Until recently, I believed that productivity was solely determined by how “hard” you work or how many hours of your day are taken up with “productive” tasks. I would wake up each morning, check my email as soon as possible and then immediately begin my day feeling as if I had fallen behind before I could even finish my cup of coffee. Has this happened to anyone else? It was a familiar feeling to be racing against the clock, always responding to all the different things that any given day threw my way and ultimately coming away thinking I hadn’t accomplished anything!
For several years, I have sought after the “ideal morning routine” I have read about in books and heard from other successful individuals who had supposedly created their own versions of that perfect morning routine. I experimented with several different versions of my own perfect morning routine; each day I woke up at 5 AM, worked out, meditated for 1 hour, wrote down my goals and planned my day, and called my friends to “stay connected”; I was trying to get it all done before 8 AM. Looking back now, it was setting myself up for burnout. I am sure your life is just as full of unexpected events/obligations as mine; for example, I have “early” morning meetings with people who live in a different time zone, children who need to be transported to school and EVERYONE has a lot going on during the day. Basically, trying to maintain an unrealistic routine has resulted in frustration and always feeling like I was a failure for not following through with that “perfect morning routine.”
it.
What I eventually realized, and what I want to share with you today, is that true productivity doesn’t come from a rigid “morning routine.” It comes from something far more flexible, personal, and powerful: a “rise ritual.” This isn’t about waking up at a specific time or doing a set list of tasks. It’s about intentionally designing the first moments after you wake up to set yourself up for a productive, focused, and energized day, no matter what time you rise or what challenges lie ahead.
1. Make Time, Don’t Just “Find” Time
One of the biggest misconceptions about a productive start to the day is that you need to “find” time for it. The truth is, you have to make time. For me, this was a huge breakthrough. I was living in Los Angeles, commuting to work, and constantly feeling rushed. I’d wake up at [7:45] AM for a 9 AM start, with a 35-40 minute commute. There was simply no time for anything beyond brushing my teeth and grabbing a quick bite. My “routine” was forced, not designed.
My solution wasn’t to wake up even earlier, which would have just meant less sleep. Instead, I shifted my bedtime. Going to bed a little earlier created the space I needed in the morning. It sounds simple, but it was a game-changer. It allowed me to read, reflect, and prepare for the day without feeling like I was sacrificing precious sleep or rushing out the door.
Many of us fall into the trap of “hopium” – hoping that tomorrow will magically be different, even when our current habits make that impossible. We try to cram an ideal routine into an already overflowing schedule. You might envision doing yoga, planning your day, reading a chapter, and meal prepping, all before the kids are up or that early meeting with the London office. But life happens. Kids, commutes, time zone differences, unexpected decisions – these all impact your morning.
2. Personalize Your Routine: One Size Does Not Fit All
I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for reading about other people’s routines. I’d see someone successful doing X, Y, and Z, and immediately think, “Oh, I should be doing that too!” Whether it was Benjamin Franklin’s meticulous schedule or a modern entrepreneur’s intense morning workout, I’d try to replicate it. But my life is different. Your life is different. Why should our rise rituals be identical?
Your rise ritual should support your goals and help you have a good day. It’s great to draw inspiration, but don’t blindly copy. Instead, think in categories. What activities, when done in the morning, would help you feel good and productive? Here are some categories to consider:
- Movement: Stretching, a quick walk, a workout. For me, I moved my intense workouts to the afternoon because I realized that’s when my energy dips, and a workout helps me power through. My mornings are now shorter, allowing for more focused work.
- Mind: Reading, meditation, gratitude practice, or a quick visualization. This is about engaging your mind and setting a positive tone.
- Planning: Journaling, daily affirmations, or a quick review of your priorities. This helps you know what’s happening and mentally prepare for the day.
You don’t need to do something from every category, and you don’t need to spend hours on each. My own rise ritual is about 30-40 minutes. It’s about what makes you feel ready to tackle the day. It took me years of iteration to find what works best, so don’t expect perfection right away.
What one activity from these categories would make the biggest positive impact on your day if you consistently included it in your rise ritual?
3. Embrace Imperfection: The “Something is Better Than Nothing” Rule
Life is messy. Things will come up. Your perfectly crafted rise ritual will, at some point, fall apart. I recently had to take my son for his driver’s test (he didn’t pass, but that’s another story!). We had to be there at [8:20] AM, half an hour away. My morning routine was completely derailed. But here’s the crucial part: I didn’t let that derail my entire day, or my commitment to a rise ritual.
The “something is better than nothing” rule applies here. I used to think that if I didn’t have 60 minutes available for a workout, I’d skip it. I’d think to myself, “this isn’t perfect, why should I do it?” That’s a good way to destroy productivity. Instead of skipping because I don’t have 60-minutes, if I only have 40 minutes, then I’ll do a shortened version of my workout; for example, I’ll complete two sets instead of three. This is not the best option for me but it is still a win.
If you miss a day, and you miss again, all of a sudden you lose your rising ritual. My golden rule is never to skip two days in succession. Even if I can only do a less than ideal version, I’ll do something to hold on to my momentum. Keeping momentum and sustaining the habit.
Being proactive about these questions ahead of time allows an individual to be fluid and adaptable when things don’t go as planned, thus, maintaining consistency moving forward. The key here is to make progress, not achieve perfection.
What’s one “non-negotiable” element of your ideal rise ritual that you commit to doing, no matter what?
Your Actionable Takeaway
Don’t overthink it. Start small. Figure out a realistic time for your rise ritual, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Then, pick one or two simple steps from the categories above to start with. Implement it tomorrow. Even one small tweak can lead to massive results. Your future productive self will thank you.
