Millionaires know plenty about the power of mornings. They know that the first twenty minutes to 2 hours after waking is the time when their subconscious mind is most present.  Most creative. And in those first moments everything that happens next matters, from developing the Apple computer to the Tesla electric car. Creative solutions flow from morning routines.

That’s why all successful people create and follow a morning routine, and stick to it like white on rice. The Steve Jobs of the world track down the creative edge, doing everything they can to seize a random idea and mix it with other ideas already existing in their human mental structure. (The RIG – Random Ideas Generator – exists in the subconscious mind). 

Optimizing those precious 20 minutes to 2 hours into a Millionaire’s Morning of your own promises unbridled creativity. Are you ready for that? 

I’ve created a morning routine of my own which has lead to surprising outcomes for me, from improved sleep, a calmer presence in my life, an ability to observe rather than react to situations and biggest of all, an enormous desire to write. Lean on these proven habits to get your morning routine going. 

I call it my Create before You Consume Morning Routine.  The only reason you may require your cell phone is to play your meditation music, otherwise put it far away from you. Do not open any messages!

HYDRATE – (drink 500 – 1000 ml water)

A stunningly effective and may I say, inexpensive way to shed pounds and increase wellness is to drink more water.   Not only is water still the #1 nutritional deficiency in the world, but you are definitely dehydrated after a long nights’ sleep. Replacing the water you’ve lost during sleep is a powerful way to initiate wellness into your day.

I start my day with a big S’well bottle full of water and drink it down before I get out of bed.  You’d be surprised what flushes out of you with this small, practical step.

MEDITATE – (15-20 minutes)

There are just too many reasons not to meditate! From heightening creativity to boosting energy, calming anxiety and decreasing depression, to reducing blood pressure and more, meditation is the self-care practice of the moment.  Do it and you’ll benefit in ways you can’t imagine. 

I practice a 20 minute unguided meditation every morning as soon as I awaken.  I do it again at bedtime. It’s taken me some time to get to a full 20 minute or more unspoken meditation.  That’s a long time to sit in quiet, asking your mind to be still!  

You can start with an easier 10 minute guided version on Headspace.  That’s where I started too. The free 30 day trial gives you just enough time to want more.  I strongly encourage this practice, daily! 

CREATE – Journal immediately for 10 – 15 minutes 

It’s when you put thought to paper that you make powerful connections to what’s going on in your brain and connect with who you truly are.  Writing boosts cognitive function and memory, reduces mind clutter by freeing up mental real estate, reduces stress and makes you a creative genius.  

The key to journaling is to allow your thoughts to flow freely, without edits, onto paper.  Journaling need not be another stressful activity but one that can absolutely create calm out of chaos. 

EDUCATE – Read for 15-30 minutes to feed your brain

I’m a big fan of Eating Clean as you know, but what are you feeding your brain?  In those early hours after waking, give your brain the opportunity to consume enriching materials through reading. This might include personal growth books, blogs from people you admire you up your game, podcasts and other reading materials.  

I’m always writing about books I love and will drop those titles for you.  You can start with Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Biology of Belief by Dr. Bruce Lipton and Power vs Force by Dr. David Hawkins.  Each of these has powerfully shaped my new way of being.

Speaking of blogs, I follow Dr. Benjamin Hardy who has helped me perfect my morning routine greatly through his Morning Routine Checklist. I found that when I reviewed his suggestions for a morning routine I was already doing many of them but added a few nuggets too.  I’m still trying to love the freezing cold shower!

 

OPERATE – Process what you’ve learned

This part of my morning routine involves actively thinking about what I’ve just read. For example if I’ve read a great quote like this one:

“If I fail more than you, I win.” Seth Godin

I feel motivated to immediately go ahead and potentially fail at something just by trying something new.  I don’t mind if I don’t get it right the first time because I know that you have to fail a few times before you get to success. If someone as successful as Seth Godin did it, I can too.

More importantly, it’s not just a matter of reading something, it’s also about working with that information and putting into practice.  Take that amazing quote you just read and practice it on someone. Share your newfound learning with your family and friends. Actively make an effort to utilize the information your brain just acquired.

 

CULTIVATE – Nourish wellness in your mind and body.

Eating Clean provides your body and mind with the information your need to thrive.  Food is information for your cells.  Food contains the materials every cell needs to function properly and thrive.  From vitamins to minerals, enzymes to coenzymes, each component is a critical piece in the machinery that drives a fully functioning body.  Your body!

For that reason I consider every meal an opportunity to inject good information into my body.  There is never a time that I sit and cry about not being able to have potato chips. Instead I picture the inside of my blood vessels, my pancreas, my heart and think of what nutrients those structures need to operate at their best.  Then I power up on several cups of vegetables, rich fatty acids and other goodness that I know nourishes me deeply.

And once in a while I have some chips. 😉 

INITIATE ACTION – Move your physical body 

It’s easy to get it all wrong when it comes to exercise because the cliches that pop into your mind will scare you – big beefy gorillas and masculine looking women probably don’t do it for you.  

But movement is about much more than a physically fit body. Movement is the antidote to depression.  Contrary to what you may think, the main motivating factor for most people to exercise is not about building muscle but more about the feeling of well-being that results after a good workout.

Everything about life from sex to sleep feels much better. Additionally, exercise promotes a more youthful you.  In short, if you’re not moving and growing, you’re dying. It’s that simple.  

Some of the benefits you will enjoy from a solid morning routine:

More self-discipline – Creating the habit of waking up and getting out of bed will reinforce the act of self-discipline, which then translates to employing that same self-discipline to other activities for the rest of your day. 

Reduces stress – Getting out of bed, with regularity, helps lower the stress you might otherwise feel if you snooze through several rounds of your Snooze Button.  Being up and active in your day right from the start helps you make the most of your morning. 

Mental focus – Developing a strong morning routine tests your mental focus, sharpening it and giving you clarity and determination to solve life’s problems.

Time – You can always make more money but you can’t make more time. Waking up early and diving into your morning routine gives you an extra 1 or 2 hours each day to accomplish every task on your To Do List.  Think of what you can do with that additional time! What book can you write, table can you build, recipe can you create, marathon can you run? Imagine!

Ritualize your day – Humans also love to ritualize. It’s how we’re wired. When you shape your morning activities into a routine that you commit to while enjoying the ceremony of it, you can more readily incorporate that kind of routine into other areas of your life.  Rituals impart structure to your day. With structure you have a game plan, a how to for that day. Embrace the ritual to gain the advantage!

Maximize creative output – The hour right after you wake up is the most creative 60 minutes of your day.  Your brain is fresh and full of powerful, feel-good chemicals that will push your creativity to new levels.  Have a pen and paper near your bed so you can jot down ideas that have come to you, straight from your subconscious.  

Many successful, creative people have gone to bed with a question and found it answered in the morning.  Thomas Edison famously said, 

“Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.”

What Edison means, is that your subconscious brain will immediately go to work solving your problem while you sleep.

According to my friend Dr. Benjamin Hardy, 

“Design is far more powerful than willpower. You must be intentional. You need to set yourself up for success. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.”

Let’s get you set up for success with a powerful Millionaire’s Morning.  Try mine and push the limits of your life higher than they’ve ever been. There is no right time.  There is no perfect age. There is no ideal moment. There is only now. 

Wishing you a wonderful morning!

With great love,

Tosca