1: For the first twenty-plus years of my adult life, my morning routine revolved around this question:
What is the absolute last possible minute I can set my alarm where I have time to shower, shave, and still make it to the office on time?
When I say the “absolute last possible minute,” I mean Absolute. Last. Possible. Minute.
There’s a better way. And a better life. It starts with getting up an hour earlier, Hal Elrod writes in The Miracle Morning.
What do we do with that hour? We invest in ourselves. We intentionally prepare for the day ahead. And, if we’ve created our goals for the year, we measure our progress and plan out what we must do next.
2: Get up an hour earlier? I can’t do that!!
Yes, you can. Trust me, no one likes their sleep more than I do. If I can do it, you can do it.
The bad news? It’s not going to be easy. . . It will he hard. Difficult. But then it WILL get better. Understanding it’s going to be difficult is the key.
3: Hal breaks down what we will experience into three distinct stages:
o Phase 1: First 10 days. Unbearable but… temporary. Be prepared. And don’t give up.
o Phase 2: Days 11-20. Uncomfortable, but no longer unbearable. We can do this! Discipline and commitment are required.
o Phase 3: Days 21-30. Becomes part of our identity. When transformation occurs.
Hal tells us: “Everything is difficult before it is easy. Every new experience is uncomfortable before it’s comfortable.”
There are some things we can do to make it easier. First, we actively and mindfully create a positive expectation for the next morning.
Next: Do not hit snooze. Move our alarm across the room and get up when it rings. Get up. Brush our teeth. Perhaps drink a full glass of water.
Because it’s “Go Time.”
More the day after tomorrow!
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Reflection: Am I willing to embrace 30 days of discomfort—getting up an hour earlier—so I can experience the level of growth and progress I say I want?
Action: Commit to a 30-day experiment of waking up one hour earlier, moving my alarm across the room, and using that time to invest in myself and review my goals each morning
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