Here we go again. It’s that time of the year when hope is high and resolutions are abound.
It’s the time when posts like ‘I’m On Track’ and ‘Achieving My Dreams’ litter the Reader, and I don’t blame anyone, because I too am feeling the promise of the New Year.
But before we go on seeking the perfect goals to commemorate 2022, let’s not forget the more important thing involved here—doing the actual work.
And you know what’s the most reliable way to launch you into a day’s worth of work? A solid morning routine.
Here, I quote Ryan Holiday, who in turn quoted the Stoics, which I’ll just paraphrase here: It’s important to have a morning routine that shakes the laziness out of your system.
Now isn’t that a peach of a quote?
So if you’ve never been a morning routine person, let’s talk about getting started.
Why should you care about morning routines?
Why?
Because it’s basically the same as setting resolutions for the New Year. The only difference is, you’re writing (or executing) a list of resolutions not for the year, but for the day.
And get this. It provides instant satisfaction too.
Finished your exercise? That’s one frog eaten. Done with writing? Hell yeah! Meditated? Sweet. And all that before your partner wakes up? You can’t tell me you’d go through all that without feeling the least bit of optimism.
But morning routines go beyond feeling good. It’s also the best time to pursue your actual resolutions, because when else are you going to have the energy to work on your dreams?
You think writing is going to be easier after work, when you’re all frazzled from staring at a screen all day? You think you’ll be in the mood for exercise after braving the rush-hour commute?
The other beauty of morning routines is being able to carve a sense of control into your day. No more will you be at the mercy of the life’s unpredictable challenges. With routines, you can build your own sanctuary where you control your destiny.
Provided you follow through, that is. And speaking of which…
I believe that when a person is right, their world will be right. Photo: Adolfo Felix
How do you maintain your morning routine?
As much as you may hate routine, you already know what it feels like to maintain one. After all, you brush your teeth twice a day (hopefully). That what this is in a nutshell. A series of somewhat automated tasks that you just do.
But getting used to a routine isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do, especially if you haven’t started one yet, so here are a few quick tips to get you started on creating the best morning routine. For you.
Prep the night before
Weirdly enough, the more deliberate I am with my planning, the more I get done the following day.
Sure, I already do my morning pages, workouts, and meditation somewhat automatically, but if I don’t really lay things out as if I were a five-year-old, I’d end up scrolling through Instagram and losing one hour instead.
To combat this, I need to make sure I’ve prepped everything the night before.
This means having my workout routine ready to go so I don’t need to think one on the spot. Making sure my pens are filled and paper is ready for my morning pages. Putting the mat at my usual meditation spot instead of having it rolled up in the corner.
Sounds simple enough, but all it takes is one little excuse to derail your entire routine. For instance, one day I was looking for my socks to go run, and that ended up with me organising the storeroom for thirty minutes because it was much easier than exercising.
So make sure to set yourself up for success—way in advance.
Be tangible, be concrete
This isn’t just good advice for writing, but also for nailing your morning routine. If you want to blast through your tasks, they first need to be actionable.
‘Work out’ isn’t actionable. Neither is ‘learn something new’. Instead, replace them with ‘do as many burpees in 30 minutes’ or ‘memorise two new Chinese words’.
This is especially important for morning routines—as compared to the afternoon and evening counterparts—because you’ll still be dazed from sleep, and your mind will do anything to get you to skip your plan for the day.
I know because I’ve failed multiple times. And it’s all because I had vague tasks.
Give yourself enough time
Sure, your workout might last an hour tops. But what about mopping the floor? Sorting your sweaty clothes? Bathing and getting dressed?
There’s nothing more discouraging than feeling behind on your morning routine, so make sure that you either give yourself enough time to complete your peripheral duties, or cut down the amount of tasks you have.
This also applies to downtime between tasks. Are you the type to blast from one thing to the next? Or are you like me, and require a five-minute separator of sorts to reset? Factor all that in, especially if you have a job and are required to be punctual.
Sometimes our biggest challenge isn’t discipline, but time. Photo: Djim Loic
Troubleshooting
Alas, trouble could still beckon despite your best intentions.
You know the saying ‘fail to plan and you plan to fail’? Well, sometimes planning still involves failing, so here are some of the possible problems that could derail you from your morning routine.
You hate the mornings
No matter how much you’ve tried, you can never get over the fact that you feel like crap when it’s early out. In fact, you function best at night. This isn’t your fault. There’s a word for this too, and it’s called chronotype.
