Create a morning routine that works for you

For the past six months, I struggled to stick to a morning routine.

I would set my alarm for 6:30am every morning, hoping that one dark winter morning my body clock will wake me up and I’ll go on to cease the day.

Working from home has its perks but it showed how much discipline is required to create a successful morning routine.

Living at home, with my gorgeous niece and nephew made it difficult to stick to a routine, since waking up in the middle of the night also became a regular routine. After months of struggling to sustain a healthy sleeping routine, I decided to change the time of my morning routine to start at 8am. It wasn’t the ideal, but it meant that my body and mind had the proper rest needed to win the day.

“If you win the morning, you'll win your day.” – Tim Ferriss

Morning routines are one of the pillars to having a successful day. We know that many well-known innovators and leaders start their day at a particular hour while the world is asleep to read, exercise, make coffee or meditate. The likes of President Barack Obama, Richard Branson and

However, there were also greats who did not wake up 4am and still made an impact in society and faith. C.S Lewis for example, would wake up at 9am and still wrote great influential books that became well-renown movies in the late 2000s.

Here are FOUR ways you can create a schedule that works…FOR YOU

1. BE REALISTIC WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Often, we aspire to become the next big thing. We stress out about having a perfectly fit schedule that not sticking to it would ruin the rest of the day, month or even the year. It's important to sit down and look at your environment.

• Are you a stay-at-home mum or dad looking after kids?

• Are you living at home with your parents or siblings?

• How does your work schedule look like? Does it demand much of your time that you’re exhausted by the end of the day?

• How many responsibilities do you have in your day?

All these will help give some guidance in creating a routine that works for you. If you always wake up feeling tired and exhausted, are you giving yourself enough downtime to get a good night’s rest or take care of your physical wellbeing.

Do you often turn the lights out by 10pm, 11pm or dare I say past midnight?

Depending on your reasons above, realise that having a successful morning routine starts by being honest with your current lifestyle and making healthy adjustments that bring about success. Try things like journaling before bed, jotting down positive and negative experiences in your day. Praying or meditating can also be another way to re-center and refocus your priorities.The goal is to prepare to have a successful morning by planning out the night before.

2. JOURNAL

Journaling is a powerful tool. It involves writing down all your thoughts, feelings and experiences in your day on paper. A few ways to journal everyday include;

• Gratitude journaling

• Listing down all the things you’re thankful for in your day.

• Writing down experiences, encounters or people you met that inspired you.

• Practice ways like “today I noticed” journaling - start the page with “today I noticed”, and write down all the memories that come to mind about your day.

It can be as simple as being grateful for shelter, food in the fridge, the warm blankets you’re relaxing in right now or the people you love and admire.

I like to set aside 10mins before bed to write down a few thoughts that were lingering in my mind. I’d jot down observations from my morning walk, a stressful workday, or a cute guy I spotted on the way to the shops. Journaling became a remainder of the small details that I could miss, but later brought me joy.

I encourage you to write a few things you’ve noticed in your day.

3. FIGURE OUT YOUR WHY

Why do you want to wake up early?

Who do you want to influence?

What are you trying to change?

Simon Sinek author of the book Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Finding Purpose for You and Your Team, writes that it is only when you understand your “why” (or your purpose) that you’ll be more capable of pursuing the things that give you fulfilment (link this). Finding your WHY gives you clarity, meaning and fulfilment in your next move or career.

Read more: https://www.developgoodhabits.com/your-why/

4. EAT THE FROG

Eat the Frog productivity tool has been used widely to those struggling with procrastinating, lack of motivation or the energy to get most of their priorities done.

According to Brian Tracy, Eat The Frog tactic is something that should be implemented first thing in the morning. A technique that delivers an important message, that if people wish to be successful in their lives, then they must take immediate, and necessary actions without overthinking too much.

A few ways to make use of this effective tool is by taking small steps/essentially daily habits to your day. Gradually completing a huge task and breaking it down into small manageable tasks is one way to eat the frog without feeling overwhelmed by it.

I practice this technique in my work schedule and fitness routine. I’m not one to exercise at the end of my day or in between, so I set a reminder every morning to work out before work.

You could have an assignment due, or an important email to send and by using this technique, you can focus your energy on getting those things out of the way first.

What’s your frog? I challenge you to prioritise it first in your day.

By doing these 3 things, you can create a schedule that’s fulfilling and exciting for you. Rather than compare your routine to others, why not create something that will work for you, give you peace of mind and find fulfilment in your day.

How else do you stick to your morning routine?