Step One to a More Productive Life
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to my newsletter! I'm Chris, husband to Amanda Sellers, father of 10 beautiful children, and a former worker in the mining industry turned entrepreneur. Today, we're diving into how waking up at 5 am can be life-changing, so let’s jump right in.
"All change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end." -Robin Sharma.
Reasons to Make the Choice to Rise Before Dawn
Waking up early hasn’t always been my preferred choice; I used to be something of a night owl, staying up most nights until 1 or even 2 A.M. At one point, I even worked the graveyard shift to support my family. Since then, I have found that rising before dawn allows me to set the tone for the rest of my day. I have extra time to prepare for the day and to put myself in the right headspace. Summa Health states in an article titled "4 Benefits to Waking Early" that, "Many studies show people who wake earlier are far less likely to develop depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders." Along with boosting my psychological well-being, it also allows me to wake up at my own pace. There is very little demanded of me first thing in the morning, so I take that time for self-care. My self-care routine and yours might be different. It could be as simple as meditating, doing some light stretching, or even spending time outside with a cup of coffee. Whatever brings you joy and peace. One of the most special things about getting up at 5 in the morning is that there just isn’t any noise. There is something profound about spending mornings in quietness. Everyone and everything is still asleep; it's pleasant, calm, and still. After spending the first 30-45 minutes pondering the day ahead in silence, the world begins to wake up around me. It starts with the birds singing their songs, followed by the sun emerging over the horizon. All of this brings me joy and allows me to start my day in a more stress-free environment.
Protect Your Mornings
In order to protect your mornings, establishing a healthy routine is paramount. If a system isn’t implemented, this pivotal time will likely be wasted. For me to alleviate this risk, I have found that it is best to follow the same pattern every morning. I don’t always wake up ready to take on the world. First, I wash my face and take care of personal hygiene. Then, I do some light stretching to get the blood and oxygen flowing into my muscles. After this, I have the option of choosing between several activities that align with my goal of personal growth: starting to read, doing some speech exercises, or putting a plan in motion to help jumpstart what I need to accomplish for the rest of the day. I would like for you to take time right now and jot down a few things you could do in the morning that would allow you to be more successful in fulfilling your today goals. This could be exercise, meditation, journaling, or all of the above. Each of these activities has the ability to change your mindset and increase your motivation, increase creativeness, and thoughtfulness. The beauty is that it's your time to do with what you wish! Just try not to get sucked into your phone. No one wants to roll out of bed earlier than needed only to pick up their phone and find themselves lost for hours scrolling through their preferred social media platform. At this point, you have accomplished nothing and are tired with a lack of motivation. It can become a never-ending spiral. My suggestion is to get out of bed and not even touch your phone. Focus on the tasks that will truly improve the you of today, tomorrow, and the you a year from now! Here is a bit of motivation Robin Sharma gave in his book "The 5 A.M. Club": “To have the results the top 5% of producers have, you must start doing what 95% of people are unwilling to do.”
Does it Lead to Success 🤷♂️
While the practice of rising early isn’t new, it appears common among successful individuals. Brian Tracy, in one of his blogs, underscored this notion, stating, "Getting up before 5 a.m. is one of the daily habits of successful people like Apple CEO Tim Cook, Benjamin Franklin, Michelle Obama, and Oprah Winfrey." They may have mastered the art of elevating their day by rising early but each person's morning routine varies; for instance, Tim Cook begins his day by addressing notes and emails, while Mark Wahlberg prioritizes personal growth through an ice plunge and gym session. Despite the differing outcomes of these routines, they share a common purpose: to align individuals with their personal convictions and empower them to commence their day early, ready to pursue their goals.
Now, as you reflect on the power of embracing change and the transformative potential of early mornings, I urge you to take action. Start tomorrow morning with intentionality. Rise before the sun, greet the day with purpose, and craft a morning routine that sets the tone for success. Whether it's through self-care practices, or personal growth activities seize this opportunity to invest in yourself and your future. Your mornings hold the key to unlocking your full potential—start unlocking it today.
Our Favorite Content of the Week:
We got to travel to some pretty wonderful locations to film this reel! The crazy part? We wandered up on THREE SNAKES while we were out! All venomous looking (I’m not an expert, they just looked it to me…)
My most favorite thing we are sharing this week is our PlayStation Giveaway! So don’t miss it!
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