{"id":5735,"date":"2018-09-06T09:52:03","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T09:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/?p=5735"},"modified":"2022-09-22T20:56:28","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T18:56:28","slug":"how-to-create-a-morning-routine-stick-to-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/2018\/09\/06\/how-to-create-a-morning-routine-stick-to-it\/","title":{"rendered":"My Morning Routine, And Tips On How To Create Your Own"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">Wake<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">Drink 1 large glass water<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">Make bed<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">10 minutes yoga<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">More water<\/span><\/li>\n<li>35 pushups<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">2 min plank<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">Cold shower<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">5 minutes meditation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">Read 1 chapter of a short non-fiction book<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"s1\">Coffee<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">This is how I spent the first 45 minutes of today. And yesterday, and the day before, and well, you get the idea. I\u2019ve been doing some version of this morning routine for the past couple years and though still sometimes difficult, I love starting the day like this. After an instagram <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BlqSMc7BehX\/?taken-by=johns.trips\">post<\/a> received some interest, I thought I\u2019d write a little more on my morning routine and some tips on how to create, and <i>do<\/i> your own. This post contains everything from designing a routine to getting up early to some tips n\u2019 tricks to overcome resistance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>My Morning Routine Reflects My Priorities<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Each step in my morning routine reflects a priority, and by starting the day like this I get many small wins in before starting the day.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Physical health<\/b>: Water, yoga, pushups, plank, cold shower.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Mental peace and clarity<\/b>: Meditation, making bed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Discipline, practice in surrender to discomfort<\/b>: Cold shower<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Focus:<\/b> Meditation, reading.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Learning and knowledge<\/b>: Reading<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5467\" src=\"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/annie-spratt-330560-unsplash-1024x656.jpg\" alt=\"coffee\" width=\"840\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/annie-spratt-330560-unsplash-1024x656.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/annie-spratt-330560-unsplash-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/annie-spratt-330560-unsplash-768x492.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/annie-spratt-330560-unsplash.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">By starting the day like this &#8211; before the business of the day begins to give me excuses for why today isn\u2019t the best day &#8211; I get a small practice in all of these areas. Even if I do nothing else for myself through the day, when I get into bed for the night, I sleep knowing that I did at least something for myself and my wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Your priorities, and therefore morning routine, will probably be different. If you\u2019re learning to play the guitar, maybe you\u2019ll have 10 minutes practicing. If attention and focus is important to you, maybe you\u2019ll do 20 minutes meditation. Getting in shape? More exercise. I\u2019ve chosen long term goals or values and the morning has become a cornerstone for me.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Start Small<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Now you might want to start your own morning routine. If you\u2019re just starting on the morning routine journey, I\u2019d suggest starting small and gradually stacking. V1.0 of my routine was just water and yoga. After some months I added a short meditation. Reading came in at the start of 2017. Pushups and cold shower last summer. Plank shortly after.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s been a continued and evolving thing that started small and built from there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Once you\u2019ve designed your routine, you need to do it. Simple, but not easy. Here&#8217;s a few tips.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Remove Obstacles The Night Before<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<h5 class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cBy\u00a0failing to prepare, you are\u00a0preparing to fail.\u201d<br \/>\n<strong>&#8211; Benjamin Franklin<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">To give myself the best chance of succeeding I remove as many obstacles as I can that stand between me and those actions. I do this before going to bed to make each action as easy and frictionless as possible on waking up. Some examples:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Put a glass of water next to my bed.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\">On waking up I don\u2019t need to go get a glass. Just drink. I also leave a full 1 litre bottle of water bedside so I can refill my glass as I drink through the routine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Roll out the yoga mat.\u00a0<\/b>One less hurdle. Just position my phone, press play, and I\u2019m off. When I was doing yoga on youtube, I would choose and load the video the night before and position my laptop at the front of the mat. All I needed to do was get on the mat and press play. I also lay my clothes ready.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5739\" src=\"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4361-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"yoga mat\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4361-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4361-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4361-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4361.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Pre-decide number of pushups.\u00a0<\/b>I don\u2019t waste time or energy thinking \u2018how many pushups should I do today?\u2019. I know I have to do 35, so I do 35 then move on. Simple. Sometimes I swap in pull-ups, squats or kettlebell swings for the plank but if I do, I decide this and the number the night before bed. This reduces decision fatigue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Kindle\/book on the page that I will read, on the desk next to where I meditate.\u00a0<\/b>After the meditation, I pick it up, swipe, read. No remembering where I left my book yesterday or finding my place. Again, making it as easy as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Decide and write down the full routine.\u00a0<\/b>To be able to prepare like this I obviously need to know what I&#8217;ll be doing in advance. I take 30 seconds each night to write it down on a piece of paper. Again, no wasted time or energy thinking \u2018what should I do next?