Hi Reader,
It's me - Aimée Rebecca - your internet bestie for all things personal development, intentional living, and dream-chasing! 💕
Let me start by making it abundantly clear—I am not a morning person. I’m a “don’t talk to me before 8 am and I’ve had at least two cups of coffee if you value your life” person.
And yet, I got up a 5:30 am this morning, went to the gym (that sled push kicked my butt, by the way!), came home, showered, got ready for the day, did a load of laundry, emptied the dishwasher, and caught up on the news...all before 9 am.
I promise I am not a pod person!
And I also don't say this to brag. I truly don't think waking up at 5 am makes you morally superior to someone who wakes up at 8 am. But I will tell you this - as someone who spent decades snoozing her alarm, eeking out every last moment scrolling on her phone under the covers, scrolling on her phone, before tearing through the house like a headless chicken that's been set alight, I prefer my mornings now. When you take control of those first few hours, you feel more grounded, more intentional, and more you.
So let's talk about how you can start to reclaim your mornings with some simple shifts.
Identify Your “Why”
Any time you decide to make a change in life, you have to ask yourself why you're bothering. What's the point? How will this impact your life in a positive way?
If you decide to start waking up at 5 am every morning because it's the 'in thing' everyone's doing right now, that won't last long. In fact, I'd give it a week! Your “why” is the fuel that will keep you going when motivation runs dry. So it needs to be good!
Potential reasons to wake up early:
- To fit in a workout before the day starts.
- To enjoy 30 minutes of peace and quiet before waking the kids.
- To sit down with a real breakfast instead of grabbing a cereal bar on the way out.
- To sip your coffee on the patio instead of gulping it while running out the door.
Get clear on your “why,” and the rest will follow.
Map Out Your Ideal Morning
There's no one-size-fits-all here. I like to workout in the morning. That doesn't mean you have to. Maybe your dream morning includes journaling, reading a chapter of a book, or simply sitting quietly with your coffee.
Take a few minutes to write down your ideal morning routine. Imagine what would help you feel calm, accomplished, or energized for the day ahead.
Build New Habits (One at a Time)
As much as I'm the ultimate fangirl of James Clear's Atomic Habits, I actually prefer Charles Duhigg’s habit formation model: cue, routine, reward.
Here’s how it works:
- Cue: A signal that tells your brain it’s time for your habit.
- Routine: The habit itself.
- Reward: The thing that reinforces the habit.
For example, if you want to start journaling:
- Cue: The alarm goes.
- Routine: Get out of bed instead of reaching for the snooze button.
- Reward: A strong cup of coffee.
Start by choosing one element of your ideal morning routine and use the habit loop to help you turn that action into an everyday habit. Over time, you can add to your routine, one habit at a time.
Play the Long Game
Like with anything, don't expect a Cinderella-style transformation overnight. Building a better morning routine takes time, patience, and flexibility. Start small, experiment, and adjust as you go.
Extra Inspiration for Your Mornings
Here are some books I’ve found helpful for creating a morning routine:
📚 The 5 am Club by Robin Sharma
📚 The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
📚 Atomic Habits by James Clear
📚 The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Your mornings don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. If you take even a few minutes to make them more intentional, you’ll start to see a ripple effect in the rest of your day—and your life.
So tell me—what’s one small change you’ll make to reclaim your mornings? Hit "reply" and let me know.
You’ve got this!
Aimee x