Apparently, it’s part of our evolution that has served as our species’ survival mechanism. The staggered bedtimes meant that we didn’t get eaten at night during our ancestors’ days.
Pretty cool trait, huh? Not as useful these days, I’d wager. Still, telling you to fight your genetics is like saying that your introversion is fake.
The good news is that you can still have a morning routine. You just need to do it a few hours later than the early birds.
You don’t feel rewarded
Let’s face it, most of our goals feel inspiring, but the paths we need to take are often riddled with Potholes of Procrastination or Cliffs of Crappiness (nouns capitalised for extra effect).
So it’s pretty common to dislike your routine a little. It is work, after all.
But if you find yourself regularly hating what you have to do and not feeling any sense of accomplishment after, then maybe you need to go back to the drawing board.
Honestly? I hate writing and exercising. Me, the self-proclaimed writer and fitness enthusiast. But at least I feel great once I’m done. That’s how I know they’re right for me.
Similarly, you’ll want to find the tasks that mean something to you, and not just force yourself to meditate just because science says so.
You fear a crappy day
Having a morning routine does give you a sense of control, and it allows you to attack the day first before it attacks you. But life can always find a way to kick your ass.
Maybe your cat dies, or a flood totally wrecks your home. We can control things a fair bit, but there’s so much more that we can’t.
This is exactly why we need to maintain a routine. How can we be prepared for the unexpected when we can’t even take care of the things we can control?
At the end of the day, a morning routine is a piece of spiritual armour you don before heading out into the world. But there’s no telling if life has packed some armour-piercing rounds for the day, so don’t be surprised to find an arrow in your chest (literally, even) on your best day.
You can protect yourself, but life will still come a-knocking. Photo: Ryunosuke Kikuno
What’s a good morning routine?
So you’re all excited and you want to control the things that you can. Or maybe you want to get a running start on your day, but you’re not sure exactly how to start. Well fret not, because I have a quick list here for you.
- Get moving. This is one of the best ways to start the day. It’s cliche for a reason, because it works. I find it hard though, as I’m often disoriented in the mornings. But exercising early instead of during the afternoon provides me with a much stronger boost, for some reason.
- Work out your thoughts. I’ve found Julia Cameron’s morning pages to be an indispensable tool for my creative mind. I don’t know if it’s woo-woo, but I write much more on the days I complete this practice than on the days I don’t.
- Calm your mind. Again, this is a tough one to do right after waking, because how do you not fall asleep, am I right? It’s a good practice to fit into your mornings though, as it grounds you and adds a barrier of protection against the stressors of the day.
- Read and learn. You can either open up a non-fiction book or slot in a Duolingo session here. I used to learn Chinese in the mornings, which I’ve now replaced with reading Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. Either way, it’s a good way to ensure that you’re mentally progressing in life.
- Pursue your New Year’s resolutions. We’ve been through this, right? This is the best time to pursue your goals, when you’re still fresh and ignorant to the negativity of the world. I write 250 words for my novel. Feel free to break down your own goals.
Of course, it goes without saying that you should use this list as a guide, because who’s to say what does and doesn’t work for you?
But what I do know is that the only way you’re ever going to get things done is by actually getting them done. It’s just like a healthy diet or exercise—you can’t make someone else do them for you.
To have the best morning routine, you should optimally improve in three categories: your physical, mental, and spiritual health. You can add financial health to that too, but I believe that once you are in the right place, everything else will take care of themselves.
So here’s to being proactive and crushing your mornings! Or afternoons, because chronotype.
You know what else could be a cool morning routine? Reading my emails once I get around to sending exclusive content that you won’t find on this blog.
Your Friendly Malaysian Writer 
Hi Stuart Great post! I’m terrible at routine. Need to get back to morning pages, i have not done it recently. How easily I get derailed… I know it is good to plan ahead what to put on the day before, but I have a tendency to change my mind. I understand Steve Jobs wears the same black turtle neck shirt by Issey Miyake, It does save you time thinking, Thanks for sharing this .
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Well you have a busy life, so maybe when everything settles down, you can get right back to organising your ideal day? I actually respect people who wear the same clothes. I myself just put on a black t-shirt most times. In fact, my entire Instagram feed is just me wearing a black tee, lol. Thank you for stopping by as always!
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Love this!
