This 6-Minute Morning Ritual Changed My Entire Semester

All you need is 6 minutes to start your day off right.

Ever wonder how those people in your 8 AM’s always seem so cheerful, awake, and put-together, even though you can’t seem to let a morning pass without stumbling in late clad in sweatpants with coffee spilling down your shirt?

Chances are, it’s no accident these people have got it so together, even at the ungodly hour of 8 AM. (Believe it or not, some people get up even earlier. Read here for 5 reasons you should wake up at 5 every morning.) Some effort goes into waking up in the morning, and for some people it comes naturally. But others might have to work on it as more of a skill that develops over time.

But don’t worry, fellow night-owl: I’m here to help you out. During my last term of college, I was able to change from being an AM stress-fest to a fearless morning warrior by developing my own “miracle morning routine”.

Simply by changing my morning ritual, my entire semester changed for the better. It went from a “drowning in my fear of the unknown” kind of term to a term of endless possibilities. Of course, I can’t take all the credit. The Miracle Morning was developed by Hal Elrod– a man whose story is not only inspirational, but also proves through his own overcoming of hardship that no matter your situation, you have the power to overcome any obstacle in your life.

Nothing happens in a day. But a little morning magic can certainly help to get you there.

These are the components of a “Miracle Morning”. 

1. Silence
2. Affirmations
3. Visualize
4. Exercise
5. Read
6. Scribe

Okay, so that may seem like a long list (especially for the morning). But spending just one minute on each can have the power to supercharge your life (and maybe, just maybe, even turn you into a morning person). These simple 6 morning intentions have changed my life, for sure, and the lives of many others as well.

So how do you start your own miracle morning, you ask?

Well it’s as simple as getting up a few minutes earlier. Just wake up at least 6 minutes earlier than you would normally, and spend one minute on each item on the list (in whatever way you deem fit). For example, for your minute on “affirmations”, you can write them down, say them aloud to yourself, or read some you’ve found online.

The best part about the Miracle Morning is that it is customizable to your needs and wants. You can spend a minute on each component or 20 minutes on one or all of them.

If you want free tools to help you get started or are interested in a 30 day challenge, click here.

My Miracle Morning

To give you an example of what a Miracle Morning can look like, I would like to share mine with all of you.

My routine is short and sweet. Just like you, I have classes to get to and other things to do that I may have procrastinated on. So in total, my routine takes around 20 minutes.

1. Silence.

The first thing I do is wake up and mediate. Sometimes those meditations are guided meditations (which you can find on a number of iPhone apps or online) and other times I simply just sit in silence.  

2. Affirmations

I then read over my affirmations. I get inspiration for finding ones I like here.

My affirmation for this week, for example, is about self love: “I am just right as I am in this moment”.

3. Visualize

I also spend time looking over my Vision Board. This is a personal piece I crafted (from magazine clippings and drawings, nothing too crazy) that houses words and phrases on what I want to achieve in the coming months. I use this time to think about how these goals make me feel. 

4. Exercise

I personally skip the exercise portion because I habitually go to the gym in the evening, but this gives me more time to spend writing.

However, the exercise portion doesn’t have to be an all-out workout. Even a few short yoga poses will help to get your blood flowing and your body ready to tackle the day. 

5. Read

I read anything online or in a book about a topic that interests me. Careful here my fellow bookworms: I have to set a timer so I do not run late.

6. Scribe

I journal about anything that comes to mind. The day’s topic could be my fears, my aspirations, or my recent daily drama. Sometimes I use journal prompts if I am feeling uninspired. 

 

A photo posted by Dr. Akiyo Kano on Aug 6, 2016 at 4:02am PDT

Final Thoughts

The Miracle Morning is not a routine that is set in stone, nor is it a routine that needs to look exactly the same for everyone! Mine could change from day-to-day, as well. There are no hard and fast rules to it.

Have fun finding what works for you, whether that be a simple one-minute scheme or fitting it in whenever you can during the day. I hope you find this AM ritual as helpful as I have!