HOW TO BUILD A MORNING ROUTINE

A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO SETTING UP YOUR MORNING ROUTINE

There are so many examples (some not so good) of morning routines that we often get caught up in ‘following’ because we think it’s the secret to unlocking potential. This is completely wrong. The secret to unlocking your potential is not to emulate someone more successful than you, it’s to understand the framework to build out a system that is entirely bespoke to YOU to allow YOU to become more successful. A morning routine is a completely selfish act, it’s time dedicated entirely to yourself and no one else, which is why a lot of people fail at introducing a proper one because they are looking at guidance from others rather than understanding what they need themselves.

STEP ONE - GET THE BASICS DOWN

Start with the essentials: The pragmatic stuff like brushing your teeth, showering, eating breakfast. We’re talking basics, non-negotiables to physically get you out of the door.

1. Grab a piece of paper, or our notion template

2. Write down everything you currently do in the morning

3. Write down the time it takes to complete each action

4. Write the time it takes to complete each action

5. Write down the time you wake up and the time you have to be out the door (or at your computer if like us you’re still WFH)

6. Working forwards from your wake up time, allocate a time for each of your current morning activities

7. Now add thirty minutes (minimum)

8. If this exceeds your wake up time, make your wake up time earlier by 10 minutes, and make note of your remaining time in the table

You’ve got your basics set, now let’s start some self-exploration

STEP TWO - EXPLORE WHAT YOU SHOULD ADD

WRITE DOWN WHAT WORKS FOR YOU

When building out your ideal morning routine you need to get in the right mind frame. The reason why morning routines fail is that we model them on others, on their expectations or what works for them. You need to forget everything you know about morning routines in order to build one on your own terms. To start understanding your terms, think about days where you have completely nailed it, or felt in high spirits or happy. Write down examples of these days noting what actions and inputs you had. If you can’t think of any examples, pause this video (subscribe so you don’t forget) and spend a week writing a diary, noting days where you felt on top of the world and specific actions that led to that.

EXPLORE WHAT YOU SHOULD ADD

WRITE DOWN WAYS TO GROW DAILY

When adding to your morning routine or building your ideal routine it helps to think about ways to grow daily. Ways to get better through marginal gains but also things that will help with your day. Three main areas to think about adding to your morning routine are Mindfulness – affirmations, meditation, mindfulness practices, breath practices, gratitude practices, Movement – exercise, stretching, walking Mastery – learning, reading, practicing, consuming content Keep the same mind frame here as in part one, don’t assume because some people head to the gym at 6 am that’s the ‘right’ way to do things. Movement to you could be wriggling your toes as you get out of bed, or greeting the sun with a dance. Keep YOU in the centre of your brainstorming.

STRESS TEST WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN

Now you should have juicy list or little brainstorm of things that can be beneficial to your day if you add them to your morning routine. Now you need to compare and check everything you’ve written down. This is for two reasons: 1. To ensure you’re not overcomplicating things, enabling you to remove things that don’t apply to your 2. To understand the why behind each thing you want to and ensure it’s tailored to you and promotes your growth, So for everything that you’ve written down, cross off anything that feels outside of your personal growth, or something for someone else or an expectation over a true need. From anything left, write down why this serves you, your day, or your future goals. If there isn’t a why remove it from your list.

STEP THREE - ADD TO YOUR BASICS

Start with the simplest step, one habit or the smallest iteration possible, Now you have your list, and you have your essentials morning routine. In the basic routine, you should have a 30-minute space in which to play around with. Now you need to start with the simplest step. The reason why so many morning routines fail is that everyone tries to do all of the things all of the time. The small, 1% change is what wins, so even if it feels elementary, or that you’re beyond it already, start with the smallest step, simplest habit, or easiest iteration as possible. Tiny tiny steps, the smaller the better. It’s about gradual change not overhauling your life. Add that small step into your template and commit to it for the next 30 days.

STEP FOUR - EXECUTE

The key to a successful morning routine is consistency. Now you’ve added your one thing, commit to doing your basics plus your additional thing for a full month. If you have successfully integrated your tiny step within 14 days, you can look to add a second, but you shouldn’t introduce a new habit or portion to your morning routine until your current routine is natural, almost subconscious and definitely serves you. Each time you get add something new to your morning routine, remember small, sustainable steps. Give yourself a check in point every 30 days, use this to recalibrate, add new things, take away anything that isn’t serving you and ensure that your morning routine is all on your own terms.

Use this framework to not only build out your morning routine, but also to add to it when you’re working on your goals, achievements or simply something new you fancy trying.