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Aww, thanks so much for the kind words!
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Hi Stuart, ‘Here we go again. It’s that time of the year when hope is high and resolutions are abound.’ So apt, Yes indeed with renewed hope, we must first have a day-to -day morning routine to get us started each day. I have not been consistent in keeping to my morning pages and meditation routine and this is sound advice. Thanks for the article.
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I don’t blame you for not sticking to morning pages, because that darned practice can take an hour for me. And some days, I really wish I had that time for myself. Meditation though, that I enjoy. Thanks for always stopping by with your wonderful comments!
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I love the mention of brushing your teeth twice daily. I use this analogy frequently when discussing how we can develop good habits to change our lives for the better. Thank you for sharing, I look forward to reading more of your content!
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Lol yeah, but that only applies to those who do brush their teeth. When I was a teen, I seldom brushed mine. Yeah, I was a troubled kid. Am thankful that I’ve built a few good habits since then. Thanks for stopping by, Amber!
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Let’s go, Stuart. I figured I wanted to drop by and read some of your stuff – and this is great!
While I’ve been a student, I’ve always been at the school an hour prior to the start of the first lecture. Simply to get things done before everyone else starts to show up. Having that hour to do my things – homework or actual work – is the golden hour for me. I love having more free time in the afternoon!
Thanks for sharing. Dropped a follow – I feel like I can learn quite a bit from your writing style ;)
Rasmus
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Heya Rasmus! I’m so glad that you decided to drop by, and I’m stoked that you’re on board :)
It’s so cool that you reach school one hour earlier. If only I wasn’t such a bum during my schooling days. I really wish you all the best with your journey, and that you get to enjoy a lifetime’s worth of golden hours!
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I think my problem might be not allocating enough time in the mornings. I really underestimate how slow and calm I am in the mornings and do not like to be rushed at all. Unfortunately the tasks I want to do more of (continue morning pages, reading and language learning) require more of my attention which seems so hard to focus and maintain these days. So close to setting timers for myself so I can stop procrastinating!
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I actually relate to that, because in the mornings, what I really want to do is just to stare out the glass door with my cup of coffee. Which is why I’ve rearranged my tasks so that the easiest ones go first. Morning pages is a decent thing to do first thing, because I can kinda zone out. But exercising first thing? Ha! Thanks again for your lovely comment, and for adding value to the article!
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I think exercise in the morning for me would only be a walk at most haha.
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Your routine sounds like mine I can’t get up any earlier or cram more in (up at 4:30 YEA a.m, not 4p.m 🤷♀️ but could i either hire you to be my bot or microchip you and we could trade off so we get our w/out, writing, meditating etc in.. 🤣🤣 let me know.
Great post!
“Sounds simple enough, but all it takes is one little excuse to derail your entire routine. For instance, one day I was looking for my socks to go run, and that ended up with me organising the storeroom for thirty minutes because it was much easier than exercising.”
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Wow, those of you who wake up at four are really on another level of ungodly. And here I thought I was balling at 6 a.m.
High five for the routine! I’m starting to realise that it’s not something you should do just to be positive, but because it really does shape your life and will take you down a totally different tangent a few years down the road. I love your vibes, especially seeing how you’re into wellness as well. Thanks for the constant support, Cindy!
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As a beginner blogger, I am quite tired of reading so many comments and friends who comment on your blog, Mr. Stuart.
Some of the points in the closing paragraphs really must be applied in daily habits. So that this year’s goals can be realized immediately.
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I think you’re quite an experienced blogger though, with all the content you’ve been putting out.
And yeah, I’m so thankful to be able to scroll through the supportive comments, including yours! Terima kasih!
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I believe that when someone is right, their world will be right. Saya suka kata-kata positif seperti ini.
Bergerak, meditasi dan banyak lagi yang bisa dikerjakan dipagi hari. Sebelum pasangan kita ikut terbangun. Kebiasaan itu sangat (sesuatu) jika rutin dikerjakan.
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Saya pun suka kata-kata begitu. Paling kurangnya, kata-kata tu akan menggalakkan saya untuk memperbaiki diri sendiri. Dan kita perlu baiki diri sendiri sebelum menolong orang lain.
Terima kasih kerana selalu melawat laman web saya!
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Aww, those are some kind words, Erin. What a surprise to come across a backlink that has a meaningful caption attached to it. You really made my day!
