how to have a better morning routine
This week I hone a morning routine
Photo by Aquabumps
Most mornings I wake up (no alarm; between 6 -7 am) and drink a dromedary’s hump worth of hot water. While doing this I check emails and read my feeds. Then I exercise (20-60 minutes). Then I meditate, shower and eat breakfast. It’s the best bit of my day.
Granted, that was all a touch over-sharey (although I did spare you the ablutative bits). But I’m gambling on something I’ve observed over the course of my career interviewing hundreds of philosophers, writers, politicians, scientists and celebrities: everyone – successful or otherwise – likes to share and learn how others do their morning routine. Another observation: successful folk always have discernible, nay rigid, morning routines.
Warren Buffet wakes at 4.30am. Winston Churchill worked in bed until 11am, dictating to his secretaries and taking a whisky and soda before rising. P.G. Wodehouse had to eat coffee cake and read a “breakfast book” – a mystery novel. It is fascinating stuff. How someone starts their day seems to provide the perviest of insights into a person’s acumen. Nay, their soul. We take note, to see if we can launch our days as successfully as they clearly do.
Which is exactly what I did this week.
If you’re one to trawl the blogs, you’d have noticed that a growing number of life hackers have taken to opining the perfect morning routine. They generally agree exercise as close to rising is best. Charles Darwin clambered straight from his bed to his joggers. Get out the door and move before your brain wakes up and has second thoughts, goes the logic.
Uncluttery routines are also best. Leo Barbatua from ZenHabits has spent months paring his back to four things – drink water, reflect on a cushion briefly, read something inspiring, then write. He’s even cut out eating and exercising until midday so that he can get to his day better, faster. LifeClever.com invented “The 10pm Rule” which gets quoted ad nauseum in life-hack communities. It prescribes moving tasks such as grinding your coffee beans to the night before to streamline things further. At 10pm you stop everything and attend to your morning run-up. Nice idea, but personally I’m not someone to know whether I’d rather an Earl Grey instead until the mood strikes.
There’s also consensus that it’s far better to kick off the day with your most creative work. Many writers I know start typing as soon as they wake, before they do anything else. As William Blake said,
“Think in the morning, act in the noon.”
One self-styled life expert I came across says to not “react to anything until 10am”, which they might think to call “The 10am Rule”. That is, first do the stuff that matters to you, rather than knee-jerking out of the gates to the emails and demands of others.
Which makes me worry about my first-thing email habit. Although I also read about a study of top US CEOs that found most checked their emails within seconds of rising. Their argument: it gave them a head’s up on the day ahead, so that they could own it. I guess the trick is to scan, but not react.
From all my perving into other people’s daily beginnings, two truths emerge about morning routines. First, just having a routine works. First thing in the morning, we’re foggy and slant toward stagnancy. A routine gets us moving, no brain required. It gets us out of bed with purpose.
The second, having a technique that sets the tone for the day is key. It provides a launchpad that we own. It gets us sturdy so we’re not knee-jerking. Wodehouse’s “breakfast reading” sets a languid tone. My friend Kersti, a New York lawyer, reads fiction drinking coffee in bed every morning to make her feel less frantic. “It makes me feel I can do the day without losing myself.” My mum used to escape us kids by sitting in the loo to collect her thoughts. Benjamin Franklin dedicated 5-7am to the question,
“What good shall I do this day”.
This week I decided to change very little about my morning routine. It launches me just fine. Except I now pause for two minutes at the end of it and feel for the tone, the flavour. Then I hold it for as long as I can, before I lose myself to the knee-jerking.
What’s your morning routine trick? Share!
One of my favourite topics!
I wake at 8am to natural light (I’m fortunate enough with my work hours to rise that late). When I retire each night I open all the blinds so by 6-7am the sunrise begins to lighten the room. This makes for the perfect way to wake up – slow, steady and naturally increasing light. No screeching alarm waking you in fright.
I do always have my iPhone alarm set yet find my mind naturally ‘lightens’ and wakes me right on time every day – with the help of my friend Mr morning sunlight.
