My
Morning Routine: How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired (2018)
by Benjamin Spall & Michael Xander
This book is a paradox of who I am
and who I want (to experiment) to be. I'm a night owl. In Daniel Pink's latest
book When: The Scientific Secret of Perfect Timing (2018), I'm a classic
"owl" even before the rise of social media addiction that
‘creates' more night owls nowadays. The words "morning" and "routine"
are two words that I don't feel comfortable with. Morning devotion and morning run
are some of the activities that I have tried but never stick to. I need double
alarms to ensure that I wake up early if need be such as to catch a flight or
early meeting or hiking with my friends. My greatest insight and creativity
often appear at around 11.00pm to 3.00am. And the word ‘routine'? Yuck! I'm an
INTJ or The Mastermind or The Architect, so, I easily get bored when it comes
to routine. I might change or twig it for the sake of improvement but probably
do no good since I'm going to abandon it when it becomes rigid. So, why I read My
Morning Routine? Well, because it doesn't say My Early Morning Routine.
My morning can be 10.00am and I still can learn from this book.
"The way you spend your
morning has an outsized effect on the rest of your day," write the
authors. I agree. "The choices we make during the first hour or so
of our morning determines whether we have productivity and peace of mind for
the rest of the day, or whether it will clobber us over the head."
Regardless of whether you're an early bird or a late riser, our ‘morning'
starts when we wake up. That first hour or so upon waking up is the most
crucial period. "Your morning sets the stage for the rest of your
day." Knowing this fact, I find that this book is immensely important
for me even though I hate the words ‘morning' and ‘routine.' For this book,
Benjamin and Michael, founders of mymorningroutine.com, interviews 64 of
today's most successful people such as Biz Stone, Arianna Huffington, Marie
Kondo, General Stanley McChrystal, and three of my favorite authors, Maria
Konnikova, Austin Kleon (most creative interview reply) and Ryan Holiday about
their morning routines. At the end of every chapter, there are Over to You
section where they offer advice on creating a custom routine of our own. They
give very helpful tips and suggestions that we can try to suit our personality,
profession, and preference.
I appreciate their desire to show as
many examples of morning routines from different people and background but I
have to admit that the questions (and most answers) are repetitive. At least
for me, repetitive is equal to boring. So instead of selecting 5-9 individuals
for each chapter, why not just 3 and then write remarks or notes for any
variations and other ideas. However, I love the intro and Over to You
section in every chapter. The illustrations are awesome too! Well done
Elisabeth Fosslien! Here are my 5 takeaways ‘routine' that either I've
implemented all along and need some modification or new ones that I like to try
and improve over time:
#1
Make Your Bed. "Making
your bed in the morning is one of the simplest things you can do to help wake
up your mind and gets you ready and prepared for the day ahead. It also reduces
your chances of climbing back into it." I always, always make sure –
however busy or rushing – that I make my bed. I feel incomplete and messy if I
don't do it. If I do, I feel a small achievement where I start my day with a
task completed. Come to think about it, this is probably my most consistent
habit (I recommend reading Admiral William H. McRaven's Make Your Bed).
#2
Don't Check Your Social Media (and Email) First Thing in the Morning. "For most of us, checking
our email or social media accounts first thing in the morning spell disaster
for our early morning productivity… When you check your email first thing upon
waking, you're stressing your brain by jolting yourself awake to the realities
of the day ahead." I can tell you that I've mastered the art of not
checking email early morning. Email is the worst form of communication if you
want to communicate with me. But social media is another story. About one year
ago, I'm very addicted to social media. So, I counter that bad behavior with
digital sabbath or technology detox. Every Sunday, I will off (with very few
exceptions) my data from morning to 6.00pm and I always put my phone on plane
mode when I'm about to sleep. These habits make sure that I'm proactive instead
of reactive to the needs of others. "Be proactive in the morning, not
reactive. You'll still be getting emails when you're dead."
#3
Have a Morning Stretching. "Working out is akin to doing a good deed for your body and
making an investment in your future health. Not only does working out have
positive physical effects, but it should also be valued as a meditative
exercise that can help bring comfort and clarity to your day every
morning." As a night owl, I don't do active workouts like Zumba or
running early morning. I do, however, have simple stretching exercises and
half-jog down and up the stairs while waiting for the water to boil to prepare
my coffee. I normally exercise in the evening for walking, running and weight
liftings.
#4
Get Enough Sleep. "Most
of us require between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night. Of the several hundred
people we have interviewed about their morning routines, their sleep times have
averaged out at 7 hours and 29 minutes per night… If you're consistently trying
to get by on less than 7 hours of sleep it will catch up with you, likely
sooner rather than later." For my body (I've tested it), I need 7-8
hours of sleep for optimum mind, body and soul well-being. Right after wake up,
before having my morning coffee, I make sure I drink 2-3 glasses of water to
rehydrate and refresh my body. Good quality sleep helps me to focus, increase
productivity, lessen stress and reduce my pimples (smile). "Getting
enough sleep is the best productivity hack I know," writes Dan Counsell.
#5
Read Book Before Going to Sleep and Upon Waking Up – and Listen to Podcast or
Audiobook Too. In
the book, there is a chapter on Morning Meditation. I don't do
meditation early in the morning. I daydream, that's what I do! But when I
realized that there are many forms of meditation, perhaps, when I read a book
early in the morning – inspirational books and sometimes the Bible – I do
engage in some kind of meditation. I don't believe in emptying your mind (can
you do that?) but I wholehearted believe that you must fill your mind with
empowering, positive and uplifting words (that's Biblical). Besides reading in
the toilet or on my bed for at least half an hour, I also love to listen to a
podcast while I'm cleaning the room, sweeping or mopping the floor and
preparing for my coffee and breakfast.
…but some other days, I don’t do all
or any of these 5 ‘routines’ (except for Make Your Bed and drink coffee).
Manuel Lima rightly notes: “Routines are like any set of rules. They can be
helpful in giving up a sense of constancy, but at times, breaking them can be
extremely liberating. Being a slave to a single routine can prevent spontaneity
and unexpected discoveries.” Amen.
THINK BIG. START
SMALL. GO DEEP.