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Pre-prepping is the way to go! As a non-morning person, it’s the only thing that works in getting myself to do anything other than taking the morning hours as extra lounging time. My brain does not like to put in extra effort in the mornings.
Still trying to fine-tune some semblance of a productive morning routine this year (one of my resolutions), so thanks for this post! I’ll have to try to integrate some of these tips this week.
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Lol I totally get this. Even though I wake up early, I find that it’s the worst time of the day for me as I’m basically the Walking Dead at that point. And I’m always thankful if nighttime-me had done some work for morning-me because boy is it hard to get things done from scratch at that state. Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Bravo 👏. Routines are the key to success with anything. Thank you for reminding me that it applies to blogging as well!
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Aww yeah. I believe that an unpredictable schedule is fun and all, but we only generate growth when we have the luxury of a routine. Thanks for your lovely words!
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Great advice Stuart. My morning routine is not dissimilar. I meditate then journal/write before exercising. I believe the key to a strong morning routine is actually a strong evening one. Pay close attention to sleep habits and prep the night before so you can hit the ground running… or at least feel slightly more inclined to get up when the alarm wakes you! Have a great 2022 Stuart! 🙏
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That’s such a great connection you’ve made there, that the morning is somewhat affected by the night before. I’ve always believed that tasks are best done when you don’t need to do them yet (like chores or homework), and having an evening routine that prepares you for the next day is taking it to the next level. Thanks so much for your wonderful thoughts, and have a great 2022 too!
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Food for thought, I’m transformed !
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Lol hopefully it was a good transformation, because I’d be wary of my own advice :P
Anyway, thanks for the kind words!
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The part with which I struggle the most would be not giving myself enough time. I can be, infact, unrealistic at times by overlooking all my obligations while creating the to-do list
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Haha, that’s something we all have to learn. I still see my morning pages routine as something that takes 30 minutes, when in fact, it takes closer to an hour. But yeah, not so fun when we have appointments to keep on a specific day.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Julie!
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I’ve always wanted to have a baller morning routine consisting of a workout and meditating and journaling. But I never give myself enough time before work starts to do all of those things. I admire that you have such a strong morning routine. And I hope that the routine continues to work out for you!
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While I do have my gripes against WFH, I actually appreciate not having to commute, which gives me so much more time to complete my morning routine. And this was a job that required strict timing too (teaching).
Anyway, I hope you find your flow, Matt, routine or not :)
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You know, I actually don’t love advice posts, and I’ve been feeling too bitter, pessimistic, and depressed lately to be able to think in terms of positive resolutions for 2022. But what I love about your posts, Stuart, is that you have a way of delivering advice which is not cliché, practical and helpful, and delivering said advice in such a way that doesn’t feel preachy or self-righteous. That is a true skill. I enjoyed this post.
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I grew up on self-help books, so I definitely get how cliche they can be sometimes. Thankfully, all that exposure to Zig Ziglar and Dale Carnegie hasn’t rubbed off on me, and I really appreciate you for saying that.
Sounds like a tough stretch you’re going through there. Wishing you all the best, JYP, and if you ever need someone to talk to, nothing beats talking to an internet stranger (me), so feel free to reach out!
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Excellent tips, Stuart!
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Aww, thank you for your kind words!
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New Year’s goal is mostly getting another book out. But I need to return to my routine of 8 O’clock bed time and 4 o’clock rise time for my work out routine. One slip up and next thing you know, all your hard work goes rolling down the hill and you’re a slacker again because you just wanted to sleep in that ONE time! (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
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Hahaha, don’t I know that feeling all too well. And that’s where I like to apply the ‘4 quadrants’ rule, where I divide the day up to four parts. Failed in one of them? The day’s not over, there’s still 3 more quadrants to go through. I can make up for it in the following section of the day.
This kind of thinking stops me from throwing all plans into the gutter when I ‘fail’ at something.
Also, you 4am risers are another level of morning people. That’s really what I’d consider an ungodly hour, lol.
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Stuart, I think the most important part of what you wrote was prepping for the day to come.
Time is cyclical in the Western world. When we work on things the night before, one 24 hr period bleeds into the next 24 hr period seamlessly. The two periods are locked together — linked, so to speak. We get a boost from the lingering energy the day before which gets applied in the next day that came.
Our energies, stored in our chest and heart mainly, percolated and marinated our minds in positivity. And it is a truism that without positivity we cannot accomplish a damn thing. That is part of what I like about you Stuart — your writerz voice is always cheerful and can-do. I do not know if you are an American but you sure write like one!