It’s such a peaceful way to wake up, I highly recommend it.
I’ve never heard of The 10pm Rule before however I have one similar rule – I always set my ToDo list for the next day before going to sleep. This means I hit the ground running without faffing around for the first 30mins trying to organise my day. It really helps me alot.
The other trick I use (applicable to home/office workers only) is hitting my work desk within 15mins of rising with a strong cup of english breakfast tea. I like to work for about 1hr before doing anything else in the morning as it gets the mind-gears-&-cogs moving.
Then when I’m eating breakfast and having a shower I often get great ideas or wonderful insights about current work issues which I just poured over for an hour. Your classic “sleep on it overnight” tactic but applied inside one day! Maybe I can call it the “sleep on it during the shower and breakfast” tactic.
I think the most important thing about morning routines is momentum. If you get it going early enough then by noon you’ve done alot and feel chuffed.
Hope you’re enjoying Melbourne Sarah, it’s the best city!! Lovely weather yesterday, sorry about today’s weather!
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May 1st, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Some great insights. Thanks Paul!
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If you’re going to be pretentious enough to use the word dromadaire, at least spell it correctly.
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May 1st, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Snarky, much? I don’t think your comment adds anything worthwhile to the topic being discussed. And you may also have to look at your own spelling of “dromadary.”
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May 1st, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Hannah, you would make front page of the Dickhead Times.
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May 1st, 2011 at 3:38 pm
If you’re going to be pompous enough to use this blog as a vehicle for your criticisms, then at least be prepared for us to wish you farewell.
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May 1st, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Must be Logies week – the claws are out tonigt, LOL!
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May 1st, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Sarah is hardly being pretentious Hannah!
I agree with the others that the correct spelling in this context is perhaps “dromedary’s” but if one is pretentious enough to utilise the French word “dromadaire” they should at least use it in a French phrase and demonstrate its possession of a hump.
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May 2nd, 2011 at 6:05 pm
How about I calm things by correcting the spelling! With the non-French version!!!!
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May 2nd, 2011 at 8:50 pm
…………. Wow
May 3rd, 2011 at 12:16 am
someone got owned – Hannah.
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I USED to have a great morning routine. It does change a lot. Lately Ive been feeling thyroidy and sleeping in, because throwing it all in a heap in favor of slacking off when you are sick feels sooo good.
However, this weekend Ive recovered somewhat, so hope to be starting it up again soon. This is my ideal morning routine:
5.30am – Rise. Take thyroxine. Drink water. Stretch.
6am – Exercise, 20mins – an hour
7amish – Eat breakfast (this also varies, latest favourite is natural unsweetened yoghurt with a sprinkling of macadamias and cinnamon. YUM.)
Following by Morning Pages, 10-20 mins meditation, and prepare to go to work.
I like to make my lunch the night before so I dont have to worry about it in the morning. Sometimes I cook up a huge batch of Greek meatballs and have them with salad all week. I also like to lay my workout clothes on the floor because my thinking isnt exactly at my greatest at 6am! When I get used to this routine I love it and find it leaves me feeling my best. But if I get out of routine somewhat it all crashes into a heap.
The big thing is NOT to check Facebook first thing in the morning. Or I guess Twitter or whatever if you have it. You allow other people to dictate the mood of your day, screw that. Other people and their needs can wait until after breakfast!
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May 2nd, 2011 at 5:03 pm
like it Mia! Ahhhh Morning Pages, I used to do them, I want to get back to them, thanks for the reminder!
My morning routine is currently chaotic and I am keen to get a great one going, thanks for post inspiring me to create one Sarah
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May 3rd, 2011 at 12:27 pm
What are Morning Pages??
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May 3rd, 2011 at 12:53 pm
This! http://paperartstudio.tripod.com/artistsway/id3.html
Basically its 3 pages of long-hand writing first thing in the morning, on anything. You’d be surprised what comes out. I find it gets my head under control & all the random bits and pieces out!
