My mother always used to say “Start as you mean to continue”.

The wonderful gift we receive each morning is a blank canvas on which to paint our day. So, I’m curious, what are the first things you put on that canvas? In short, what is your morning routine?

Some people start with their inbox, others with a favourite book and still others with a morning run! Some people don’t have any. There is clearly no one right routine but there probably are ways of better preparing for whatever a particular day has in store for us.

My morning routine certainly adapts depending on what I have scheduled but the basic building blocks of meditation, written reflection, exercise and a very late breakfast are usually in the mix. Email usually comes later. The underlying purpose is to approach the day on my terms before being buffeted by the fates.

So, the invitation is to keep this question with you:
“What morning routine might best prepare me for the day ahead?”

Update

I was recently asked to expand on morning routines and specifically how to make them more productive. Here is my answer:

Productivity can become a trap so caution is required.

Other questions might be:

  • What do I want to accomplish in the morning?
  • What does being more productive look like for me?

I am a big believer in morning routines. I have a number of activities I really enjoy doing from meditation to running and writing and I get up really early so that I have the space in my day to get them done in peace.

I also find morning routines allow us to embrace the power of compounding.

This episode of the Time Academy Podcast explores morning routines and how you might craft days that better suit me.