I am going to apply a few of the things you pointed out to my own personal life now. Thanks.
— Catxman
http://www.catxman.wordpress.com
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Oh wow, I have no idea how I can follow up to this eloquent comment, but I’ll try.
Prepping for the next day really helps, doesn’t it? I love how you put it: ‘we get a boost from the lingering energy’. Because it really is about using today’s energy to create some momentum for tomorrow, which may seem like a tiny effort, but your future self will always thank you when the next day arrives.
Am also super appreciative for your kind words. I’m Malaysian, actually, but thanks for your lovely compliment. And also, thanks for taking the time to stop by and write this comment!
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Love this post!
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And I love that you dropped by!
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This is amazing, Stuart! I can really appreciate everything you said in your post. It’s all about doing the work and I feel like that’s been my biggest obstacle. Luckily, I hired a life coach through Tony Robbins and it’s been super helpful. Cheers to crushing this year.
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Whoa, that’s so cool that you have a life coach. And yeah, as much as we want certain things, sometimes we just jam up when it comes to doing the work, don’t we? Thanks so much for stopping by, Dawn. I really appreciate it!
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Great post and amazing tips! I’ve been working on my goals in the mornings for some years now and I would never go back! Of course it helps that I am 100% of a morning person, but knowing that before my work day even starts I have done something for myself is already quite rewarding and motivating in itself. On top of that, at the end of a long working day I’m just too exhausted to do something actually productive!
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Ah, I envy your morning tendencies. Waking up every day is a challenge for me, though that in itself is great practice for my personal toughness, I’ve found.
And yes, everything else in your day does lose their threat once you’ve done something good for yourself before the day even starts. That’s the real benefit I’ve found in sticking to my routine, no matter how I wish I could rest sometimes.
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective, Juliette! I’m certain it’ll be useful to anyone who reads this :)
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Good post for a New Year,
“Actually” “doing” a resolution. New Year’s resolutions are made to make one feel good and impress others. No one actually expects you to follow through. But you are on to something, and that is “actionable” “routine.” Keep in mind a routine is established once you have followed it for 30 days. And this requires commitment, no excuses. I live and breathe by routine.
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I’ve found that some things for me will always be a struggle, and will feel non-routine, no matter how long I’ve done it. Like exercise. I’ve gotta slog through it every day, and would very much prefer not to do it.
But my other goals do depend on exercise, as in I need the positivity that comes from it, plus I’ll need the resulting health too.
So yeah, 30 days is a good time to get started on a routine, but boy do some things take much longer to stick.
Thanks so much for visiting, Danny!
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The days when I wake up late and feel rushed, the day is a struggle throughout, but when I’m productive early on, it almost feels like extra hours were slipped into my day. Now, I just have to take this advice and stick with it. Thanks for sharing!
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It really is miraculous amirite? It doesn’t feel like it while I’m doing the routine sometimes, but these sessions really do enrich my life once my day gets going. And thank you for stopping by! You taking the time to comment means a lot to me.
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I agree 100% that a new morning routine can make all the difference! My SMART goal is to incorporate more movement/exercise into my routine before I go to work, since I find it’s too easy to make excuses of being tired later in the afternoon and evening. Thanks for the great post, and Happy New Year!!
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I totally respect you if you can incorporate movement into your mornings, as I find it hard as hell, since I’ll be so groggy during that time, and would prefer to do anything but.
But you knowing yourself and picking before work to tackle your goal also is a super smart (heh) thing to do. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
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p.s. for some reason I can’t login to comment on your blog, and I’d love to engage with your SMART goals post, so maybe there are some settings you could change? Just a heads up.
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Happy New Year pal! You are never stingy with your pro tips and this post proves it! Thanks again for reminding us the importance of routines. I recall reading somewhere that Hemingway would write the line for a new day’s work at least one night beforehand so that top of yours about prepping the night before definitely has credence. I’m certainly going to need a routine this new year to get to my goal. Here’s to us all and a great 2022!!
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Typo sorry. Should be “tip” not “top” haha…
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Heyo Kelvin! You’ve certainly given me thought about looking up famous authors’ morning routines and emulating them. That could be something.
But yeah, my morning routine does evolve from time to time, but in general, there will be some hard tasks there because I’ll feel less energised during the other parts of the day. There’s no better time to eat my frog.