\u2019. I just follow the list.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5548\" src=\"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/glenn-carstens-peters-190592-unsplash-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"write list\" width=\"840\" height=\"559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/glenn-carstens-peters-190592-unsplash-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/glenn-carstens-peters-190592-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/glenn-carstens-peters-190592-unsplash-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/glenn-carstens-peters-190592-unsplash.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">This all takes me about 5 minutes before going to bed but makes everything go more smoothly and easily in the morning.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Getting Up Early<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The first step to being able to do anything before work is getting up early enough. If you\u2019re a serial snoozer like me you know very well that getting up just 20 minutes earlier than you need to can seem totally impossible. I\u2019ve always struggled with getting up early but have found a few things that help me. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\"><b>Alarmy (<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=droom.sleepIfUCan&amp;hl=en\">Android<\/a>\u00a0.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/alarmy-alarm-clock\/id1163786766?mt=8\">Apple<\/a>)\u00a0<\/b>This app has been a total game changer. Getting vertical is the hardest part of getting up for me, but once I\u2019m on my feet the chances of me going back to sleep reduce massively. With alarmy, I have to get up and take a photo of a shampoo bottle in the bathroom to stop the alarm. I then take a pee, splash my face with water, chug some water, then head for the mat. On alarmy you can set your own photo based on how far from bed you need to go to be safe. There are other options like a barcode that you have to scan, or maths problems you have to solve, so you can pick what suits you. Another option is to just place your alarm clock on the other side of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\"><b>Go to bed early.<\/b> Makes it a lot easier for obvious reasons. It also means that it\u2019s harder for my sleepyhead morning self to kid me that \u201cno but seriously, you\u2019re really tired, you need more sleep. Just get another hour.\u201d Fact is, I\u2019m always sleepy when I wake up. But less so after a good night\u2019s sleep. To help get a good night\u2019s rest I have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com.au\/jocelyn-brewer\/set-a-digital-sunset-for-_b_8444132.html\">digital sunset<\/a> 1 hour before sleep and listen to a <a href=\"http:\/\/marc.ucla.edu\/mpeg\/Body-Scan-for-Sleep.mp3\">guided sleep meditation<\/a> in bed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>You can nap later. <\/b>Sometimes the lying voice that tells me I need more sleep is really convincing: \u201cYou need your energy for the day, you\u2019ll just get tired later\u201d. My response now is \u201cfine, if I really get tired later, I\u2019ll take a nap.\u201d Of course, I hardly ever take the nap &#8211; the voice is just the sleepyhead in me craving the snuggle zone, a deceiver that has lured me into countless unnecessary lie ins over the years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\"><b>Warm the room.<\/b> Getting up early is so much harder in the winter than the summer because leaving that warm bed for the cold air outside is ungodly. Even if you make it out, the promise of returning to those snug warm sheets is so irresistibly appealing that you\u2019ll probably hop back in and off to the land of Zs. So having a warm room helps. I currently close all windows at night to trap heat inside my room. In the summer, this can make it really hot but this actually helps spur me out of bed. Depending on your situation, you could try this or have the heating come on 30 mins before your alarm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\"><b>Start with yoga.<\/b> Stretching first thing is a nice gentle way to wake me up so that by the time I\u2019ve finished, there\u2019s no danger of going back to bed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>No Regrets. <\/b>Another one to combat the big snoozer voice in my head (its relentless and persistent). I remind myself that I have never regretted waking up early and doing the morning routine. Ever. Not once. Out of hundreds of times. I am always glad I did it. And while I do still enjoy lie ins, I prefer them to be the exception rather than the rule. When I have too many they become dirtied with guilt. Remember, you won\u2019t regret it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>One Thing At A Time<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Sometimes before I start those pushups I think \u201cI can\u2019t be bothered today. And then I\u2019ve got to do the plank after. And then\u2026\u201d When I start to think like this I tell myself \u2018just do the pushups, then you can decide on the plank after.\u2019 Of course I finish the pushups, then do the plank.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5740\" src=\"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4359-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"morning routine post it\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4359-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4359-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4359-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4359.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Having the morning routine written down on paper helps<\/b> here. When I get too much in my head, I look at the list, find where I am, and <b>zero in on the next one thing.<\/b> Not the list. The next one thing. I can always do one thing. Sometimes when 35 pushups seems like too much, I tell myself \u2018just do 10 today\u2019. Then after 10 I do 10 more. Then 10 more. Then 5 more. Breaking things down like this makes them more manageable and way more do-able. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Don\u2019t Think. Just Do. <\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Sometimes the next one thing even seems like too much. When that\u2019s the case, the voice of resistance instead changes to \u2018I\u2019m too tired for pushups today\u2019. Override by just starting the action. If it\u2019s really too hard I\u2019ll find that out down there, by at least trying to do them.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Starting is the hard part. Once started, doing is easy.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Don\u2019t get caught in a discussion with yourself about why you might need a break today &#8211; you\u2019ve already planned out the whole thing the night before and have thought out reasons why you\u2019re doing this. So what are you thinking about? All that\u2019s left is to do. To do, start. So end the discussion, get down, and start doing pushups.