Morning Routines

When you’re trying to make a lifestyle change, it helps to have a morning routine that gets you into the right mindset. Getting up earlier than normal can be tough, but having some sort of structure in your morning hours can help make everything more manageable. Your morning routine is like a map for how your day will go – if you start off on the wrong foot, it’s hard to stay on track with your goals during the rest of the day!

You may be wondering what your morning routine should look like. It’s important to remember that everyone is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Some people like to start the day with a cup of coffee, others with a glass of water. Some people like to go for a run, others prefer meditation and yoga (maybe both).

Below is Stephen Yang’s, our founder, morning routine as an example of what works for him: 

My morning routine is part restoration and preparation for the day. It helps me plan and execute my priorities for that day. It’s not inflexible, as it adapts quite a lot based on the season. I allow my routine which is physical and mental to be guided by Spirit. As with anything, there are pitfalls to be recognized followed by instinctual movements that connect my whole body, mind and spirit to get back on track.

My current morning routine – as informed by personal and external changes, emerging out of winter in San Francisco, and my current geographic location: 

• 4:00am: Wake up unexpectedly. Journal through voice notes to get my thoughts out of my head and get back to sleep. 
• 6:00am: Wake up, drink a glass of water for rehydration, call my dad and tell him about my plan for the day.
• 6:15am: Head to local gym: 5 minutes each of cardio, stretching, and strength training.
• 6:45am: Sauna for 10 minutes with meditation: checking in, observing my thoughts and emotions as they pass through me while enjoying the heat.
• 6:55am: Cold shower then got ready to head out.
• 7:30am: Parent duties: take the kids to school.  
• 8:10am: Office arrival: make some green tea, and journal.
• 8:30am: Time on the typewriter, jotting down my observations of the day, writing prompts for later, and a personal to-do list.

The most important thing about creating a morning routine is that it helps with self-care and builds positive habits into our lives. The more we practice these healthy behaviors as habits, the easier they become – which makes us feel more prepared for whatever life brings us next!