It seems to be the done thing to tell people that if they want to achieve anything in life, they need to become a morning person. Part of me agrees, but only because I do my best work in the mornings. I’m fresher at 6 am than I am at 6 pm, so getting on with some writing before most people wake up is something I delight in.
But the guilt sets in very quickly if you don’t make your 6 am start (or 5 am or, god forbid, 4 am — do people really do that?). So even if you are set on getting up earlier to be more productive, practice self-care, or get your workout in, is it worth it if you’re just going to beat yourself up every time you choose to snag an extra hour in bed?
That was me this morning.
I’d set my sights on getting to the gym just after 7 am but when I was still in bed at 7:30, feeling guilty for my desire to sleep (by which I mean watch Tiktok while I waited for my ADHD meds to kick in), a thought struck me.
Surely, as long as I get to the gym, it doesn’t really matter what time it is.
So when I walked through the door to the gym at 8-something, I didn’t feel guilty. I felt triumphant.
Becoming a sometimes-morning person
The narrative about being a morning person is about consistently getting up at stupid o’clock to do things that mere mortals cannot. You only need to read Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss to realise that the big thing all these people have in common is that they get up at the crack of dawn to meditate and journal.
It’s clear there’s merit in getting up early.
But I also wonder if some of the power held by these early risers is their ability to stick to a routine, not just in getting out of bed at the same time every morning but in how they spend that time.
A few years back, I read The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. It’s a fantastic book and it helped me start getting up early and doing the things I never felt like I’d had time for previously. But it’s centred around creating a routine for yourself where you take time to meditate, write, read, exercise, and do daily affirmations.
So instead of setting your alarm for 5 am and vowing to implement a strict morning routine, get up when you’re ready and then go through that routine. Or, if the thought of being awake before the sun is up is abhorrent, work those elements into your evening routine.
There’s so much pressure for us to be the best version of ourselves. Whether you’re in a high-flying job, run your own business, are studying, or are looking for your next adventure, a little kindness goes a long way.
Yes, a morning routine is great. Yes, getting up at 5 am will give you a ton of extra time for self-care or to work on passion projects. Yes, you might even feel like you have more energy during the day.
But all of that is worthless if you are beset with guilt on the days when you don’t manage that early start.
If you’re interested in what my Miracle Morning routine looks like (on days when I get up a little earlier than usual), take a look at this article.
Jess Recommends
🖥 Watch: Project Africa (YouTube) — I’ve been watching Russ Cook (aka, The Hardest Geezer) run the length of Africa for almost a year. Not only is the whole thing incredibly entertaining but it’s an insight into parts of Africa you never see and is a testament to human endurance. I can’t recommend it enough.
✍️ Write: Scrivener (writing tool) — I’d been putting off getting Scrivener for years. But now that I’m working on a novel with a complex historical plot, I knew I needed something to help me keep everything in one place. Not only has Scrivener helped me to plot and research but it’s a great distraction-free writing tool too.
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