I learnt Transcendental Meditation many years ago and I’ve meditated twice a day ever since. But, beyond that, I have struggled to commit to a morning routine. I’ve read loads to suggest that those people who are most successful, place more importance in their morning routine. Usually it involves waking early and includes some form of exercise, mindfulness, journalling or just getting a head start on the working day before the rest of the world comes online.
Over the years I have tried to establish a morning routine more than once. Usually, it involved a combination of meditation and exercise. But, as I got older, doing a HIIT workout at 6am lost its appeal. Then a couple of years ago, I tried a more spiritual approach. On the Lets Talk Yoga Podcast with Arundhati Baitmangalkar, Mirabelle Siva Jyoti discussed the importance of Sādhanā, a daily spiritual practise. This is a quieter, more internal practise which will look different for everybody. When done regularly, it positively impacts the way you live your life.
I couldn’t make it stick
For a while, I did manage to rise before my family to meditate, practise yoga and journal a little. Often though, I would fall back to sleep in meditation or I would miss an element because I was running late.
Then last year, I took my sisters to the airport at 4am. While it was tough to get myself out of bed, I loved seeing that time of the day. Watching the sun rise, having the roads to myself; I couldn’t believe how peaceful it was. When I got home, I joined my husband on his morning dog walk, something he’d done alone for 7-years. I enjoyed having that one on one time. We could talk properly, away from the chaos of every day life.
I got up to walk with him again the next day, and the day after that, until it became a habit. Knowing that he was waiting for me meant that I didn’t have to decide whether or not to get up early, I just did it. Then, because I was already up, I tagged on some yoga and just like that, I had myself a morning routine. Now, I meditate, walk and practise yoga, all before the school run. It sets me up for the day ahead.
What’s the cue?
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits says that in order to form a new habit, there must be a cue. That cue triggers your brain to initiate a behavior. The walk is my cue. If I miss that, the rest of my routine is disrupted. The other day my husband got up earlier that usual and, deciding not to wake me, took the dog out on his own. So, instead of getting up as usual to do my yoga, I stayed in bed an extra half an hour. It was like falling dominoes, my whole day was affected. I had a list of things to do and instead, I wasted hours on the internet, I watched TV, I went down a rabbit hole on Twitter. I then missed my evening yoga and slept poorly that night.
It sounds counter intuitive but getting up early and following my morning routine gives me energy. If I miss it, I am tired all day. This usually leads to me making poor food choices, which leads to more screen time which leads to a bad nights sleep.
I am invested now in sustaining this routine, while being mindful that elements of it might change as I do. Getting up early is hard but that feeling I get when I lie in savansana as I end my morning routine, makes it all worth it.
