“The first hour is the rudder of the day.” — Henry Ward Beecher
Over the course of my life, I have found that this quote by Henry Ward Beecher (which I first heard about 15 years ago) is entirely true.
I will say, however, that I believe the morning routine we set up for ourselves is even more important than just the first hour. Whenever I feel like I am at my most productive self, it is because I have chosen to take hold of the first hours of the day, rather than letting them take control of me—or even worse, slip away underutilized.
How we spend our morning matters. And not just for the rest of that day, but for the life we desire to live.
And I believe this to be true for everyone, regardless of their season in life, current role, or future ambitions.
Whether you desire to be an intentional parent, an ambitious CEO, a diligent student, or a creative artist, recognizing the opportunity of your mornings can significantly help you get there.
The decisions we make in the morning set the sails for the direction of the day.
For me personally, for the last two years, my morning routine has not changed. I start around 6 AM. First thing I do every weekday is go to the gym—prioritizing my health, self-care, and kickstarting my body for the day. Then I eat a healthy breakfast, followed by a personal time of devotion, meditation, and quiet solitude.
For me, I have found that those three actions set my body, my mind, and my heart in the right place for the day ahead.
My “workday” typically starts at 9am. And my first project is almost always the most important task that I need to accomplish that day. Today, for example, I am writing this article. (It’s 10:20am right now as I write this sentence).
None of the times listed here are important. I like to get up at 6am and worked hard to become someone who can get up early because it was something that I always wanted to be true of me. But don’t mistake the point of this article. I am not saying everyone needs to wake up early. Each person’s body-clock is set a bit differently.
What I am saying here is that if you want to be the best version of yourself, bringing about the greatest good for the greatest number of people, it starts by being intentional in the morning.
Intentionality, at the very beginning of every day, sets the tone for your day and life. Because when you command your morning, you can conquer your day.
Your morning routine will look different than mine.
Craft one that serves you and your goals.
Regardless of how you structure yours, here are a few suggestions to help you seize your mornings:
1. Try to wake up at the same time every day (at least every weekday).
Consistency is key in establishing a routine. It’s just really difficult to establish a morning routine if you’re waking up at a different time every day.
Plus, choosing when to wake up is the first action of control that you can take over your day.
Waking up at the same time will also help your body establish a stable rhythm and enhance your overall sleep quality.
2. Prioritize physical health.
You’ll find a routine that works for you. But I strongly suggest making sure you prioritize physical health at some point during it.
Whether it’s physical exercise or just making sure to eat a healthy, energy-giving breakfast, taking care of your body in the morning is essential. Your physical body is the instrument through which you make a difference in the world.
3. Plan your day the night before.
Knowing what’s on your agenda when you wake up can eliminate early morning decision fatigue, allowing you to get to work more efficiently. It’ll also help you get out of bed in the morning knowing what you are intending to accomplish that day.
I always recommend a 3-Item To Do List.
4. Find time for reflection or meditation.
A moment of calm before the storm of the day can do wonders for your mental well-being. And it can help you approach the day with a more positive and focused mindset.
For me, this is a spiritual exercise that consists of religious reading, meditation, and prayer. But of course, finding time for reflection and meditation is important for everyone—regardless of their faith or nonfaith background.
5. Dress for the day.
Even if you’re working from home, getting dressed can signal your brain that it’s time to get serious.
It’s a psychological trick that can help increase productivity. There’s also research done on the topic that shows getting ready can boost happiness and mood.
6. Tackle the most important task first.
“Eat the frog” is a saying that many people use concerning time management. As it is often referred to as “accomplish your toughest task first thing in the day.”
But that is not actually the meaning of the phrase. Brian Tracy, who wrote the book, explains it as “accomplishing your most important task.”
In the morning, I seek to accomplish the most important thing that I need to do that day. Sometimes it’s the most challenging task, but not always.
Working on it first helps me prioritize (and even schedule) my most important work.
A successful day doesn’t necessarily mean crossing off the most number of things from your to-do list. A successful day is crossing the right things off your to-do list.
The significance of how you spend your morning cannot be overstated.
It’s about more than just routine; it’s about purposefully shaping your day and life.
Regardless of the role you play in the world, how you use your morning affects your effectiveness in your chosen pursuit.
Your morning matters, so take charge of it.
The ship of your life needs a captain doing the steering.
Alphabet says
I want to start my morning routine with a glass of water,then time with God then I take a walk for twenty minutes.
