They say: “The early bird gets the worm” so what is a self-proclaimed night owl to do?
It’s true, I like to stay up late, the later the better. I’ve been this way all my life or at least it seems like it. I can remember working on projects all through the night, cramming for exams and drinking tons of coffee in college. It felt natural to me and I remained that way until I decided to put this old expression to the test.
To help me succeed, I created a set morning routine. As I crafted my morning routine, I soon realized that I would consequently have to wake up far earlier then I was used to. In fact, my wake up time went from 7 or 7:30am to 5:30am. It was an ambitious goal but a necessary one since I wanted to include multiple things in my morning ritual. Before going through this life change, my mornings usually went like this: pray, read a devotional, jump in the shower, get dressed, eat breakfast while doing your makeup and run out the door.
Now, I wake up much earlier and even though I am not a morning person per se, I look forward to waking up every day to go through my morning routine. Here is why.
5 Amazing Benefits I Experienced Since I Implemented A Morning Routine
1. I have uninterrupted me-time.
In a society where connectivity is valued above all else, making time for yourself can be challenging. People expect you to be available 24/7. If you’re lucky, you can indulge in self-care Saturday or Sunday on a weekly basis but what about the rest of the week? Granted, we all have different responsibilities, especially when caring for children or aging parents. But even so, could you find time for you everyday or is it unimaginable?
I dare to believe it is possible. Having a morning routine has helped me create a structure where I am able to care for myself and get ready for the day while everyone else is still asleep. It is my sacred time. Needless to say that I don’t check my phone or my laptop until I am ready to work. I may update my Instagram stories or Snapchat but all the notifications for emails, text messages and social media updates are set to do-not-disturb which also counts as self-care!
2. I prioritize the things that matter to me.
There are several things that are important to me that I do alone. My relationship with God is number one. Then, come my health and personal development. Having a morning routine helps me insure that I invest in each of these areas. I start every day by spending quiet time with God, first. Then, I have a healthy breakfast, spend 30-45 minutes reading a book, followed by exercise. Lastly, I like to look good, smell good and be refreshed. Therefore, I make sure I shower with an invigorating shower gel, wear a chic outfit and complete my beauty routine. I also listen to inspiring messages and podcasts while doing the latter.
3. I have more control over how I feel everyday.
Before I step out into the world, I want to be at my best physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Therefore, I make sure to invest in each of these areas daily. Over time, this has become a habit and I no longer have to think about it. I just do it. By following my routine, I feed my body, my mind and my spirit every day. I know that if I go through my morning routine, I will be ready for the day ahead, no matter what mood I am in when I rise. This is one of the top benefits I experienced since I started following it and it is not random. I designed my morning routine around how I wanted to feel and it is paying off.
Of course, life is unpredictable and loves to throw curveballs. On those days, when I don’t go to bed on time or wake up late, I don’t dwell on it. I simply commit to doing better the next day and move on.
That is the purpose of having a morning routine: setting yourself up to have a great day, every day as much as it is within your control.
4. I get more done.
My productivity has grown tremendously since I’ve implemented my morning routine. I am more alert and refreshed first thing in the morning. My mind is able to create quality outputs and move through things quickly, more so than if I tried to tackle them late at night. I am also crossing things off my to do list while people are still sleeping,
In addition, being productive helps me do more of the things I love because it creates margin in my life. Margin is extra free time which I spend with the people I love. I can be fully present with them because I woke up early and got everything done.
5. I am crushing important life goals before 7am.
A lot of people, including myself, set goals surrounding physical fitness, learning, organization and spirituality. With a set morning routine, I am able to crush those goals early in the day. Think about it. I work out, acquire new knowledge and spend time with God, all before 7am hits.
Instead of devoting myself to reaching those important (to me) objectives last by doing them after work or before I go to bed, I flip the day on its head and do them first. Making strides in the direction of my personal goals on a daily basis is rewarding and empowering. Everyday I get smarter, fitter and wiser.
Since taking on this self-imposed challenge, I’ve experienced multiple benefits. I am able to accomplish more and reach my goals faster. Now, I am a self-proclaimed morning person, regardless of my past night owl ways because what they said about the early bird is true!
If you want to achieve more, I highly recommend you give this a try because with a morning routine you own the first 1 – 2 hours of your day. Be advised, however, that this requires a lot of self-discipline which is a reward in and of itself.
Do you have a morning routine? Share it with me on social media. Also, let me know if you want to know more about the steps included in my morning routine. Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest
