Having a morning routine is one of the best and quickest ways to get out of a rut and accomplish your goals. Getting up early has been linked to reduced instances of depression and depending on what you choose to do with the time saved, it can have wide-reaching benefits on the trajectory of your life. Many famous entrepreneurs have morning rituals they swear by. Hal Elrod, keynote speaker and author, credits his “miracle morning” routine with helping him heal after an accident that left him with significant brain injuries and the prospect of never walking again. Today, Hal is a famous entrepreneur who runs ultramarathons and helps thousands of people through his podcasts and books.
Hal Elrod’s Miracle Morning
Elrod’s miracle morning routine includes six steps: silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading, and scribing (writing/journaling)—or SAVERS. He suggests practising each step for 10 minutes, but they can be adjusted to fit any schedule. Silence can include meditation or praying and involves sitting with oneself and one’s thoughts. Affirmations include repeating a mantra or motto out loud to oneself with conviction, which helps increase self-esteem and efficacy. Exercise has well-known physical and psychological benefits, while reading helps develop one’s skills and emotional intelligence. Writing, or journaling, helps improve self-knowledge and regulate one’s mood.
Tony Robbins’ Morning Routine
Self-help guru Tony Robbins starts his day by plunging himself in a pool or shower full of cold water, or his cryotherapy tank. This increases endorphins and lowers instances of depression, according to some clinical trials. He also includes a ritual that he calls “priming”, which consists of breathing exercises, gratitude exercises (which have been shown to increase happiness and success), and prayer. Finally, Robbins fuels up with a protein-heavy breakfast to keep his blood sugar levels even throughout the morning.
Tim Ferriss’ Morning Routine
The first thing that Tim Ferriss, the author of The 4-Hour Workweek, does is make his bed. This small step starts the day on a positive note and provides a feeling of accomplishment. He then practices transcendental meditation for twenty minutes. This form of meditation involves repeating a mantra, or white noise. Some physical benefits include reducing blood pressure and increasing insulin resistance, while psychological benefits range from reducing anxiety and neuroticism to aiding learning. Afterwards, Ferris performs core-focused exercises and drinks Titanium tea for improved cognition and fat loss. He uses one flat teaspoon of each of the following: Pu-erh tea (an aged black Chinese tea); dragon well green tea; turmeric and ginger shavings. He tops off the mixture with hot water and lets it steep for one to two minutes.
These are some examples of morning routines that successful entrepreneurs swear by. Feel free to create your own, or cobble one together based on the activities you find most useful. It could change your life.
Nezha Boutamine | Contributing Writer