Judy says
I set my alarm—-
First thing before my feet hit the floor I place the new day in the hands of God. I ask Him to watch over my grandchildren, to bless a certain president I care for and for God to bless America. Then I ask for a productive day. Next it’s coffee and all is well.
Jennifer says
Years ago when I was a single mother to two children I would set my alarm at least 30 mins before the kids woke up,I loved this quiet time looking out on the garden with a hot coffee.I found this way I was relaxed and ready for any chaos the morning might throw my way.I think the kids may have liked waking up to a smiling Mum too.
Caroline McKinnon says
In my family setting, as a single mother of a developmentally different adult child, my morning tasks are focused on “serving” my daughter, preparing the healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks; doing what I can the night before makes the routine easier in the morning. Time spent before I wake her up is precious: I meditate, pray, read something inspirational, then drink tea while reading world news online, next a brain game and THEN I am better prepared to be the mother she needs me to be. I used to linger in bed, resentful, anticipating the chores ahead and dreading them. What a difference. So grateful for the encouragement of Joshua and others.
John says
I really don’t see how this is possible in today’s world. I have loved the concept of this through Franklin covey or bullet journaling or other means but in practice the effort seems to be a fairy tale. I work for a global company with teams working 24 hours 7 days a week. By the time I’m awake multiple meetings have been out on my schedule that I wasn’t even aware of that sometimes I get pings and anger that I didn’t log in for a call at 6 am my time when it was scheduled at 1 am. While this may sound like something I can control in practice the organizations response to these types of problems are “lean in” and “everyone has to act like we are a startup”. I typically take my laptop on vacation because time away means that meetinfa, reviews and inputs simply grow with the expectation that they are caught up on return. I’m very well compensated but I have found in practice that time for peace, prayer, meditation and yoga are not in the schedule even if they are.
Alexandra says
I hear you, John. I work in a global job as well, and my team is in the US, Canada, Singapore and Dublin. I have started blocking time in my calendar to go for a walk or take a “real” lunch break. It has helped greatly. At first, people frown when you are not available, but they get used to it. Same with laptop on vacation – I “warn” my coworkers about two weeks ahead of a vacation that I will be out and nothing will happen during that week when I am gone. It is incredibly valuable for your mental health to take some days totally off. I do understand that not everyone is able to do this, but you might give it a try. I am of a generation that wants to do an amazing job and grew up with great work ethic, but I noticed younger people take much more care of their mental health and take real breaks. It’s a lot about setting expectations. Good luck!
Michael Davis says
Hopefully the workplace is evolving and younger peeps will lead the way for work life balance.
I just retired from a long creative career, agencies and fortune 100s.
Here’s the deal… unless the company is a progressive people first organization once you lay down the boundaries, so does the company. You’re “that guy/girl, gurl…”
You’re branded It’s a shame. It will be denied but it’s mostly true.
Again, I hope the young force, start ups and people first companies rally to eliminate the stigma.
Robbie says
Love this article. Great reminders! I always start my day with prayer, devotional reading to get in the right mindset for the day, healthy breakfast and exercise. Get the important things done early!!
Eat the Frog- that’s an oldie but goodie! And, so true because if you don’t conquer that tough task 1st- your subconsciously thinking about it all day long.
Charlene Brown says
So true!! Your points are bang on..,my morning routine has changed my life for the better!
Martha Gordin says
My morning routine is more important than ever now that I am retired and it pretty closely follows yours, exercise walking my dog, healthy breakfast, devotional, prayer time and journaling then ready to start my day.
VERONICA says
You have a great schedule I hope when I retire that I will keep active and consistent and moving like you. Keep up the great work!!
Liz says
I really get “Eat the Frog”. It is the task that just keeps hopping one step ahead, and you get to the end of the day and find you let it get away. I LET it happen., not every time, but too often I have never heard anyone say “do the most important thing first”. I do try and think ahead the night before, but it does get frustrating when you put the same thing in the list more than once because you haven’t achieved it.
Thanks for the great advice.
Lei says
Beginning the day with meditation often gives me an opportunity to remove mental clutter from the day before.
John P. Weiss says
Benjamin Franklin’s “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” comes to mind. But to your point, Joshua, the schedule can vary, so long as you prioritize health and effective productivity. I’ve also found that scheduling around when you have the most energy can be helpful. In my early law enforcement days, shift work often meant exercising at odd times when I had more energy, and writing late at night when I was awake. Overall, great tips in your post.