I wake up every morning and grab the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up. ~Benjamin Franklin
How you start your day can have a huge impact on the quality of the rest of the day. How much energy you have, how efficient and productive you are, whether you achieve the right goals, and how much you enjoy the process.
Greatness doesn’t happen by accident. Master entrepreneurs don’t just roll out of bed, use whatever they find in the cupboards for breakfast, and then head to the office to answer whatever email pops up in their inboxes.
They plan. They prepare. They implement.
And most important – they are consistent.
Over the years I talked with dozens of mega-successful entrepreneurs, and one of my favorite questions to ask them was, “what is your morning routine?
Here are two things I learned from their answers:
They ALL, without exception, had a clear, strict, strategic morning routine, which they executed daily – almost religiously.
Each had their own morning routine, and many of them were vastly different, and even contradicting.
So, today’s post is not about the “best” ideas for your morning routine, but an invitation to share your morning routine as it is (or as you’d like it to be) and if you’re willing to share what each “step” in your routine brings you.
Personally, I change/modify/tweak my morning routine every year, although I know many Master Entrepreneurs who have not changed a thing in their routine for many, many years.
Figure out what works for you, and go for it.
Here is my morning routine (this year):
1. Wake up at the same time (7 days a week)
I’m not an early riser. Trying to wake up at 5am, 6am, or even 7am always failed at the end. These days I wake up with the sun (normally around 7:15-7:30) and have the alarm clock as a backup for 8am.
2. Drink a large glass of water with half a lemon
Half a liter of lemon water is the perfect way to hydrate, purify, and revitalize your body. It’s a good source of vitamins C and B and minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Lemon water is excellent for weight loss, the immune system, alkalizing the body, controlling high blood pressure, anti-aging, detoxification, purifying the blood, and regulating body temperature and is particularly beneficial for the digestive tract.
3. Meditate for 30 minutes
I normally practice Vipassana meditation which is an ancient mindfulness meditation technique. It involves observing thoughts, emotions and body sensations as they are, without judging or dwelling on them.
4. Drink a large glass of celery juice
It took me some time to get used to the taste of half a liter of pure celery juice (do not add anything) in the morning. Now I love it… my skin cleared up, my digestion, energy and mental clarity improved, and so much more…
5. Meditate for 30 minutes
See above… I do both rounds of meditation when I am still in bed.
6. Take a cold shower
This practice have transformed my life:
7. Go over the to-do list of the day
I have already prepared that list the evening before… I’m just focusing on what I am trying to achieve today.
8. Prioritize the list
Most of the days, this was also done the evening before. But I adjust to the level of energy I have as I get up, as well as for any ideas that popped up during the night.
9. Eat a rich, healthy breakfast
Normally, for breakfast, I have a (very) large and diverse fruit salad with all kinds of nuts and seeds.
10. Check the business vitals
Any orders that came during the night, any comments posted, any urgent messages from my team. I do NOT read any email, social media, or news at this time.
Now It’s YOUR Turn
Please take a moment to share with us… what is included in your morning routine… and why?
Let's Brainstorm
Please share your ideas (all of them or just one) in the comment box below… and let’s get WOWing.
Live fully, stay awesome,
Nisandeh Neta
Top Commenters – last 30 Days
Let's Brainstorm
Please share your ideas (all of them or just one) in the comment box below… and let’s get WOWing.
Live fully, stay awesome,
Nisandeh Neta
94 comments
I think this is something you need to discuss with my kids! lol
Unfortunately it depends the day. But most of the days, is coffee, emails, orders, labels, take the orders and take the kids to school.
201 comments
This Challenge is not my favourite. Looking at all the great morning routines, I realize I have a long way to go.
So I start with total honesty.
1. I wake up at different times. (This I can easily change)
2. I have a hot shower
3. Brush my teeth
4. I have a bad, but mostly gluten free breakfast and coffee. It is nice, and easy to prepare.
5. I read email and bad things like NOS.nl
6. I skipped the TV part, I used to do that
7. At the office, I train my brain with the challenges. I really miss them in the weekend.
8. I make a to do list
9. Then I start with blogs or sending emails
10. Somewhere during the day, I do my exercises.
I am proud of it? Absolutely not. But writing it down is the second step. The first one was to read other peoples comments and Nisandeh's comment
The first step is to take a look, see what I already did change. The second step is to think of the things I can easily change. And change and tweak my not so great morning routine into a great one.