May 3rd, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Thanks Mia! I’ll check it out.
I like your new photo in the Sunday Life mag, Sarah. Mia mixes it around each week. Change is good.
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Ahhh thats so funny. I just got back from a morning walk and as I settled down after a shower with my delicious breakky (that my boyfriend made – I am lucky! Poached eggs on wholemeal veggie loaf from the markets with sprouts, onion, corn, avocado and cherry tomatoes) I thought to myself that I shall make my daily walk as part of morning routine rather than do it in the evenings like I usually do. Which got me thinking about how my new morning routine will unfold, and how I would like to do things now..then I opened your column to read over breakky and look at that – its all about morning routines! Love! x
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I’m thrilled that you posted about this! I’ve been in the works of trying to flesh out a morning routine for myself, as I find without one I waste the first several hours and then am confronted with a pile of to-dos and not enough time! Usually, the first thing to go is exercise…so I am re-working it.
Thanks so much for sharing yours, not over-sharey at all but just what I needed right now! I’ll definitely be using this as inspiration for working out my own morning routine!
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This post has got me thinking Sarah, thanks. I am a big believer in morning routines, but sadly they never seem to stick (especially over winter). Winston Churchill’s 11am lie-in sounds like something I could manage! Perhaps I will start my new routine tomorrow…
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May 2nd, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Booze before sunset makes me shudder!!
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May 3rd, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Ha! I missed the whisky & soda bit. No, not quite the routine I am looking for! I am going back to a morning swim instead and see if I can keep it up during winter’s darkness. Love the bikes on your next post
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Oh Sarah! Thank you.
I have been thinking about this lately…
My morning routine is terrible.
I have just got back from long term traveling and my routine is non existent. And it is not boding well. Feeling angsty, sad-ish all day and not achieving much. The come down from the fun.
So. Here goes my week of trialling a fixed routine. To try and start the day a little brighter.
Wake. 5am. Run. Meditate. Write days list. Breakfast while beginning day of emails & design
Question: How do you give your self the kick in the arse you know you need to start something like this?
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May 2nd, 2011 at 9:41 am
I was going to ask the exact same question! It’s so hard to get up early, even though you know it’s good for you!
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Excellent! Given the number of “I’ve been thinking about my morning routine lately too” type comments (including mine) this is a lovely example of the interconnectedness of people and our consciousness which I always think is the best part of the blog-o-sphere!
Sarah, you are lovely!
P.S. Probably just a typo, but believe it’s P.G. [Wodehouse], not P.D. (Unless of course Sean Combs/Puff Daddy/P.Diddy has attached another epithet to himself and is espousing his morning routine which bears striking resemblance to the novelists’.)
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May 2nd, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Shit! Yes, a typo. I best get onto it before it sparks a fuss like the one above!
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Your morning routine amazes me! Anyone that would climb out of bed before they absolutely HAVE to in order to not be late to work just blows my mind. Waking up is THE WORST and hardest thing that I have to do all day (except on the weekends when I can wake up naturally). I love the dim morning light and the freshness of the air in the mornings, but I just cannot break from sleep. I would love to exercise in the morning and prepare a nutritious meal, but I usually end up drinking my breakfast and rushing out the door as I realize that I am running late. Is these some secret that you early risers can share with me about waking up early? No matter how early I get to sleep, the early mornings are the pits!
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Sarah, you should have stuck with Masterchef…you too could have been up on the stage accepting the award for the 2nd yr running! And was that you posing next to Julie Goodwin on the red carpet in a red dress? If so, you did a very professional pose!
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May 1st, 2011 at 10:29 pm
nooo, I just saw you behind Laurie Oaks wife wearing black and looking stunning.
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May 2nd, 2011 at 6:09 pm
That was me!
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I was just watching Laurie Oakes Hall Of Fame speech when the cameras cut to his wife for 1.5 seconds and in that flash I noticed a stunning brunette behind his wife. No, it wasn’t the newly wed Kate nor even her super hot sister, her royal hotness as the paps now call her.
