A GOOD MORNING HABIT!!! I CAN DO THIS!!!!

Developing a daily routine – part I – morning

Many parts of our lives fall into place as habits.  Habits are defined as: “a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up”. 

There is some minor disagreement on how long it takes to make a habit.  A generally accepted number is 21 days, but in a 2014 study of making habits, it ranged from 20 days to 84 days (which was the length of the study). 

Some habits might be easier and others harder to make and to become part of a routine.

Today I want us to create new habits for the morning. 

My list of morning habits:

• -          Wake without an alarm.  I regularly wake at 5:30 a.m. – no alarm, and really almost instantly fully awake.
• -          Immediately getting out of bed; stretch fully, vigorously stretch arms, swing arms to get blood circulating.  If your partner is still asleep do this quietly, but if they are awake – or you live along – with the stretch, loudly proclaim “I am READY for this day!!!”  “I WILL NAIL this day!!!” The stretch helps the body, the loud affirming helps the brain, the psyche, and the spirit.  DO IT!!
• -          Of course regular hygiene habits (teeth brushing, shaving, showering, toilet usage
• -           Eat breakfast.  You have heard the experts say breakfast is the most important meal of the day – so do it.  I have three standard breakfasts – oatmeal (from rolled oats, raisins, spices (cinnamon, ground clove, fresh ground nutmeg, all spice, vanilla, sea salt and stevia (natural sugar); or fried eggs – two over hard with garlic salt, other spices, and with American cheese; or cold cereal.  I tend to do the first two more as I think cold boxed cereal has more sugar and less nutrition.
• -          Some quick exercise – for me that is 30 sit-ups and 20 push-ups.
• -          Going through my affirmations
• -          Have some quiet time – time for prayer, reflection, scripture reading, motivational reading, podcasts or blogs.  (Subscribing to blog posts can help this).
• -          Appropriate cleaning (shower, shave, toilet usage)
• -          Appropriate clothing
• -          A final LOUD affirmation “I am READY for this day!!!”  “I WILL NAIL this day!!!” (or similar) and
• -          Out the door – with a huge smile, a ready attitude and the confidence you CAN make this one of the greatest days of your life!!!

Assignment:

So what is your morning habit?  Is it working?  Is it similar to the above?

Are you approaching your day with GUSTO?