Our routines can make or break productivity, yet many of us rush through the morning without a deliberate approach or focus. Given the importance, I am a big fan of the insights provided in My Morning Routine, a book by Benjamin Spall and Michael Xander. It gives a look into the mornings of successful people from all walks of life, tips that are very useful for any professional interested in improving their morning routine. Here are some of the key ideas that resonated with me.
First, the book reminded me that everyone has a morning routine, whether they realize it or not. Many of us stumble through our mornings with no purpose, rushing to the coffee maker, scrolling through Facebook, and scrambling out the door, late for PT formation. Are you in this category? Consider recording your activities each morning for a few days to highlight trends in your current routine (or lack thereof).
Next, think about your priorities and how they could fit into your timeline. The morning provides a window to accomplish important tasks first, before other distractions can pull you away from priorities. There are many examples of such priorities in the book to include writing, reading, goal-setting, and exercise. So what are the distractions that reduce focus on priorities? Many of the individuals interviewed in the book describe a deliberate avoidance of technology in the morning. The addictive call of email and social media is enough to derail even the most effective professional, but you have a say in the matter. As one individual described in this book, spend a little time in the real world each morning before your devices pull you back into the grind.
Finally, the book reinforced the importance of good sleep and the impact it has on the rest of your day. This point resonates with me as a military leader with a tendency to wake up absurdly early in the name of productivity. A good night’s sleep is integral to an effective morning routine and sets the tone for the rest of your day. Of the hundreds of people the authors interviewed for this book, they reported an average sleep time of 7 hours and 29 minutes. I’d recommend a close look at your schedule if you consistently get less than 7 hours a night. Like many military professionals, I’ve struggled to maintain a sustainable approach to the morning. I’ve been a morning person since college, but over the years this evolved into an unhealthy and unsustainable super early routine.
As a Brigade S3, I’d wake at 3:30 AM most mornings to get in the office by 4:30, crushing through work until PT started. This routine worked for a year, but left me burnt out and in need of a serious recharge. So what does my routine look like now? It isn’t perfect, it won’t work for everyone, but here’s a look:
0500: Wake up, start my morning playlist while attempting to avoid social media, shave 0515: Drink a big glass of water, foam roll, stretch out
0530: Drink a cup of coffee, journal, have a look through my goals, check social media
0600: Feed the kids breakfast and help get them ready for school
0630: PT
0730: Shower, get ready for the work day, breakfast with my wife, one more coffee
0830: At the office, calendar review, scan email for emergencies, deep work opportunity for about an hour **I try to be in bed between
9:30 and 10, getting around 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep each night Hopefully this article has provided some ideas to up your game.
The book is a quick read that can have a big impact on your productivity. Check it out and give us some feedback on the ideas that influenced your routine.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.