On morning routines and habits that stick
Morning routines used to be stressful.
I’d drag myself out of bed after pressing snooze for the nth time. A cup of strong black coffee at my side, I’d splash water on my face, brush my teeth and hair, inhale porridge, and rush out the door.
I tried waking up earlier to no avail.
Embracing self-care, I created a list that contained: drinking lemon water, praying, exercise, stretching, reading, meditation, day planning, and journaling. If I managed to do it all, the whole sequence would take three hours.
Overwhelmed, I eventually gave up, made another coffee, and went back to scrolling my Twitter feed.
I tried phone alarms, “habit stacking,” as recommended by James Clear, and forcing myself out the door first thing. Nothing worked.
Fed up, I cut out the extras and went back to actions I HAD to do… the essentials.
Then, I found Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg.
Unlike most habit books on the market, this one is based on real science. BJ Fogg is a Stanford University professor who has based his book on years of research and coaching.
After reading the book and rehearsing various "habit recipes,” I added items from the “self-care” list back into my morning, but I did so selectively and carefully.
Now, I can truly say that my mornings are peaceful and satisfying.
Also, I’m working on becoming a certified Tiny Habits coach. I urge you to read the book and to reserve time for a free 30-minute session with me to get an introduction.