Developed by Hal Elrod, the "Miracle Morning" method consists of getting up early to spend time on personal growth and start the day on the right foot. Here's how it inspired me to develop my own morning routine.
What is the "Miracle Morning" method?
In his bestseller The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life Before 8AM, Hal Elrod explains that as he was investigating the key to success of the richest and most successful people in the world, he realised the importance having of a morning routine. The one he specifically promotes includes six practices called "Life S.A.V.E.R.S.": silence, affirmations, visualization, exercising, reading and scribing. In short, Hal Elrod advises us to start our day by taking some time to meditate, visualize our life goals, exercise, read and keep a journal.
How did I adapt the "Miracle Morning" to my own morning routine?
Although I'm not a fan of following strict rules just for the sake of becoming the best version of myself, I like the general idea of the "Miracle Morning" method, which consists of getting up earlier to take care of myself. To inspire you to create your own morning routine, I thought I would share mine with you. It is 30 to 60 minutes long depending on my schedule:
1. Waking up slowly
I wake up with soft music rather than the shrill sound of the alarm bell. It keeps me from jumping out of bed and starting my day already stressed.
2. Stretching, breathing and intentions
I do some stretching and breathing exercises in my bed (click here for my favorite audio and video routines). I also take a few minutes to:
- Establish my intentions for the day;
- Remind myself of what my goals are in the short and medium term;
- Determine what I am proud of and thankful for (in the here and now)3
3. Cup of hot water and beauty routine
I pour myself a cup of hot water to gently awaken my digestive system and I drink it while completing my beauty routine: I clean my face with floral water, I moisturize my skin and put on a bit of makeup if I have to leave the house.
4. Healthy breakfast
I like to eat chia pudding, a bowl of granola, eggs, etc. for breakfast. If I'm not working from home, I’ll go for a smoothie on the go.
5. Tea time
If I need a boost of energy, I make matcha latte. Otherwise, I go for rooibos or white tea.
6. Physical exercise
When I work from home, I usually work out between 10am and noon. If I have to leave, I work out before lunch or at end of the day. I always listen to my body, acknowledging my energy level and working out accordingly. For example, I go for intense workouts when I have a lot of energy (weight training circuits, HIIT training or a boxing session) and for milder activities when I have less energy (Pilates, non-impact weight training, moderate jogging or energizing/restorative yoga).
Ending note
Ce qu’il faut retenir, c’est que prendre soin de soi le matin – que ce soit durant 10 minutes ou 1 heure –, peut avoir un impact significatif sur notre état d’esprit de la journée, sur notre niveau d’énergie et sur notre façon de réagir aux situations qui se présenteront à nous. Pour ma part, depuis que je complète ma routine du matin assidûment, je constate une réelle amélioration de mes niveaux d’énergie et de patience. À vrai dire, je ne pourrais plus me passer de l’état d’esprit plus zen dans lequel je me trouve après avoir pris 30 à 60 minutes pour moi! En espérant que cette chronique vous inspirera à définir votre «Miracle Morning», selon votre situation familiale et vos objectifs personnels.
«Focused, productive, successful mornings generate focused, productive, successful days […]» – Hal Elrod, The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life Before 8AM.