Anyway, here’s to a great 2022 indeed, and thanks for your comment as usual!
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I started getting up earlier a few weeks back so I could have more ‘me’ time and it really has been wonderful. I swear I am accomplishing more between 6-8 AM than I did in twice that time when I tackled the same tasks later in the day. I wake up tired, sure, but I do some stretching while I’m brushing my teeth in the dark, thinking of all the simple things I have to be grateful for; the breath in my lungs, my two legs, the roof over my head. It sets my perspective for the day and by the end of it, my teeth are clean, my body is loose and I am energized. My husband has not adopted this practice, which is why I’m doing all this stuff in the dark, and at first I felt resentful of him, snoozing away, but now I know he’s missing out. I think of my new morning routine as a gift to myself, because it totally is.
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Omg I totally felt the same for my partner, then I caught myself wondering if I was being a bit too righteous. Like I’d think ‘look at you, all comfortable while I’m here trying to start the day right’.
Now I’ve realised how much better it is to be up and doing something for myself rather than sleeping that extra time away.
And the things that get done in the morning really have more zing to them, don’t they? It’s so much easier to concentrate and finish our tasks when we don’t have the day’s problems attacking us yet.
Anyway, love your comment. Thanks so much for sharing your routine too!
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I love the idea of getting prepared the night before. I like these tips in your post. Thank you for sharing.
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And I like your comments every time you pop by! Thanks for taking the time, and for constantly showing your support!
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That’s so useful. I completely agree with you. Morning is the most important part of the day. And when I have a bad morning, more than half of the day will be ruined. I am serious. A good morning is imperative for a good day.
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Oh yeah. I too get that, which is why I try my best to protect my mornings. But sometimes, bad mornings are inevitable, and in those cases, I’ve learned to divide my days into 4 quadrants. All the good and bad happen in those specific quadrants, and I try not to let what happened in the morning leak into the other sections of the day. Has helped me a lot to visualise my days like this. Anyway, thanks for always stopping by!
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Wait… so there really is such a thing as “mornings”? I thought they were just a myth. Anyways, you give good practical advice here. You make a great point about laying everything out the night before. I’ve found that goes a long way towards making headway in the morning. And getting to sleep at a decent hour. As I write this, it’s already too late to make good on that one. But maybe tomorrow night (actually… technically tonight 🙁).
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I’ve heard this from a Jocko Willink podcast: “Nighttime is usually filled with pointless activities like watching TV and lounging around, so it’s better to sleep earlier to get your morning time.”
I agree with that. Though I suspect your chronotype might also factor into that.
Anyway, knowing myself, I always try to talk my way out of doing things, so yeah, preparing stuff in advance is always good. Also, doing things when I don’t need to rush (like the chores) does make me feel more accomplished than if I were to wait till I can’t stand not doing the tasks.
Anyways, always great to have you here, Hetty!
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When you first said “morning person” I thought…but what if a person isn’t? After reading a little more I saw you mention us night owls too; and as you said, our morning is just a little later than the true morning person.
You’re right with the morning pages. I found I did a lot more when I was doing my morning pages, so I know what I need to start doing again. And a workout? Ugh! Although I do now have an exercise bike in my office and when my FitBit tells me to get off my ass I hop on it for a kilometre or two. When it’s minus forty outside there’s no walking for me, so having the bike is a good thing.
I make my list of what to do the next day in my planner, but sometimes that planner doesn’t get looked at until, ahem, late afternoon or evening. Having 101 things on the go at any one time is not the right way to go about it, and I know that. My mind always seems to be in high gear, and I’m “that” person who doesn’t take time to meditate because there are other things I could be/should be doing.
Old habits die hard, and even though I am trying to change my ways, I probably do need that kick in the ass to get me on track. Perhaps an empty journal for morning pages is a good place to start. And maybe, just maybe, the rest will fall into place.
Thanks for another wonderful post that has made me think about where I am and where I want to be. And you’re right, life does kick us in the ass sometimes…hard. Being able to get back on track after that kick is half the battle.
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Oh wow, I’d love to have an exercise bike, because it’s so much easier on the joints. You’ve given me some thought about reevaluating my exercise tools, lol.
Based on your comment, I think you bring up a good point that we’re all different, and what’s most important is that we come up with a system that works best for us.
