On this 75 Hard journey I have recently been reading ‘Good Influence’ by Zac Perna. He talks about his simple morning routine that I have been following for the last few weeks – I want to share it!
The routine helps tick off a lot of the 75 Hard non-negotiables early in the day. It follows: waking up, caffeinating and hydrating, reading, day planning, moving (exercise), cold shower, and finishing with a high protein breakfast.
A common mistake that I often make is reaching for my phone first thing and beginning scrolling instagram stories. I believe a lot of us do this without thought; however, this is simply giving away your power, and allows someone else to dictate your emotions when you feel most vulnerable (lying in bed). The saying ‘comparison is the theft of joy’ is most applicable at this time, and why would we want to lose our joy as soon as waking up?! Instead – I replace this with grabbing a book and heading downstairs to make my morning coffee (one of the highlights that I look forward to everyday).
Usually aiming for around 15-20 mins of reading, and then opening my notes app to write down anything I need to do for the day. This is followed by some movement; usually a run, but can be a walk… just something to get those endorphins flowing.
The next is a cold shower – usually starting with warm for the first part and then finishing with 30-60 seconds on cold. I find that this is always hard and I always get nervous knowing it’s coming. However, I have noticed that seeking this discomfort in the morning actually removes some of the anxiety I experience for the rest of the day.
A high protein breakfast finishes off the morning, ensuring that I treat my body with respect and fuel it to perform for the rest of the day.
Although you may not have the same luxury/opportunity in your morning to do all these activities – the main point is to not start with the stress of comparing yourself to others. Avoid reaching for your phone as long as you can – and start with something that you enjoy for yourself (like coffee, reading, or a walk), and if you can get in that cold shower – it will make you feel amazing afterwards.
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