It was our Sarah Wilson, gorgeous in a black/blue dress (I’m colour blind like most men) with stunning earings looking absolutely beautiful.
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May 1st, 2011 at 11:33 pm
It’s so cute to see how many guy who respond to these blogs have a crush on Sarah.
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May 2nd, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Yes, Sarah comes across as very attractive. (Sarah, you have my email address
But I wouldnt read a blog for long ever just for that reason.
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May 2nd, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Most flattered. For the boys: it was Carla Zampatti and Mawi earrings…
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May 2nd, 2011 at 9:18 pm
And then there are some guys who respond to your FB site who are just plain creepy.
But coming from a female, you were one of the more attractive women there last night (up there with Asher). I hope you were firmly strapped in if you were dancing!! (and I don’t mean your ankle)
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May 2nd, 2011 at 10:56 pm
As a guy I ask do you mean that was Carla Zampatti or is she a fashion designer?
May 3rd, 2011 at 8:33 am
Yes David, Carla Zampatti is a fashion designer!
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May 3rd, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I was disappointed with the photo change – I’ve wished you wouldn’t change. Every week I would brace myself and feel the struggle with Mia’s changing looks.
You looked great in your old photo, really loved it. I could just go ahead and concentrate on reading.
You’re always my first read on Sunday Life and will always be! Take care!
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May 2nd, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Trust me, I’d rather not do the shoot! But two pics in two years…people get bored…apparently
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Sarah I enjoy reading your column. It is PG Wodehouse and not PD ( if you have mentioned the name of the greatest comedy authors middle of last century)
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I am a shift worker and as a result struggle with morning routine. I used to work in a GP practice where my hours were 8-430ish Monday to Friday. My roster this week is night duty finishing at 730 Monday morning, the rest of Monday and Tuesday off, 930-6 on Wed and 10 hour night shifts again on Thursday and Friday. The following week I work 2-1030pm on Mon and Tues, 1230-9pm on Wed and 7am Thursday. Now that my shifts are all over the place, mornings usually consist of waking to an alarm and setting three more snoozes before getting out of bed. If I’m on a late shift I get out of bed around 9ish without an alarm but on earlies I give myself the absolute minimum time required to get ready and out the door.
I’d love to hear about how other shift workers incorporate a morning routine into their life? I have always fared much better when I sleep between 10pm and 6am though this is rarely possible in my line of work. This week I am doing a #crackofarse challenge and getting up to exercise between 530-730 every morning this week. The fact that I am up all night for three of those mornings won’t do much to help the routine though!!
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May 2nd, 2011 at 9:00 am
I understand you there – as a student nurse we ‘work’ shift about – either starting at 7am and finishing at 3.30pm, or starting at 2.30pm and finishing at 11pm.
When I am not on clinical I love getting up early and going for a walk. However getting up after a pm shift can be a huge challenge, so can be gettin gup in time to make it to placement by 6.45am still having time for a walk – so please, any other shift workers tips I would love to hear them!
Thanks in advance
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May 2nd, 2011 at 10:47 am
After 3yrs of night shift sitting on the US desk my best advice is (a) control light levels in your bedroom and (b) control noise levels – I used earplugs & a SleepMate sound machine.
You body clock takes sunlight cues to reset and thus controlling light into your room during the day is critical.
For people with rotating shifts that change each week it’s much harder as I read somewhere that it takes 1-2 days for the body to adjust to a new sleep pattern which makes changing you hours every 3-4 days a real hassle.
Also get outside for your 10 mins of daily sun required to keep up vitamin D levels, exercise lightly each day and stay off junk food. You’ll be amazed how much better you feel and how much better you sleep.
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May 3rd, 2011 at 6:53 am
Thanks for that Paul. Most days I manage to get out for a walk. And junk food… well it does not really feature in my diet anymore for that very reason. I know that the hardest thing for me is the excercise – after running about a ward that is usally the last thing I want – looking into yoga now.
May 2nd, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Shift work is so nasty, I’m a nurse also and I loved my job but wanted routine which is the biggest luxury as a nurse I think. Imagine Monday to Friday, weekends off. No nights! I changed to set shifts doing a job nobody wanted but at least it was 0630 start every day. Now I have a daughter so just having a pot of chai while she watches play school in the mornings while I work evenings is as routiney as it gets. I think having just one thing u always do is more than u can hope for and fitting exercise etc in when u can is good enough and be quietly smug in the fact u r doing a job that people can’t live without.
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I woke up “early” (for a change) today…7.45am. I am now enjoying a cup of tea and reading the New York Times online.
It’s going to be an amazing day! And so is yours
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Just saw a photo of you Sarah at the logies with your masterchef bros, looking absolutely divine. But they referred to you as Anna Gare???
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/gallery-fn8cjmx5-1226047958330?page=47
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May 2nd, 2011 at 6:12 pm
How funny! They got the name right on the Daily Tele and Herald SUn ones I think…
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I’m a very early morning kind of person. 4:00 AM kind of early. I, like you, find my mornings to be the best part of my day. I rise, wash, yoga, meditate, make some coffee, read a bit, and write, hours before I have to think about making my lunch and cycling to work. My routine rarely varies unless I travel. Mornings are wonderful, routine or not.
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I too USED to have a great routine. I am hoping to get back into it soon as it put polish to the rest of my day and my life as a whole. Meditation and exercise are the keys to happiness for me.
Up at 5am. Meditate till 5.30. I find it easier to meditate when my mind hasn’t been switched on. I purposefully don’t think about the day ahead for this reason.
http://amberstar.libsyn.com/zencast_107_guided_metta_meditation
Then stretch, on the cross trainer or walk for 15 minutes. Work out. Shower, get the kid up and sorted for school, breakie, lunches packed and out the door.
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I am staunchly protective of my morning and it not being frantic. It doesn’t work for me. My routine is very instinctual now.
I wake – usually earlier than my alarm – around 7am. Lay around in bed until 8-8:30 contemplating getting up. I don’t like to jump out of bed, I always think I should be sleeping more.
I often write morning pages – just a few pages of the first thoughts of my day. It’s amazing what I discover about myself and things I tell myself and it also builds momentum for my writing.
I make my bed, I thank my bed for it’s comfort – then I open the blinds and thank the view….ok, so now I sound a little weird right? But, I started this grateful thing and it’s been the best way to start my day.
I check my phone/emails, facebook and then get up for a shower.
I head across the street (almost daily) for my fix of toast and coffee and read the paper. I am usually on the road for my day by 9:30am.
Sometimes, I feel like I should be doing more – or something else. This was refreshing to read.
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Hello,
Does anyone have any advice on how to build a one hour drive commute into the daily routine in a positive way?
Each morning I rise at 6:00-6:30 and walk for an hour, make lemon tea and a shake, meditate, drink the lemon tea, shower (with the shake which I drink in the shower), dress and leave the house.
The only thing is I want to move to a new kind of paradise that is an hour away. It means getting up super early but also a one hour commute – how can I make this as blissful as the rest of my morning?
Help?
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May 2nd, 2011 at 3:00 pm
My commute isnt an hour, about 40min each way, but I love it because I cross the river and its so pretty. My suggestion, if your commute isnt so pretty, is an iPod full of music or podcasts to keep you occupied and interested. I thoroughly recommend Dr Karl’s podcasts on science, they are fascinating and funny, I actually look forward to driving! You can learn something at the same time too, which is a bonus.
What would you be doing if you were at home for that hour? If its reading or watching tv, try to find a way to incorporate those interests. Say, if you like gardening or murder mysteries, find spoken word books on CD with those topics in mind and play them in your car. Or on your iPod. You can even get some free from the library.
Hope that helps! xx
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May 2nd, 2011 at 5:58 pm
You drink your shake in the shower!!
You just made me smile
If the commute is by public transport… that gives you plenty of time to read a book and do ‘me’ orientated thinking. Meditate in the train…
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May 3rd, 2011 at 2:41 am
I smiled at the same thing re the ‘shake ‘n shower’ – serious commitment to routine efficiency and impressive multitasking! I would end up with shampoo in my shake.
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May 2nd, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Radio National podcasts!
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Would love to hear of successful morning routines by parents.
With a 7 & 9 yr old it is the most hectic part of my day rising and busying ourselves to get the kids to school and the parents to work on time, with clothes on the right way, hair brushed and with the kids “news” story/item in hand.
Really excited to hear how other parents manage to add some self care into the morning routine.
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May 2nd, 2011 at 9:34 pm
School Mumma, I know what you mean!
I have four children aged 9 and under, three of whom are at school. I have found a couple of things work well for me: a) preparing as much as you can the night before (ie: filling water bottles, signing off on school notices, etc.) and b) passing some of the responsibility on to the children (age appropriate, of course!). My boys have to pack their own school bags (I make their lunches but it is their responsibility to ensure that they put them into their bags, and have packed other things they might need for the day – music book, library books, etc.) and they each have jobs to do – unstack dishwasher, feed dogs, etc. I think it is good for them, prepares them for leading responsible adult lives, and besides with four children I physically cannot do it all!! Oh, and another little tip that I have found really works – no morning tv until all of abovementioned jobs have been done!!
As for ‘me’ time/self care, we also have two active dogs (border collies) so they are a huge incentive for me to get up to walk them before my husband leaves for work… if I can’t be bothered walking them in the morning, then I just imagine the destruction that they will cause to my back garden… incentive enough! Plus I really love that time of day, the solitude and silence (no ipod), it really sets the tone for a calm beginning.
I don’t profess to have all the answers when managing morning routines for a family as well as yourself, but these are just some things that I have found have worked for me.
PS I have been following this blog for many months but this is my first contribution! I really enjoy reading your Sunday Life column Sarah, and following your newsletter.
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May 3rd, 2011 at 11:45 am
mum of four – you do a really good job!
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May 3rd, 2011 at 3:06 pm
I think Leo Babuatu (mentioned earlier) has some info on routines and parenting, as he and his wife have 6 kids. (WOW!) Check out his blogs Zen Habits or mnmlist.
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May 5th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
I’m so glad someone else said it! I was enviously reading all these posts about lovely luxurious morning rituals and wondering how on earth I could transform my chaotic and exhausting ‘mother of three with a husband at work by 7′ mornings…it must be so nice to have all that time to just focus on yourself.
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May 5th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I agree Amity, the stories of languid morning rituals really are a luxury for the childless. I often wonder if Sarah will be able to keep this great indulgent personal journey going when she finds a partner and has children. Certainly looking forward to reading those blog posts when the time comes!!
A morning at our house wouldn’t be right if I wasn’t ‘shouting’ at my kids to do what i asked them to do (get dressed, clean your teeth and pack your bags) 10 minutes ago!
Thanks mum of four, I love hearing your story and ideas to deal with the morning madness, it’s quite similar to ours which is reassuring… here i was thinking everyone was meditating between 6&7am whilst their children quietly got dressed, ate breakfast and cleaned their teeth!
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I get up at 8am (I’m usually a morning person but I work until 10pm at the moment and it takes me a while to wind down afterwards so I can’t go to sleep until late) without an alarm, drink a cup of chamomile tea while I’m checking my emails and feeds and then eat some yoghurt and muesli. If it’s Tuesday or Thursday I go walk up a mountain for a couple of hours and if it’s not, I usually write a post or an article. After that I prepare for class and go to work.
By the way, just wanted to say that your scanners post was reassuring to me (as it obviously was to so many others) and helped me write a post I’ve been meaning to write for a while about moving home and heading off in a new direction.
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Flylady.com has a lot about setting up routines. On a tangent Im amazed how much better I feel and sleep for doing about an hour’s reading of a book just before lights out.
