“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” - Abraham Lincoln

There. I said it. It was hard for me to say. Why? Because I have "I'm not a morning person" syndrome. For those of us who say we have that, this can be the hardest (but most life-changing!) habit to work on. From learning about and implementing a super-effective morning routine I have achieved amazing things, which then lead to other amazing things. 

Setting yourself up for the best day also sets you up for the best life. The best way to drop the "I'm not a morning person" EXCUSE and build success in your heath, fitness, work and life goals is to form new habits around your morning routine. It is always easy? NO! Is it worth it? HELL YEAH! 

Having the right morning routine and working on it every day gives you power over your day and over the results you will achieve. This is probably the one single thing that has changed my life and others that I have worked with also, in terms of success in reaching goals, seeing results, reaching and exceeding goals, feeling amazing and proud while jumping into each day. 

Research shows that on average it takes about 66 days to ingrain a new habit into your life. Some habits take less time and some take a bit more. But within 66 days you will normally see that your new habit is much easier, a no-brainer and pretty automatic part of your day. 

We go much more into detail about this stuff and how to implement it in your life in my courses and coaching programs, but here are two basic principles that will change your life! 

1. GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED EARLY! That means a full hour before you normally have to. Don't hit that snooze button. The key here is getting up early enough so you have time ALONE (at least one full hour) away from work, family obligations, the chores that are calling to you, and your phone or computer. Yes, that means going to bed earlier too so you get the all-important sleep we need for recovery and growth and the strength to keep your willpower high when you need it. Use this protected early morning time to go through a set routine that includes some exercise and some time for goal setting/journalling/focusing on your goals, and setting up your day’s priorities. This is non-negotiable for most days of your week. Setting up this healthy habit takes work in the beginning (this is where your “why” will help you focus when that alarm goes off at an ugly hour!). People don’t become their greatest, healthiest selves by hitting that snooze button, or by rushing around in the morning before having the “power hour” of giving yourself time to set yourself up to accomplish the important things in your day. 

2. MAKE THIS FIRST HOUR A DEVICE-FREE HOUR! This is one of the most beneficial thing you can do first thing in the morning. Don’t let your phone or anything else distract you from working on YOU. Put yourself first, just for this one golden hour at the very start of your day. Don’t pick up your phone, don’t look at or answer emails or messages, don’t read the news or check social media. Really, there is nothing that can’t wait. Keep this first hour as a power hour for YOU. We know how addictive this stuff is and also how time-consuming it is. There is a time and place for it for sure if you want, but the first hour of your day is NOT the time for this (that’s another reason why we want to wake up, jump out of bed, and take that first hour to do the things that will set us up for a supercharged day!). Checking your phone/messages/email at the very beginning of your day all mean one thing: you are giving your attention to someone else’s priorities, not yours. Don’t let someone or something take away this special time to focus on setting YOU. Giving yourself protected time in the morning every day by doing both exercise and some peaceful but purposeful work (journal writing, meditating, daily planning, goal affirmations) will reap you HUGE rewards and steps forward towards the life you really want. 

Habits Spark!: Getting to “pro level at mornings” will become an ingrained habit for you and once you see how it changes things for the better and lets you take the steps you need to take  to reach your goals! 

Download my FREE guide and workbook "Ten Steps to Set Yourself Up for Optimal Health, Fitness and Joy" HERE.

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