Recognising the power of the morning

The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day – Henry Beecher

The early bird gets the worm. One of the most widely recognised quotes taken from English proverbs dating back to the 17th century. But how relevant is it? And why should I prioritise my mornings to deliver strong personal outcomes as opposed to my evenings?

It’s a clean slate. A new opportunity. Even the term commonly thrown around when we are faced with a problem; “Let’s just sleep on it” – suggests that for some miraculous reason, we might be able to wake up tomorrow morning and be able to solve a problem. Scientists, mental health experts, the uber wealthy, business strategists and successful entrepreneurs regularly share insights in the media on how important waking up early and morning routine is in the formula of success. But does it really matter if you fall out of bed 20 minutes before work, scramble to get reasonably well dressed, kiss your partner and run out the door hoping your hair is respectable? Let’s explore this.

The morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. It is exceptionally powerful in framing how your day will play out. Creating a strong routine in the morning therefore becomes the ultimate linchpin for massive success in your life determined entirely by the momentum it creates. Don’t get me wrong; everybody at some point in their life has those absolute shockers! The days where you don’t even get close to contemplating your own to-do list let alone completing it. They are chaotic, they create anxiety and they make you restless when you eventually get your head down at night. So why would a slick, well-planned morning routine aid in this situation and why should i prioritise getting as much value as i can out of my mornings?

1. We can take full advantage of the natural energy spike. During sleep, our body is largely in a parasympathetic state –a “rest and digest” phase. However, on waking, we get a spike in one of our steroid hormones; Cortisol. Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone” as a result of it’s connection to our stress response however, unknowingly to many, it has far greater impact to our body in the regulation of our metabolism, helping to reduce inflammation and controlling sodium levels. More importantly, to us, think of it as our ‘wake-up and tackle life’s obstacles’ hormone. With adequate sleep, natural cortisol levels will give you a powerful burst of energy when you open your eyes. So why not embrace it and attack the day! Studies out of RMIT Melbourne also suggest that when a person gets up early, they have a higher baseline of stored energy and it therefore takes less time to do a desired task due to our laser-like focus. You are therefore more adept at decision making, planning and goal-orientated.
2. We are four times more likely to make healthy choices throughout the course of the day. Starting the day with meditation, a walk or even some form of strength training establishes a cycle of immediate positive behaviour. Having this ingrained as a daily morning ritual will put you in a better mood, ignite your metabolism and awaken your spirit. We need to remember that health is your number one wealth so it always needs to be of the highest priority
3. Get ahead of the game. Curveballs are far too common these days. How can you possibly navigate through the day when something unexpected happens and diverts your day into being reactive and having to put out spot fires? Rising early creates time for you and all the things that you want to do. Whether you’re a 35 year-old mum wanting to go for a walk or a 75 year-old gentlemen wanting to read the paper in undisturbed peace, you absolutely should have that right!
4. Psychological advantages. A 2017 study from the University of Chicago outlined how the intrinsic motivation of waking early coupled with a well-defined morning routine is more powerful to the subconscious mind than humans could ever quantify. For many, the concept that you will accomplish more in the 3 hours before work than some people would achieve over the course of a whole day hyper-stimulates our endorphins in excelling us toward the motivation required to accomplish personal life ambitions. The impact here on our mindset is exponential and shouldn’t be undervalued. 

Creating strong morning rituals & routines through holding the first two hours of your day in such high esteem is the framework for profound personal and business success. Try it for the next 30 days and watch the results speak for themselves.

Pick up a copy of my new book; Win the Morning Win the Day here.