love after a long day working. Of course, I'm joking, no one loves Insanity
Automate Things
Of course, these willpower-depleting decisions are unavoidable; our lives are full of them. That’s where a good morning routine comes in. When we automate our mornings, we develop habits that soon feel second nature, says Howes, which may wind up cutting out some depleting activities like deciding what to eat or arguing with yourself about hitting the snooze button again. Personally, I’ve found I’m much more likely to make decisions that support my self-care and well-being when I haven’t spent the morning scrambling and stressed. Plus, a lot of activities you can include in your morning routine may be self-care all on their own.
So let’s talk about some of the things you might want to add to your morning routine. Everyone’s ideal morning routine will be different, so the suggestions on this list are meant to be starting points, not a step-by-step guide (especially because who would have time for this all???). A morning routine might also involve some creative manoeuvring to implement (like waking up a little earlier to fit in some solo time before your kids wake up, or involving them in your routine somehow). Experiment with what works for you, and remember that the key is consistency.
The Benefits of a Morning Routine
As Hal Elrod, author of “The Miracle Morning”, says,
“Focused, productive successful mornings generate focused, productive, successful days – which inevitably create a successful life.”
A morning routine is said to boost happiness, increase productivity, reduce stress levels and get you grounded and settled for the day. It’s about getting started on the right foot’.
A morning routine also allows you to start your morning with intention, rather than letting the day run away from you. You control the day; the day doesn’t control you. This positive feeling of being on top of things has resulted in a positive feeling and effect on your entire day.
So whats my routine
1. Go To Bed On Time
Odd as it may sound, your morning routine actually begins the night before. When do you start getting ready to go to bed and when do you start winding down?. The time you go to bed will determine how much energy you have when you wake up. I've spoken to lots of people about it, however, I’m convinced that it’s much harder to sleep on time than to wake up early. There are so many distractions that want to keep us awake; chats with friends, shows, Twitter and much more. Your first win has to begin the night before by going to bed on time. I sleep between 10:30 pm and 11 pm which gives me enough sleep before I wake up at 4:30 am - 5 am.
2. Make Your Bed
Yes, making your bed is technically a chore, but it can also be a deceptively simple and tiny way to make yourself feel good. The reasons are manifold: It goes a long way in making your space (and mind) less cluttered, it encourages good sleep hygiene (who doesn’t want to crawl into a freshly made bed at the end of the day?), and it might also do some surprising psychological work behind the scenes too.
In an oft-repeated quote, retired Navy admiral William H. McRaven once said, “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.” — I watched the video years ago and it has been transformative every since. The power of making your bed every morning.
I never used to be the type of person who made his bed every day, but after stumbling across this tip in my mental health reporting, I decided to give it a try. At first, it was simply…nice. With a made bed, I found it easier to keep the rest of my room clean, which is always good for my mental health. I didn’t realize just how much the practice grounded me and served as a guidepost for other good habits until I stopped. My days begin with a made bed.
3. Brush Your Teeth, Break A Sweat
After my bed is made I make sure to brush my teeth and start a workout. it can sometimes be very difficult however movement can be a tremendous source of energy, something many of us need when we start our day. Beyond that, morning exercise has been shown to improve focus and mental abilities all day long. Not only will you feel awake and have more energy after your workout, but your mind will be ready to take on whatever tasks you have lined up that day.
Some research has measured the effectiveness of exercise to “wake up” the mind, and the results show that it does a better job than coffee!
Working out in the morning ensures that you don’t interrupt your workout schedule with other daily items that can seem more pressing. For example, if you exercise in the evening you run the risk of being late from work, feeling overloaded with errands that must be done, or saddled with other unexpected to-do items. There goes your workout.
4. Put off checking your phone.
Ok so this isn't really a thing but its something to be aware of. Put your phone away and don’t touch it yet. You are still in the flow.
