How a Morning Routine Saved My Life

morning routine

“To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult.”

– Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

So many people wake up in the morning to a crazy buzzing alarm clock, hit the snooze button and eventually get up and drag themselves off to work. How can you have an inspiring and productive day when you are tired, probably grumpy and in a job that you may not be particularly fond of? You can’t! But that is what most people do.

However, there is a much better way. Imagine waking up without an alarm clock, getting out of bed early, exercising and feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

For many years I would wake up the same way as I describe above – tired, grumpy and I hated my job. I would rush my breakfast and then jump in my car and drive an hour to work. I hated my job and when your shifts are 12 hours long you always seem to be either at work – driving home – or driving to work.

Not an inspiring life.

A Wake Up Call

Around 15 years ago I discovered meditation. I had been searching for peace for sometime after having lost my daughter, Holly, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome when she was 5 months of age and then going through a painful divorce followed by a second marriage and then a second divorce. I was lost, depressed and had no direction. I was searching for answers and stumbled across meditation and decided to give it a try.

Meditation basically changed my life. I really took to the guided meditations and found a real inner peace I had never known before. It gave me clarity and I realised that my past was merely a stepping-stone along my journey.

I set about totally changing my life. A huge part of that was setting up a morning routine or ritual. I had started reading ferociously at this time also and found books and cd’s by Dr. Wayne W Dyer. I learnt from Wayne the power of meditation in the morning followed by affirmations, visualisations, exercise (walking, running or swimming) and then a healthy breakfast. This had a huge impact on my life. Not long after I met my soul mate and we have an amazing life. I started my own business and have never been happier.

My morning routine has changed over the years but it is still is centred on meditation. I really believe my current routine is the most powerful I have ever had. I have reached a new level in my life since I started including motivational talks with my meditation.

My Morning Routine

This is my current morning routine and it’s working a treat –

  • I wake up and listen to a motivational talk usually from YouTube. Have my earphones in and laying in bed in the dark. 5 to 10 minutes. (I do this before bed too)
  • Once the motivational clip is finished I put on some deep relaxation meditation music and just focus on what I learned in the motivational talk.
  • Get out of bed and read my Life Vision statement
  • Read my affirmations then do my visualisations.
  • Write down 10 ideas. I learned this from this article from James Altucher.
  • Go for a run, walk or swim.
  • Have breakfast, which is usually either porridge with flaxseed and a banana or a green smoothie.

And I don’t need a loud alarm to wake me up! My job these days is helping people get out of their comfort zone. It’s the first time I have had my own business and the freedom and inspiration I get from my morning routine is amazing! I really feel free and my life is changing almost daily. I wake up energised and really bounce out of bed. Life is wonderful and I really live in the moment and enjoy every second. Listening to motivational talks morning and night has been a game changer for me. There are some amazing video’s on You Tube. Just do a search for ‘motivational video’s’ and you will be amazed at the amount there. 99% of them are really well put together.

My life has changed over the last 15 years. From stressed, depressed and no direction, to full of inspired belief, confidence and determination to succeed. My morning routine saved my life.

What do you think of my morning routine? Do you have a morning routine? I would love to hear about it.

26 thoughts on “How a Morning Routine Saved My Life”

    1. No problem Kevin! Thank you for your contribution to The Change Blog. I enjoyed reading your story.

  1. I meditate every morning, read my vision book and exercise. In the evening I snuggle with my 6-year old, write for my blog, pray to God and read scripture. I’m a spiritual geek who reads lots of inspirational books. All of this has transformed my life while helping me get through my divorce. Thanks for sharing your story.

  2. Thanks so much for sharing your routine Jodi! Thats amazing. When we use our minds and take action amazing things happen.

    All the very best to you and your 6 year old :)

  3. My morning routine is…I meditate, do my gratitude statements, then listen to my motivational talk while I am on my chi machine. I LOVE IT!!! It sets the tone for the best day ever and I really feel like everyday is wonderful for me! My morning routine has definitely changed my life too. (I also have my things I do for the rest of the day, like a liter of green smoothie and I supplement, as well as walk or yoga.) It raises my vibration, and keeps me focused for the entire day, and my to do list gets ticked off! I am going to start listening to a motivational talk before bed too, makes absolute sense!

    1. Thats fantastic Rosemary! Yes listening to inspiration all the time really does raise your vibration.

      We have a similar habits, love my green juice or smoothie too and do lots of running. Thanks for sharing your story :)

  4. Hi Kevin,
    my daily routines are: have a cold shower, (this sounds odd) after brushing my teeth looking in the mirror and tell myself “I love you”, meditate for 20 minutes, 5-minute Journal of Tim Ferriss, one chapter of an motivation book/ or task for today, make my bed. During the day write down things which happend and are awesome. In the evening write down 2 things for my Journal. And i try to watch a ted talk a day.

    1. Pascal that is brilliant! I go for a swim in the ocean everyday and also have cold showers. Amazing therapy for the body especially after exercise.

      Love your routine. Great work :)

  5. I find that a good yet short workout right upon waking up is a great way to get the juices flowing.

    On top of that, a calm and technology-free breakfast along with some mindful thinking is a great way to collect my thoughts and tasks I plan to complete for the day.

    A morning routine is something everyone should have. It doesn’t have to be complex, mine isn’t! Just start small, get into the habit, and add more later on if you want. Awesome post! :)

    1. The only way to commit James is to become a different person. Become someone who doesn’t dabble in stuff but someone who commits and it all starts with a morning routine.

      If your morning routine becomes a habit then it will produce results.

      Keep pushing and grinding James. You can do it!

  6. Hello Kevin,
    Thank you for sharing! My morning routine also helped me transform my depression into a more fulfilling life. It has grown from 15 minutes to now 3 hours in the past 20 years. The first 5 minutes before I get out of bed I feel gratitude in advance for the reaching the goals I’m currently working towards. I then chant Sanskrit text for 30 minutes,20 minutes of meditation, write 1,000 words while oil pulling, drink 1.5 liters of water, exercise 30 minutes, shower and greens smoothie. I feel on point and relaxed the rest of the day

    1. Wow Lorena! That is a great morning routine!

      I used to oil pull and stopped. Thanks for the reminder to get back into it.

      Well done on pushing and grinding and obviously growing. You are an inspiration.

      Much love, Kev x

  7. Your morning routine was great.My morning routine is after wake up I drink a glass of water,wash my face and brush my teeth,look in the mirror and smile for my self.then say hello and small talk to my bird and go to run about 30-45 min.I listen music while I shower and never miss breakfast :)

  8. Thank you for this post. Very insightful. I have a similar morning routine. My morning routing is what allows me to wake up motivated and excited. I wake up at 5am, write, meditate, exercise and take a cold shower, listen to inspiring audios and read my goals and dreams.
    Thank you for the share.
    Tiffany. xx

  9. Hello Kevin,

    Very nice & informative post I really like it your morning schedule is awesome but it is very hard and not possible to follow, To me it is very difficult to wake up in the morning on time, So I can not follow your routine, Your morning routine is awesome if any body can follow.

    1. Hi Ayush,
      You don’t have to follow it word for word but you can start small. Maybe some meditation for 2 or 3 minutes to start with. You can do anything at all if you put your mind to it.

      Let us know how you go,

      Cheers, Kev

  10. Kevin, wonderful post. Meditation is an excellent habit to pick up, and it does open doors to previously unrecognized areas, albeit they’re all wonderful and exciting in their own way!

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