What side of the bed did you wake up on?
Mornings are really important to me, so I guess you could say that even if I don’t wake up on the right side of the bed…I get there as soon as possible. I choose to start off the morning well because I have learned that it has a great impact on the rest of my day. I call it my morning ritual. It’s not a religious ritual, but rather the opportunity each day to live purposefully.
Consider the impact we could have on our world and on the world if we refine our morning routines to be more than a sleepy stupor.
I originally listened to a class taught by Michael Hyatt where he addressed the importance of stewarding the first moments of our day well. He had us examine what we do each morning—including make the bed, go to the bathroom, shower and get a cup of coffee. After an in-depth evaluation, he then walked us through a priceless exercise of laying out the essencial elements of each morning to ensure the best day possible. At first this felt laborious, but it has proven to be priceless.
For over six months I have lived with the routine I wrote in Michael Hyatt’s class. I don’t do it every morning, but nearly. The days where I neglect doing this vital process I find I am less productive, focused and connected to God. Some mornings are more painful than others to wake up and get going, but I have never regretted doing it, I’ve only regret when I don’t it.
Here are examples of my ideal morning routine and the routine that takes the shortest amount of time:
Ideal Morning:
- Get Up: go to the bathroom, make bed, get water | 10 Min
- Be Still: and know that He is God (do this while making my pour over coffee) | 10 Min
- Review and Clear: Answer my “Yesterday review” questions and clear mind in Day One| 20 Min
- Read the Bible | Highlight and take notes in the passage you read 10 Min
- Journal: write about what God said to me from the Bible in handwritten journal | 10 Min
- Prayer Time: Worship prayer off of what I read and prayer requests | 10 Min
- Reading: Time to grow or learn by reading 10 pages of a book | 20 min
- Touches and Thank You’s: Touch 1 counseling case, 1 friend, 1 staff and 1family member and write 1 thank you note | 10 Min
- Prep and Pray: Look at calendar and to-do list and prep and pray through it | 15 Min
- Fill and Review: tomorrow’s schedule and Must Do’s and social media | 10 Min
- Family Morning Time: make breakfast, watch Today Show, chill with kid on the couch | 15 Min
- Ready, Set, Go: shower, get dressed, pack and eat breakfast | 40 Min
TOTAL: 3 Hours. Walk away with a card that has a verse, people priorities and task priorities for that day
For the mornings where things need to be as condensed as possible:
- Get Up: go to the bathroom, make bed, get water | 10 Min
- Review and Clear: Yesterday review and clear mind | 20 Min
- Bible Reading and Journal 1 Page | 10 Min
- Prayer Time: Worship prayer off of what I read and prayer requests | 10 Min
- Touches and Thank You’s: Touch a case, friend, staff and family memeber and write a thank you note | 10 Min
- Prep and Pray: Look at calendar and to-do list and prep and pray through it | 15 Min
- Ready, Set, Go: shower, get dressed, pack and eat breakfast | 40 Min
TOTAL: 2 Hours
I know that not everyone has 2 hours or more to prepare for the day…but take a look at what you do have and choose to optimize it. I rise at 5 or 6 each day to get my morning ritual in, and I have never regretted getting up early to do it.
Refine your morning to be as focused as possible. As Greg McKeown says, “Reach from something beside your phone first thing in the morning.” Don’t allow someone else to tell you how your day should go, before you first detox from yesterday and reconnect with God for today.
Psalm 143:8 — “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (NIV)