112 comments
Hi Melanie,
You do have a morning routine and you compare it with others and judge that it is not healthy. Maybe it is healthy for you. When it works for you it is okay.
Your jar of will power lasts only for 15 minutes a day. So, when you want to change, change step by step. Start with the easiest one when that is more or less fixed in your system, only then take the following step. And you can fill your jar of will power during the day by physical exercise, dancing and the like. However, you will probably need it also for other tasks during the day. So, be also kind to yourself.
477 comments
At 7:30 am I am woken up by my Apple Watch.
Then I crawl against my wife's warm skin and lie still for a maximum of 10 minutes.
I get up and take a sip of cold water.
I eat a bowl of oatmeal almost every morning that I put in the fridge the day before so I don't have to cook it. I add blueberries to it and put it in the microwave for 70 seconds.
After breakfast comes the moment I'm still not used to. The "torture" of a cold shower. The effect of the cold shower keeps me doing this. Except on the weekend, when I enjoy a nice warm bath.
I make a cup of tea that I drink during the first coaching conversation.
At 09.15 am I have the first coaching conversation with a client. Choosing 09:15 instead of 09:00 has the effect that my customers are always on time and so am I.
After this first conversation, it's time for my smoothie
39 comments
Most of the time, rise up earlier than the clock is set at 7.00
Take cold shower. Meditate for 10-20 minutes
Do stretchings and balance excercises.
Sometimes write down my night dreams (were they telling me something?)
Have a light meal and fruit
Do breathing excercises. (Wim Hof)
Go through to do lists
and start off the day.
Task after task, don't stop until it is finished.
Read inspiring books.
160 comments
My morning routine changed big time over the last 2 years. Used to wake up early, walk for at least 30 min with brain feeding (course or interesting podcast), do yoga or Tabata, 30 min reading...
But now I make it easier. Love 1. That's what I do now. Then start with cuddling with my partner, Portuguese lessons for 30 min, (black) coffee, walking or any kind of exercise. When I didn't plan my day the night before, I do that right now, before I start working, otherwise, my head is all over the place.
1 comment
My morning routine is based on the Miracle Morning principal of Hal Elrod. My alarm (sleep cycle app) is set to wake me between 5:30 and 6:00. Most days I awake myself between 4:00 and 5:00 and stand up.
Than I drink two glasses of cold water and do the SAVERS (Silence, Affirmations, Visualisation, Energizer, Reading, Scribing):
1) 10-30 minutes of meditation
2) Read my Affirmations with as much emotion as possible
3) Visualise what I am going to do that day to work on the realization of my dreams and I visualize my future
4) 10 minutes High Intensive Interval Training
5) 10 - 30 minutes reading a book
6) Scribing in my diary: what I'm grateful for, how I'm gonna make it a great day and an affirmation made by myself, especially for that day.
After that I take a shower, make my breakfast and start my day.
112 comments
Though I juggle a bit with my morning routine, depending whether I go to the office, have activities elsewhere or spend the day at home, I have fixed items.
1. before I get up I drink 2 glasses of water together with a supplement, which has to be taken at least half an hour before a meal.
2. I do a short mediation in bed.
3. Then I get up, which will be at 5 when going to the office or otherwise around 6:30.
4. I put on my oat and in the meantime do a Tabata, some other exercises. I ground and make a connection with Mother Earth and the Universe. Put myself in a golden bubble and make a heart, head, belly connection.
5. Eat my breakfast.
6. Get dressed. Rinse myself with cold water, no shower.
7. Do the essential work in writing depending on what is the main thing I will spend my day with, e.g. creativity, manifestation, relaxation, focus. And then I put in my Ego which is telling me that I won't achieve it. Contradict same as I already achieved somthing similar in the past. In this way, I tackle already the saboteurs for achieving my goals.
8. Then I start whatever I need to do.
161 comments
Yes, I love my morning routine!
My life changed drastic in the positive way by starting meditation in the moring.
