How To Supercharge Your Morning Routine
You wake up in a panic 45 minutes after your (last) alarm rang. You look at the clock with dread (yes, you’re late again). You jump out of bed, put on the first clothes you can find, brush your teeth and try to make yourself presentable, grab a granola bar from the kitchen, and run to your car.
Does that sound like a typical morning for you?
Sure, it would be nice to wake up early. That’s something that school teachers do, or high-tech CEOs. You’re just a regular student / accountant / engineer / artist. You don’t have the superhuman ability to wake up at an ungodly 5 or 6am. So you make do, you figure. After all, other people also show up to work late. You’re not the only one who grits through the day on caffeine and prayer. You’re doing alright, you figure.
I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to settle for anything less than a great morning. Your morning routine should be something you look forward to, something that encourages you to go to bed early. You should have an intentional morning routine that gives you enough time to warm up your body and mind, and prepare you for the long day ahead.
I’m not here to tell you that you have to wake up at 5am every day. Your ideal wakeup time depends on your job and your preferences. Maybe you need extra time to get a good workout or shower in, maybe you don’t. Either way, I am here to tell you about the most critical components of a morning routine that will supercharge your early hours.
Get Ready
This first part is simple — brush your teeth, put on your contacts, do your skincare routine, get dressed. Do whatever else you need to do, so that you feel ready to tackle the rest of your day.
Enrichment
You don’t want to rush off to work or school first thing in the morning. In order to be fully awake mentally and ready to do your best work, you want to do something that is a little mentally stimulating during your morning routine. Reading a book, listening to an audiobook, listening to a podcast, looking over the news, doing an online class, playing a word game or puzzle. Anything goes, as long as it requires some intellectual effort. Don’t do anything overly strenuous — you are just warming up your brain for the main part of your day. Feel free to do the enrichment portion at the same time as you get ready, eat breakfast, or do your movement. You don’t have to be paying 100% attention to your chosen activity.
Breakfast
Figure out 2 or 3 breakfasts that are simple to make, filling, and tasty. Some ideas include oatmeal, eggs, bread, avocado, fruit, and milk. Keep in mind the basic principles of nutrition here — balance your carbs with protein.
Movement
You can take a brisk walk, do a short bike ride, jog around the neighborhood, do some gardening, play with your dog, or any other activity that helps wake up your body physically. It’s important to note that this is NOT a real workout. You can choose to do your exercise as a part of the morning routine, or do it later in the day. I personally prefer to exercise after I finish work, but many people prefer getting their sweat in early each morning.
You wake up between 6 and 6:30am, awaking gently minutes before your alarm rings. You feel refreshed from the 6–9 hours of solid sleep you had last night. Instead of rushing headfirst into the hectic workday, you take your time getting ready. You pick out clothes that feel good on you for that day, intentionally shaping your image. You listen to a couple of podcast episodes on ancient Roman history (a fascinating subject!) while you make an easy breakfast of eggs and toast. You enjoy your breakfast with a cup of strong hot tea, and head out of the door for your morning walk with your dog or partner. You breath in the fresh morning air with gratitude, saying hi to your neighbors who are also out and about. You return home refreshed, and make sure you have all your equipment before finally heading over to your car, saying goodbye to your loved ones. You have finally conquered your morning routine. You feel superhuman.
