The Answer is in Your Morning Routine

The unravellings of COVID-19 have systematically dismantled any forms of normalcy that we were once accustomed to. Days, where schedules were planned to the “T”, have now been left hanging in the ballads as we try to figure out how to make it day by day with the never-ending demands of work and life. Perhaps, in this season, you have found yourself grasping for the last few straws left of your old routine, only to realize that old systems and old ways of doing things can no longer serve you in this current moment. Friends, we are in some unprecedented times. And to say that we all wish we could open our eyes and see the gloom and doom disappear from the world like a bad horror movie is an understatement. So the question in this moment has to be- What can I do differently in this season to grant myself the sense of normalcy and calm I so desperately need and desire? The answer is in your morning routine. Yup, I said it. How do you start your days? Does your hand instinctively reach out to your phone and you begin mindlessly wandering on social media? Do you find yourself checking your email for the latest news updates? Or perhaps you begin responding to missed texts and calls from the night before? Whatever your first actions are can single-handedly impact the outcomes of your day. Which is why it’s so important to think critically about what those few precious moments once you open your eyes look like before your day unfolds.

So let’s be honest here- routines are hard. There is a reason why we make New Year’s resolutions and break them just days after- the desire is there but the commitment and discipline are not. Imagine going to the gym for the 1st time in months: Do you hop on the treadmill and run ten miles or do you take your time and start off with a brisk walk or a mild jog? Chances are the latter, but over time as you develop stamina and pick up speed you can crush those ten miles in a New York minute. And the same analogy can be applied to how we look at establishing a quality morning routine. It may be a drag in the beginning, but once you establish the proper parameters and boundaries you need to create a solid routine, you may find yourself looking forward to waking up (ok, maybe not so much, but at least you know what to expect). The important thing is, we have to take the ambiguities out of our mornings. We cannot afford to leave our mornings up to chance at this point, because in this current season, whatever we can control, we should. So instead of grabbing your phone, perhaps you spend some time engaging in breathing exercises, practicing gratitude, having intentional prayer time, and possibly working out. Take some time today to establish, what is required for you to show up as the best version of yourself in the mornings. Select activities that motivate, inspire, encourage, and get your heart excited at the possibilities of the new day. And once you identify what the activities are that will constitute your morning routine, commit to fighting through the resistance. For we know for a fact that this time is desperately needed, to give you the little sense of normalcy that is required during these abnormal times.