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[...] Wilson’s column this week talked about the importance of a morning routine…and it got me thinking. I used to have one- not that long ago- it consisted of getting out of bed [...]
I’m not a morning person but I do recall that when I had to get up early to be at work in a coffee shop at 6 am, the walk to work was nice.
Sunrise is my favorite time of day but I am a night owl.
For those that have shift work, you might try to find one of those alarm clocks that gradually brightens with a light to wake you up. I think it has an alarm setting on it too but some might find it a better way to wake up.
I need to get back into a morning routine. I have no routine besides a cup of tea, then breakfast and checking email, then showering.
This post helps me get back into the idea that I need to do more positive and purposeful thinking in the morning.
My only question is, I thought that studies show that adult brains focus best a couple hours after breakfast? I just looked this up & found this article that says it can vary by the individual but some of you might be interested in it too, so here’s the link. http://yourbrainatwork.org/what-time-of-day.html
I do know, from experience of keeping all sorts of hours in the past, that going to bed within the same window of time and getting at least 7 hours of sleep & waking up close to the same time everyday helps. I guess I am pointing out the obvious but a friend of mine seemed to be under the impression that sleep can be ‘stored’ and we don’t need to always get 6-9 hours every night. I think she has it skewed a bit but didn’t want to bother saying the contrary to her. I think, despite what some experts say, that if we short change ourselves on sleep, that we can make it up by sleeping ‘extra’ to sort of catch up. (but not sleep more, in plans for a future shortage.)You will feel groggy the first day or so after you shift your habits but once you catch up and get back to your routine you’ll feel normal. I get up slightly later than usual and go to be a little earlier, so I don’t feel really groggy and ‘off’ in the morning. I feel it takes a several days to adjust.
Anyway, I’ve gone on long enough and slightly off topic but I think the foundation to a good morning is getting a good nights rest. I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately and I need to take my own advice!
I think I liked the routine of a beverage and some reading in bed, best.
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Geat topic… I love hearing about the minutiae of others’ routines and am inspired reading them. As a generally chaotic, scanner-type, I crave them but crazy work travel makes them very hard to sustain. One question for those who do the super early morning rises, how late do you go to bed/how many hours sleep do you average? Thanks Sarah – your post has re-energised my efforts to inject some discipline in the sleeping-rising routine…as a start…
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I do think morning routines are the way to go, maybe even the ultimate habit
There was a time I hurt my foot and the world shifted sideways (and not in a good way) and I realised it was because I was no longer waking up so early to run and do all those other morning things too.
I wake up between 5.30 and 6am, brush my teeth, sip a mug of lemon juice with warm water whilst working all my night tension out by stretching, running or pilates. Then I have breakfast.
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May 3rd, 2011 at 12:08 pm
You brush your teeth FIRST, before breakfast..? Genius!
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Hi Sarah, great article. Just wondered if you have come across a book called the Longevity Project by Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin (2011). It uses one of the most famous studeis in psychology to answer the question of who lives longesrt and why. It’s a pretty fascinating book and is based on a study over 8 decades. MIght be a really interesting topic for a future article.
Cheers. Jo
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Great article, but for those of us who are serious night owls – and who work in highly reactive jobs -I find the whole ticking-off-stuff before work unpleasant and laregly unproductive.
Yes, I feel smuggly satisfied when I can get my exercise in at the start of the day, but it can feel just as good to go to a yoga class in my lunchbreak or a run after work, so I don’t stress about it if I need a sleep in.
For me, a good morning routine is one where I get everything organsied the night before so I can start my day with a minumum of fuss. As long as I can set my intention for the day and stay calm and focused, it’s been a good morning.
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Since having a child 6 months ago along with various other life changing events, my morning routine went AWOL. Tim Brown my beloved meditation teacher was one source if renewed inspiration and your article on Sunday was another. Whilst having to stick to my Childs routine I think it is so important to squeeze my own routine in amongst it…. For my sanity and his happiness. So thanks, it’s been two days but I’ve stuck to it and already feel fantastic…. Ready for the knee jerks!
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i dont currently have a routine, well, i do and its horrendous! i wake before 6, trudge outside in the dark to the car and take my boyfriend to work wherever he is working on the day, as he has lost his licence and he is a tradie. as you can imagine this has brought out the best in me, ha! driving with frosted windows, morning breath and bed hair. awesome.
my boyfriends father however, has one rock solid routine. i have lived in the family home for almost a year now, and without fail his dad will rise around 6am, chuck on some clothing that is never really suited to melbournes weather, or even stay in his boxers, and sweep the entire back deck, front verandah etc! nobody even notices if there are or arent leaves on the decking, but its as if it just gives him a reason to get out of bed and make a start to his day. when i first moved in i found it really difficult because sometimes he sweeps the polished boards inside and the broom knocks against the skirting boards, a pillow over my head normally gives me an extra half hour sleep.
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I have to wake 20 minutes earlier then need be to sit down…check the news and drink a cup of tea. I am definitely not one of those people that the alarm goes off and they are straight in the shower. Nah uh! I find Im still half asleep after getting out of a nice warm shower!
The extra 20 minutes of pottering around the kitchen and reading wake me up and get me going better then a shower…that can wait till Ive had my cup of tea!
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6am- rise
Shower
Meditate till six thirty, six forty five
Porridge
Get dressed
Make lunch for the day
Drive to work..
Unless the gym/run calls- that is after meditation. Woo.
Routine is amazing. I like to have more time so that I can set a relaxed pace for the day…
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I have my mornings down to a fine art… sort of!
This only works because I get everything ready the night before, i.e. lay out my work out gear (inc shoes and socks and headband!!!), pack my gym bag and work gear, make my lunch and have my breakfast prepared in the fridge in a bag so I can grab it and go.
5:15ish – wake up, jump out of bed, straight to the fridge to grab my food.
5:20 – pre workout food and supps – protein-80g (eggs/beef/chicken)
5:30 – get dressed for the gym/wash face brush teeth etc
5:40 – jump in the car off to the gym
6-7 – workout
7 – shower, post work out protein and supps and get ready for work at the gym
7:20 leave the gym. to the coffee shop – long macc (trad) and read the papers
7:45 – start work
It might sound a little hectic but because I have everything organised it seems to flow nicely… I don’t really need my alarm at all, though I hae it set to remind me when to get up and leave the house for those groggy mornings! I need to have it all sorted of I am prone to forget important things like a skirt for work or my drink bottle. I had to modify the routine to get up earlier to get my pre workout food in, but it has made a massive difference!
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[...] Wilson inspired me with her column How to have a better Morning Routine. I’ve been experimenting with my routine ever since. Blog post to [...]
[...] to have a better morning routine! (I’m a huge fan of productivity blogs this [...]
[...] How to have a better morning routine via Sarah Wilson. My morning routine sadly consists of waking up, downing a cup of coffee and running for the bus. Must change this sometime. [...]
I am a highly organised person and have always had a morning routine (can’t function without one) even when the kids were little. I find it helps me ease into my hectic day. If for some reason my morning routine falls to the wayside, I feel three steps behind eveyone else which makes for an very unpleasant day.
I rise at 6am sit outside and drink my coffee, real emails.
6.30 – wake my son for work (have never known anyone who can sleep thru an alarm like he can)
6.45 – head off to gym for an hours exercise.
8.15 – shower then breakfast.
9am – head off to work
I find preparing my lunch and snacks the night before helps immensely. I also go thru my diary the night before and make my ‘To Do’ list for the next day.
Being a business owner I feel you need to be on deck first thing in the morning, with a clear mind, to deal with anything that is thrown your way.
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Great article on the morning routine.
I was wondering if you can reference your comment that Warren Buffet wakes up at 4.30 am, I am researching the habits of successfull people which would include Warren Buffet and cannot seem to find a quote or strong reference to his early rising habit.
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
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