In 2017, I read the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. Elrod lays out the ideal daily morning routine for more energy, focus, and motivation. Inspired by Hal, I have been working on my morning for several years.
A morning routine takes experimentation and practice. This is especially true if you are not someone who hops out of bed in the morning, ready to go.
You have to work to make the routine a habit and play around with various rituals and activities to make it your own.
Elrod has six specific activities he recommends. I've ultimately settled on three to four that I rotate depending on how much time I have. These include journaling, reading, movement, and meditation.
While I'm not always consistent, when I prioritize it, there is a significant positive impact on my entire day. When I put intention behind executing my morning routine, it flows, and the morning feels magical.
Here are two key tips for maintaining a successful morning routine:
1.) Do Not Pick Up the Phone!
There is nothing that will derail a morning routine faster. If the phone is your alarm clock, buy a real alarm, and remove the phone from the bedroom. Giving in to the temptation to check email or hop on Instagram will lead to endlessly scrolling for an hour. Don't let your phone steal your precious time.
2.) Get Out of Bed!
When the alarm goes off, the best thing to do is get up immediately. Next, go to the bathroom. I don't know if this is scientifically proven, but I once heard peeing helps you wake up. It does the trick for me. Once I hit the potty, I brush my teeth. After that, I'm awake enough to start my routine.
You can do many things to jump-start the day, but if you keep those two key points in mind, you'll be on your way to morning magic.