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Reward At The End<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It\u2019s no coincidence that my routine ends with reading and coffee. They are my reward for completion, and damn do I enjoy that coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Use Technology To Help<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Sure, it might in some way be breeding a generation of people who can\u2019t think for themselves and have no attention span, but technology isn\u2019t all bad. It can be used for nobler purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5741\" src=\"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4366-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"down dog app\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4366-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4366-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4366-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4366.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Alarmy is an example of using tech to help. I also use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.downdogapp.com\/\">Down Dog<\/a>\u00a0for yoga, it gives different routines each time and has options from 10 minutes upwards. I\u2019m not a yoga pro so I like having someone to follow. Before using down dog, I used to follow videos on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/yogawithadriene\">Yoga With Adrienne<\/a> (I started with her course <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TXU591OYOHA&amp;list=PLui6Eyny-UzwxbWCWDbTzEwsZnnROBTIL\">30 days of yoga<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The meditation is one on <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.mindfulness.aware&amp;hl=en\">Aware<\/a> (3, 4 &amp; 5 minute meditations available) and there are other short ones you can use <a href=\"http:\/\/marc.ucla.edu\/mindful-meditations\">here<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.freemindfulness.org\/download\">here<\/a>. If losing weight or doing more exercise is a priority for you, use a Tabata <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.evgeniysharafan.tabatatimer&amp;hl=en\">timer<\/a> to crush HIIT workouts, or follow lighter workouts on an app like <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=homeworkout.homeworkouts.noequipment&amp;hl=en\">Home Workout<\/a>. Using apps helps to automate decisions &#8211; you don&#8217;t need to decide your workout routine or series of yoga postures, just follow. Whatever your aim, I\u2019m sure there\u2019s an app out there designed to help.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Mindfulness Rituals<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I mentioned that mental peace and clarity were priorities that are factored in to my morning routine. So as well as the meditation, I use the shower and coffee as mindfulness rituals. More on this here:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class='avia-iframe-wrap'>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"QKtlger3y6\"><p><a href=\"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/2018\/02\/21\/transforming-everyday-habits-mindfulness-practices-5-things-transform\/\">Transforming Everyday Habits Into Mindfulness Practices (+ 5 Habits To Transform)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Transforming Everyday Habits Into Mindfulness Practices (+ 5 Habits To Transform)&#8221; &#8212; Maps of the Mind\" src=\"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/2018\/02\/21\/transforming-everyday-habits-mindfulness-practices-5-things-transform\/embed\/#?secret=QKtlger3y6\" data-secret=\"QKtlger3y6\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Experiment, Adapt &amp; Update<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The idea of a morning routine might seem rigid, but I actually think flexibility is important.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Your ideal morning routine this month might not be the same as it is next month. As mentioned before, my routine has changed over the last couple years, and is still changing &#8211; next week I\u2019m planning on trying out extending the morning meditation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If I\u2019m sharing a room with someone or working away and it\u2019s difficult to do, I might strip it back to just water and yoga and follow the yoga with only audio using some headphones.\u00a0Or even just find a spot where I can at least do some sun salutations. Point is, things change, so don\u2019t be afraid to try out different things and adapt your routine to what&#8217;s going on in your life.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Book Recommendations<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A few books with chapters that can be read in under 5 minutes. All go well with morning coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5738\" src=\"http:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4353-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"dhammapada book\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4353-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4353-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4353-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mapsofthemind.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_4353.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2wHBrye\"><strong>The Daily Stoic<\/strong><\/a>: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living\u00a0<\/span>&#8211; Ryan Holiday<br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Wherever-You-There-Are-Mindfulness\/dp\/0749925485\/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1551264612&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=wherever+you+go+there+you+are\">Wherever You Go, There You Are<\/a><\/strong> &#8211; Jon Kabat-Zin<br \/>\n<span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2M1tn0U\"><strong>The War Of Art<\/strong><\/a> &#8211; Steven Pressfield<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2M8wtAs\"><strong>Tao Te Ching<\/strong><\/a> &#8211; Lao Tzu<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2wMmmLL\"><strong>The Obstacle Is The Way<\/strong><\/a> &#8211; Ryan Holiday<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2PINpiZ\"><strong>The Dhammapada<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Comfortable-Uncertainty-Cultivating-Fearlessness-Compassion\/dp\/1590300785\">Comfortable With Uncertainty<\/a> <\/strong>&#8211; Pema Ch\u00f6dr\u00f6n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Got good book recommendations? Comment with them below.<\/p>\n<h2>Good Luck!<\/h2>\n<p>I&#8217;m always interested to hear about others&#8217; routines so feel free to share yours below or any tips you might have. Until then, make the most of your mornings!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wake Drink 1 large glass water Make bed 10 minutes yoga More water 35 pushups 2 min plank Cold shower 5 minutes meditation Read 1 chapter of a short non-fiction book Coffee This is how I spent the first 45 minutes of today. And yesterday, and the day before, and well, you get the idea. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5738,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mindfulness"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>My Morning Routine, And Tips On How To Create Your Own - Maps of the Mind<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I\u2019ve been doing some version of a morning routine for the past couple years and though still sometimes difficult, I love starting the day like this. 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