Every time we check our phones—especially after a long stretch of time away, like when we’re sleeping—we invite a flood of stimulation and nonsense into our brain space. For such a tiny device, your phone holds a lot of potential stressors, like news notifications, your bank account balance, and texts that demand your attention right now. And for many of us, once we check our phones, we’re pretty much plugged in for the rest of the day. Why not delay that just a little bit?
“When you wake up, you’ve been sleeping and you’re in a comparatively relaxed state,” says Howes. “Wouldn’t it be great to maintain that general level of calm as long as you can? It’s better for our bodies and our reactive emotional systems to reduce how long we’re feeling stress in a day.”
Plus, reaching for your phone first thing is a quick way to derail your whole morning routine. Who hasn’t lost themselves down a Twitter hole before even getting out of bed?
5. Drink some water.
The benefits of drinking water are well documented. You know you should be hydrating throughout the day, but a glass of water in the morning kind of gets the whole process going. Not just physiologically (because, hey, you’re getting some water in your body after eight-ish hours of not drinking), but also mentally. Anyone else sometimes makes it to noon or later only to realize they haven’t, uh, had a drop of the stuff? Making a habit of knocking back your first glass in the morning can help a lot. Some people even go as far as setting out a glass of water on their bedside table the night before. I have a friend who swears by this, but since I’m team #coldwater all the way, I make sure to pop a fresh jug in the fridge before bed so it’s just how I like it in the morning. Whatever works for you!
6. Doing Difficult Tasks First
Start the day by doing your most difficult tasks. I like to do this when I have the most energy which is typically after my workout and after I’ve had some water.
Brian Tracy postulates in Eat That Frog that if you do your difficult tasks first, your other tasks won’t seem so bad. After all, after you eat a frog, even something unappetizing will seem downright delectable.
Tracy also recommends that, if you have to eat two frogs, you should eat the uglier one first. The metaphor is a very easy way to get your head around the new concept of pre-procrastination.
If all of your tasks seem somewhat torturous to you, you might be able to ease the pain by getting rid of the ugliest “toads” as quickly as you can.
If you eat a frog first thing in the morning, that will probably be the worst thing you do all day. — Mark Twain
On the surface, there don’t seem to necessarily be any disadvantages to doing easy tasks first. However, Eat That Frog, the book written by Brian Tracy challenges that.
Based on the above quote from Mark Twain, Eat That Frog encourages avoiding procrastination, even if that procrastination is constructive. Tracy wants you to “eat that frog,” i.e. do your difficult tasks quickly because the longer it’s on your plate, the harder it will become to do the thing you’re dreading. If you have a habit of dreading things, Eat That Frog makes a solid argument to hold off on your easy tasks until later in the day.
Conclusion
If I get things right, by 9 am, I've worked out, stretched, started or finished some of my most difficult tasks of the day! The day typically follows a very simple pathway thereafter.
You’ve had a look at the menu, now it’s time to decide what you’re going to have. It’s time to create your ultimate morning routine.
Remember, like with anything in life, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. If you’re:
Someone who thrives from positive energy, make sure whatever you do first gives you that burst of positivity.
Someone who needs to have a plan, then try the three Post-it strategy or create your plan for the day.
Someone who needs to physically exert yourself, go for that morning run or hike.
Someone who needs to think, find time for your reading, strategizing and journaling.
Someone whose mind races, try meditation.
Take a moment to think about what resonates with you the most. Do you need five minutes or an hour? What feels like it will ground you or energize you?
Maybe there are a couple of ideas that stood out or one, in particular, you just know you need to do. What can you commit to right now in your life, with your current circumstances and everything you know about yourself?
Then do it. Get started tomorrow morning.
You’ll be more happy, productive, energized and thankful you did.
No announcements today! Have an amazing week
M.T. Omoniyi
I love this! For some who has been looking for ways to optimize their time throughout the day, this article is truly helpful. I love owning my time but with business expanding I've seen my laid-back personality stretched in ways that I feel I cannot maintain in a long run. I will definitely act that frog now😂
🙏🏿🙏🏿