1. 6.09h first bell rings
2. 6.10 extending and flexing my back (holle rug/bolle rug)
2. wash and get myself dressed
3. prepare breakfast
5. I do some big arm movements to extend and strech my body
4. Get myself centered by tapping my whole body
5. Use the tapping energy to ground myself
6. Do some affirmations
7. meditate for 10-15 minutes
8. ground and center myself
9. ready for the day and eat my breakfast 🙂
276 comments
My morning routine
1. Wake up. Get the phone from outside the room to switch of the alarm. Hug my partner
2. Get out of bed.
3. Make breakfast for the both of us.
4. (optional) either hang the laundry or empty the dishwasher
5. Eat breakfast with fresh fruit and tea.
6. (optional) Play Quordle (it's 4 wordle games at the same time)
7. Prepare for the working day
8. Make a cup of coffee
9. Start work with the to-do list for the day and preparing any meetings
67 comments
As I am a night owl it means I must get some rest someweher. That's usually the morning except those days when I have (network) meetings. I love to take it easy. Get up when I awake, prefer not to set the alarm clock. Start with a hot shower and than have some breakfast while reading an old fashioned news paper. Check my Linkedin notifications, DM's and e-mail. I go to the office before lunch time. Have a short debrief with the team, call some scheduled prospects and have my meetings and go home around 18 for dinner with the family.
69 comments
Winter:
1. Get up at 7
2. 5 - 10 minutes body workout
3. Shower, last minute Cold.
4. Prepare breakfast for family
5. Have a tea
6. Scan email and agenda
7. Start with difficult work/ intense work, meetings as much as possible in afternoon.
Summer:
1. Get up at 6.25
2. Go swimming
3. Cold shower.
Rest same as winter
175 comments
Nice topic. It's good to reflect on my morning routine. There's much to improve (and the list above is very helpful), but I also see I'm doing much better than last year. I tried to adjust my morning routine many times before and I always did that very rigorous. Didn't work for me, I think because I 'm very moody in the morning. It's better to change one thing at a time.
1. I get up between 7:00 and 8:00
2. I have a coffee and a piece of fruit. When I have the courage I make myself a bowl with low fat soft cheese (kwark), fruit, nuts and other healthy stuff.
3. At that time, I feel very depressed and I think the world is coming to an end. I found out that reading poems or ZKV's (Zeer Korte Verhalen) soothes the negativity and brings me back to earth.
4. I don't talk to my husband, he knows that not good for me.
5. I don't check the news. If I do I get stressed.
6. I give my rabbits a treat. They make me happy.
7. I'll have another coffee and do the Challenge for max. 30 minutes (when the Challenge is over, I I'll do another mind stimulating activity). I found out it's good for my morning routine, it prepares my mind for the day.
8. When my brain is ready, I'll do my emails. Because it's so different from my other daily activities, it feels good when I'm over with that at the time I come out of the shower.
9. Shower (warm 😉
10. Bunny breakfast
111 comments
Years ago I came to the realization that I need structure in my life.
I found out that without them I get lost. It might not be as "carefree" or spontaneous as I would like to be, but I found out that when I do not stick to routines and structure, not only I'm not as creative, productive and effective as I can be, I'm also not as happy and positive and most important not as healthy as I would like to be.
One of my most important routine is my morning structure,, here it is:
1. I'm a morning lark - so I wake up at 5:00 am
2. I do 10 minutes of stretching in bed before even getting up
3. Morning shower - and now for the past year, after researching the topic - it is a cold shower
4. 30-minutes meditation
5. Morning Pages - 3 A4 pages handwriting, just to empty my head from negative thoughts
6. 15-20 minutes trampoline/bouncer exercises
7. Lemon water drink
8. Then and only then I sit for my first writing batch of time
276 comments
I just had a friend who told me about writing morning pages. How long have you been doing it? And what does it mean to you?
111 comments
@Max - I've been doing Morning Pages for nearly 35 years now... I was one of the first people to get Julia Cameron's book The Artist Way and couldn't believe someone knew what is going on in my head.... Ever since then I've been doing it religiously.
During the years it has changed a bit - but basically it is writing everything that is going in my head as fast as I can hear it (Yes, I do hear voices in my head and... I am a sane person!)). When I started it was mostly all my non-supportive beliefs about myself and my craft and that strong inner critic.
Today most of the time it's this debate between my inner critic and my advocator that believes in me and keeps on reminding me how great I am. Some days it's just a To-Do list or random thoughts... The idea is to write as fast as I can and fill in 3 full A4 pages