Set Yourself Up For Success: An In-Depth Look into My morning routine
I never thought I’d ever want— or even stick to— a structured morning routine. But the truth is, once I created my own, I never looked back!
So, how did I go from sleeping in every chance I got to waking up at the crack of dawn to seize the day?
Here’s the truth: Growth requires stepping outside of your comfort zone, but the key is taking it one step at a time so you don’t become overwhelmed. After I decided I wanted better for myself to elevate my life, I knew some serious changes would have to happen. Slowly but surely, I pushed myself beyond my limits, and it’s been so worth it.
After tuning in on a Tony Robbins’ UPW conference, I made the decision to do the things that felt hard initially, but would be very rewarding in the long run. I learned the importance of having a SOLID morning routine —when I take the time to start my day intentionally, it drastically increases my likelihood of staying productive and actually following through with my tasks. For someone like me who struggles to stay focused, this was a game-changer!
Another big shift? Moving my Bible and prayer time to the morning instead of right before before I went to bed. I’ll admit— I used to fall asleep during my prayers before I could even finish them! I realized that in order to truly give God the time He deserves, I needed to make time for Him in my mornings so I wouldn’t rush.
That being said, I only stick to my structured routine on weekdays, because I love my slow, relaxed weekends (without an alarm!). I still like to wake up between 7 and 9am, start my day with Bible and prayer, and walk outside. But, I’ve also learned that flexibility is so important for my mental well-being!
Now, let’s be real. Initially, waking up at 5:30am was NOT easy. I hit snooze for the first few weeks and felt like I was all over the place. I almost gave up at one point, too. But eventually, I made the choice to just do it. And while I still have my off days, this routine has truly been effective and helped me stay on track.
The secret to a good morning routine? It actually begins the night before! I aim to be in bed by 9:30-10pm, making sure I get a solid 7.5-8 hours of sleep! It used to be a struggle because all I wanted to do was scroll after I got home from work. But now, I know how GOOD I feel after I get a full night’s rest night before— and honestly, that feeling alone is enough to make me choose differently!
I love waking up at 5:30am so I can “seize the day”, inspired by the Proverbs 31 woman. Rising early gives me a head start, and honestly, it feels like a life hack!
The first thing I do after getting up is head downstairs and grab my Bible and my prayer journal. I try to avoid looking at my phone or scrolling social medias until I’ve given my time to God. Prioritizing Him FIRST has been such a game-changer for me! I usually spend about 20-25 minutes before moving on to the next part of my morning .
Next, I jump into a short, low-impact workout I created for myself. They aren’t hard on my body, only take around 20 minutes, and helps me set the tone for the day. I aim to do this 3-5 times a week, but I also keep my exercises flexible— some days, it’s a quick at-home session, a walk outside, or simply moving around the house with my weighted vest. As time goes on, I realize that exercise doesn’t have to be complicated, as long as I am moving my body!
I wait to make my bed until after I’ve worked out and showered so I can maximize my morning window between 5:30 and 7am. But making my bed is definitely a priority— I just can’t stand sleeping in an unmade bed! Maybe it’s just me, but it makes me feel like I’ve “got it together”. They say if you want to accomplish big things, start by making your bed each day, and I completely agree!
After that, I will either take an early morning walk, lounge for a few minutes or dive right in to my work. At some point before 9am, I will grab breakfast, and by 7am I am FULLY ready to take on the day!
As mentioned earlier, I enjoy sleeping in on weekends whenever possible (but no later than 9am). Looking back at the days when I use to sleep in until noon, I can’t help but feel I wasted so much time. Now, I love how refreshing and productive my mornings feel!
LINKS
My weighted vest: