As I mentioned in last Friday’s newsletter, I did a live with Liz last week that I wanted to give a permanent home here on The Weekly Hurdle. If you like this sort of thing, comment below (and don’t forget to tap the “heart” button). Happy to organize some more conversations like this to cater to topics that interest the community.
A few high-level highlights from our chat:
1. Your morning routine is just that, yours.
Just because you see someone else doing something that seems great doesn’t mean that it will work for you. However, there are proven benefits to a lot of the things in my routine (including: morning movement and light exposure, journaling, a gratitude practice, breath work). So, maybe try adding just one into the mix soon, and see how it feels.
2. Do not overhaul the whole thing at once.
On that note, a good morning routing takes time to build. If you make an effort to completely change your existing routine in one day, I can guarantee it won’t stick (sorry to be the person delivering this bad news). You have to meet yourself with where you’re at.
So, start small. If you have an ultimate goal to add movement to your routine, for instance, start with a 15-minute block three days a week. Once you find yourself successfully doing that, then you can add time or frequency. I promise you that time will be the thing that makes your new habit stick in the long haul.
3. Good mornings start the night before.
It’s pretty rare that I’m not in bed and asleep by 9:30. Actually, 9 p.m. is more like it. I’m one of those wake-with-the-sun humans naturally (out of bed by 5:20 these days, thanks to an early sunrise) — which means that if I want to get close eight hours, I need to make earlier evenings a priority.
Also: I cannot say enough good things about some of the changes I’ve made to my sleep situation as of late. Two of those that I believe have made a direct impact on my sleep quality, increasing REM and deep sleep, are taking regular Pillar magnesium and my Lagoon Sleep pillows. Transparently, both are now sponsors of the show because I’m such a fan.
On that note: You can get 15% off your pillows using “HURDLE” at checkout here (take the 2-minute quiz!) and 15% your Pillar order using “HURDLE” at checkout, here. FWIW: Pillar’s creatine and collagen are also a staple in my supplement routine.
4. Gratitude makes all the difference. Talk nice to yourself.
I’ve had a gratitude practice as a part of my a.m. routine for a while now. I simply write down one good thing that’s happened and I’m grateful for from the previous 24 hours. Maybe yours is similar. Perhaps you have a group chat with friends. Or! You just get intentional and think about something you’re thankful for. Whatever it is, adding in gratitude and starting off the morning by cultivating a climate of positivity is a science-backed way to improve your day.
Thanks for tuning in, y’all! Have a great Tuesday, and I’ll be back in your inbox come Friday morning.
Keep hurdling,
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