Do you roll out of bed in the morning after hitting snooze for the 7th time and sometimes wonder why you feel so shit and unproductive for the rest of the day?
That used to be me about 10 years ago. I was working full-time as a newly qualified solicitor and working crazy hours.
Then I had a flash of inspiration and decided to launch my first business.
I reasoned that the only way I could generate some additional time to work on my startup, fit in exercise and work my day job, was to wake up earlier.
And so my morning routine was born.
I'm so glad that I decided to start a morning routine because the benefits that I've experienced since doing so have been compounding ever since.
Here are 5 reasons why I think you should start your own morning routine:
Self-Discipline
I used to hate waking up early. It took me a lot of time to get out of bed when the alarm went off.
However, once I started scheduling an earlier wake-up time and planned what I needed to get done in the morning, I stuck to it.
And my self-discipline started to grow.
If you’re disciplined at the start of your day it filters through to the rest of your day.
“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small, simple pride and encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. By the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.”
- General W.H. McRaven
When has self-discipline not been beneficial? If you're working towards any sort of goal, it requires self-discipline.
Whether you wake up early or make your bed first in the morning to develop self-discipline, forming this habit will be massively beneficial to you.
Fitness First
I used to work out after work in the evenings, which always gave me an excuse to not exercise if I finished work late or I was too tired.
Those excuses don't run when you work out first thing in the morning. It doesn't have to be a massive 2-hour session.
Something as simple as a 2-minute mobility routine, a 5-minute walk, or doing 10-push ups will help get the blood moving around your body after sleep.
This small amount of effort can act as a gateway to you doing longer workouts, as explained by James Clear.
Taking care of your body first thing in the morning also helps activate your brain.
"When the body moves the brain groves."
- Jim Kwik
I also found that exercising first thing in the morning boosted my energy levels and increased my awareness at the start of the day.
Less Stress
Rolling out of bed after hitting snooze for the 7th time doesn't bode well for your timekeeping in the morning. That's what I found in any case.
Having a morning routine helped me get a head start on the day. That meant I started the day on the right foot, instead of rushing around and getting stressed before my workday even begins.
Time for Learning
One of the biggest benefits I experienced from having a morning routine is the amount of time I've been able to invest in my personal development.
I found that I was more creative in the morning when my mind was clear. As a result, I spent time learning, meditating, journaling, and doing more creative work.
These are all elements that play a central role in my perfect morning routine, which sets me up to crush the rest of my day.
Increases Productivity
By default, having a morning routine has made me more productive.
I would never have thought that I'd be able to work out, meditate, spend time learning and journaling before starting my day before starting a morning routine.
Now I can't imagine my day starting without these habits.
Having a morning routine has meant that I've found time for my priorities first thing in the morning - health + fitness, self-reflection, and personal development.
I can also function on autopilot because I have a regular routine at the start of my day, which means I'm conserving willpower and reducing decision fatigue at the start of the day - all of which made me more productive during the rest of the day.
“Focused, productive successful mornings generate focused, productive, successful days – which inevitably create a successful life.
- Hal Elrod
Studies have also shown that you are at your most productive during the first 3 hours of the day, once you're fully awake.
"If you pop out of bed at 6 a.m., your peak thinking and productivity window is 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m."
Professor Dan Ariely