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Habits matter – especially the ones that start our day
“How often do you meditate,” I asked my friend, and they said, “Every morning – whether I’m feeling good or like sh*t. Every f*cking morning.”
I’m a firm believer in meditation, but I’ve been slacking. Each day I don’t meditate, the question of whether or not I’m going to meditate sits in the back of my mind.
Today, I decided, alright, no more excuses. It’s time to allocate time each morning to meditation. If I can allocate time to things that aren’t as powerful and beneficial, I can allocate time for meditation.
My friend inspired me to take my personal development journey more seriously. Habits matter; the more we can follow productive habits, the more we can improve our lives and well-being.
The Morning Routine Is Critical To Your Success
It’s easy to roll out of bed and let the day go as it comes, but that mentality lacks purpose and intention; I no longer want mornings when I don’t experience both.
The tone for our day is set by the morning. What we do first thing impacts the rest of our day. When I meditate and read in the morning, I experience more peace and control of my time throughout my day. So, why do I give that up by not performing a morning routine at times? Habit.
Habits Take Time To Build
When we aren’t performing one habit, we are building a new habit. In the initial phases of performing a habit, your mind and body are constantly tugging with you to perform another habit – usually a less productive one. The more consistent you are with a habit – without breaking the chain (missing a day) – you eradicate the desire to form a less productive habit.
Our habits stem from the choices we make. To develop a productive habit, you must make a new decision.
For example, if you want to avoid touching your phone first thing in the morning, leave your phone out of sight or out of mind, and place a book by your bedside or a note card with what you want to do each morning (see the following example below).
What’s the first thing you do each morning? If you happen to do what most people do each morning, you probably pick up your phone first thing out of habit.
What if you decided to do something different, such as cracking open a book, meditating, stretching, or speaking affirmations aloud?
Imagine how much better your day could be if you did something in the morning that didn’t include technology, news, or social media.
Create and organize your ideal morning routine and place it in a location visible to you. Memorize the routine and perform it consistently without fail until it becomes a habit too difficult to break.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.