Who the fuck gives a shit about your morning routine? If that's your thought then stop reading now but if you relish success, crave productivity, want to always learn and desire to wake up each day and piss excellence (sorry for the Talladega Nights reference) then read on. The reason I'm writing this is because I want to see other people succeed whether it's in business, health, emotionally, spiritually or whatever. If any of what I've used to find some success can be shared to enhance other people's lives I will.
I've been chasing sunrises for almost three decades now and what I now know is that how you approach each morning can set up your whole day in many ways. If you want to learn how to be more motivated, positive, emotionally stable and healthier then keep reading.
Twenty five years ago my morning routine was pretty much non existent as I didn't even know the intense benefits of having, what I call, an Optimized Morning Routine (OMR). It was pretty much wake up, coffee, bowl of oatmeal, answer emails and then go try to smash a training session. Then 10-15 years ago that void in understanding how to prepare my mind and body for the day was still absent. By then I was still a sugar addict relying on oats, waffles or toast all with some type of sugar plus sugar in my coffee to start the day. There was no attention to where my mind was, what state my emotions were in or appreciation for anything in my life. At this point I had fully transitioned to working in a relatively normal 9-5 type of role but still training something each morning. Physically, I was on a sugar roller coaster so I had to have some type of energy gel, sugary food or drink within 30 minutes of exercise or I would crash. Emotionally I was in a happier and more aware place but not putting anything into practice to help me grow in all ways.
Then I watched Admiral William McRaven's Commencement Speech (https://youtu.be/pxBQLFLei70?si=tIB2SZZgbylVOtFW) and it shed some light onto a morning routine. I've since read his amazing book, Sea Stories and can't recommend it enough.
A bit over two years ago I suffered a massive let down after going thru a divorce and loss of a job. Emotionally it was heartbreaking and I was in pieces, crushed in all ways. I had two choices at this time. The first was to stay in pieces and go down an ugly road making dangerous and terrible choices. I had seen this film earlier in my life and didn't like it! I was close to this! The second was to do everything I can to be a better person, healthier person, more successful, aware and grateful person. And it all started every morning with how I began the day!
As I was going through this thinking I started to reflect. Don't worry I'm getting to my OMR in a moment. Bear with me. It led me to look at my life from 50K feet and at all aspects. I heard how journaling was helpful after going through trauma so I bought a great journal off amazon which guides you how to think and what to write. I liked it!! I started each morning with journaling and now that I was alone for the first hour of the day I had time to deeply reflect and think. I loved the journal so much I have gifted them to many friends.
I then started reading about how to get off the sugar addiction, benefits of morning breath work and how to prime the body for exercise. One of the key books I consumed was Tools of the Titans by Tim Ferriss. It is one of the top the books I've read in my life and motivated me and educated me in countless ways. If I wanted to rebuild myself in a better way, be more successful, happier, have more energy, motivation and be even healthier I needed to try new things. And it started every morning!
So here's what my OMR looks like and the order does change but every part of it is purposeful.
Bulletproof coffee- I finally got off the sugar bomb by using the bulletproof coffee method which I knew about for years but couldn't get my head around doing it until I really needed it. 8 ounces brewed coffee, 1 tablespoon grass fed butter, 1 tablespoon MCT oil and two droppers of Lyfe Cykle Mushroom extract. I never thought I'd be able to run 10K or cycle 2 hours or more without having a huge breakfast but here we are. It works!
No answering emails. I just don't. I'm not thinking clearly and invariably I'd make a mistake or not respond in the best way possible.
Journaling- I incorporated some of the suggestions from the Tools of the Titans book which includes: Something simple I appreciate. Three things I'm grateful for (every single day I write my daughters health). Today would be great if__________________. Three positive affirmations and then the rest is my current state of mind.
10-15 minutes of learning. Usually it is a language course. I'm studying French now. Magnifique!
15-20 pushups. Easy to do but it's the discipline part I like plus it's great to prime the body for exercise.
:30-:60 ice cold shower- This is the hardest part but I breathe through it and it definitely wakes me up. Plus it makes me uncomfortable and I FIRMLY believe in doing things which are uncomfortable every day. Don't shy away from them, embrace them.
Six deep breaths. I make these slow and stay centered during the work. It takes just a minute or so but it fells so good.
Make the bed. Thanks Admiral!
Exercise. Usually it's a run, cycling session or strength or combination. You can take the boy out of sport but you can't take the sport out of the boy I guess. This is my active meditation. I get so much great thinking done, planning, strategizing and mostly it's for business. So if you see me standing on the side of the road sweaty, panting and tapping away at my phone it's becuase I had an idea and am writing it down or texting my team. I always come up with gems when I exercise.
There you have it. How you do anything is how you do everything. If you're looking to be better it starts with how you start your day. If you liked any of this I suggest incorporating just one or two of these somehow and see how you feel. Do you feel more accomplished and motivated? I'm sure this routine will change over time and I stay open minded to trying new things. Not to be overly dramatic but now at this stage of life I not only chase sunrises but am starting to think about the sun setting.
Comentários