And I believe there’s no right or wrong to this, so your 101 pending tasks and ‘constant high gear’ could just be the most natural thing—how you’re hardwired, just as how I’m hardwired to want to slack whenever I’m given the chance, lol.
Thanks for your very insightful comment, Diane. It not only gave me good food for thought, but it’ll probably benefit others who read it as well!
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Thank you Stuart. Perhaps I am hardwired to be go-go-go. I am more like my dad (may he RIP) than I ever thought. :)
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The excuses! You hit that nail on the head! I remember when I was deep into my workout routine I would sort my exercise clothes for the next workout on the back of my door hanger or put it on soon as I woke up so that I was in my gear. Otherwise, you’re right… the excuses start piling up… “Ugh, I have nothing to wear, I need to do laundry, OMG there’s so much laundry, etc etc etc. Anything we can do to prep ourselves and pave that way to make it a smoother path between us and finishing that task is a big step in the RIGHT direction!
Great tips!!! I need to get back into a routine… I feel like when things are out of control I tend to just stay above water and just do enough… But I want to do more… *sigh!
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To create a routine it needs to be implemented anywhere from 21 to 28 days. It becomes part of your habit. 😀
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I’ve always believed that too, but there are some things that took wayyy longer before it kicked into automatic for me, and that’s exercise. In fact, more than half a year in of daily activities, I still find it not truly part of my habits yet. Still need to coax myself into it some days lol. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts by the way!
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lol 😆 Exercise definitely needs more than 28 days!
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I try to make sure I start each day with some exercise; if I do that, then getting else done the rest of the day is just a bonus!
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Exactly! That’s the same feeling I get when completing my morning routine too. I think that’s why I have it in place. To at least move my life forward somehow.
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exactly. it’s the time of day that’s all mine…
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I’ve always been a night owl and need at least four alarms, in fifteen minute intervals, to wake me up. But one thing that makes me feel accomplished and ready to tackle the day is making my bed. It’s a simple act, sure, but as someone who usually woke up late but just in time to get ready and head out for the day, it’s a huge accomplishment for the past year. I am looking into working out more in the morning and prepping for it advance sounds like a great idea. Thanks again for posting this!
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I feel you. I think I’ve become a morning person out of necessity, but genetically I am still way more sluggish in the a.m. than during midnight.
Do not underestimate the power of making your bed! There’s a reason why monks, armies, and even people like Jordan Peterson use that as a mantra. That routine gives you some control in your life, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning. Also, nothing better than to returning home to a well-made bed.
Thanks so much for stopping by as usual!
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Having everything ready in advance is key for me. I also really love crossing off things on a to-do list so I keep a habit tracker. Checking off when I drink enough water or get my yoga in for the day makes me feel great!
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Yeah! Some people look at to-do lists as cliche, but I see it as a way to keep myself on track. And as someone who’s grown up on RPG games (where there’s always a journal listing the quests you need to complete), I can see why it works for me as well. Thanks so much for sharing, Suzanne!
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I really enjoyed this post – I’m currently building my morning routine and you are right, it does give me optimism for the day. :)
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Right? And I come from a long history of being a slacker, so I know how it feels to laze around too, and I can safely say that not doing anything isn’t necessarily relaxing. Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Love the Holiday quote. Will post with the one I keep handy to look at every day (often attributed to Faulkner but questionable): I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately It Strikes every morning at nine o’clock.
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Love that quote too! I do subscribe to this line of thought when it comes to writing. Because if I don’t take the craft seriously, how are others going to take me seriously? Thanks so much for stopping by as usual!
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This is quite detailed, informative and helpful. Oh the poor planner that I am. Imma have to change if I want to improve. This is well received, Stuart.
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Lol I don’t really plan much though to be honest, other than those little tasks in my morning routine. In fact, I think planning helps me because I’m lazy. Anyway, thanks for visiting as usual, Lamittan!
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You’re most welcome, Stuart. 💖
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Very solid advice! Thanks for posting!
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I appreciate your words, Brooke! And thank you for stopping by!
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This is fantastic. I’m terrible at pre-prepping and would never have thought of that but I’m all about removing stumbling blocks for myself this year. Also the actionable goal is so important! Great post 🔥
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I like the term “spiritual armor” for a morning routine
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Oh yeah, there’s no better way to describe it, because if I succumb to my laziness and avoid my morning routine, I actually feel worse and more ‘vulnerable’. Thanks for stopping by!
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