"No matter how positive you are or how much you love mornings, there will always be days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed; that’s where the beauty of a morning routine comes in. Having a solid a.m. routine can provide a sense of control, give your brain a break from decision fatigue, and set the tone for the day ahead—it’s the secret to a successful life (and the science-backed benefits prove it). But your morning routine doesn’t have to be elaborate or anything revolutionary. It can simply mean taking the tried-and-true basics from what we know from psychology and wellness to make an achievable morning routine that can increase productivity, motivation, and energy levels. Cue “The Miracle Morning.”
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Popularized by host of the Achieve Your Goals podcast, Hal Elrod, and his 2012 productivity book, The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM), The Miracle Morning is a six-step morning routine designed to level up your life. According to Elrod, it’s “the fastest way to wake up every day and create the life you’ve always wanted,” and the best part is that you don’t have to be a morning person to make it happen. All you have to do is adopt and implement six habits—or S.A.V.E.R.S, as Elrod likes to call them—into your a.m. routine to feel less stressed and more focused and motivated. But what is it exactly, and how truly miraculous is it? Ahead, everything you need to know about “The Miracle Morning,” including what it is and the six steps it entails. Plus, tips for how to implement “The Miracle Morning” into your life.
“The Miracle Morning is the fastest way to wake up every day and create the life you’ve always wanted”
The Six Steps of The Miracle Morning
1. Allow for silence
Our lives are filled with so much noise and so many distractions that we often forget to check in with ourselves until we’re on the brink of losing our sh*t. While apps like Calm, Headspace, and Open can be great guides if you choose to meditate, you can start by simply setting aside time to focus on your breath and doing five to 10 minutes of deep breathing. If that still feels out of reach, look for ways you can savor silence throughout the morning; it might be while you’re sipping your morning coffee, brushing your teeth, or even walking to the mailbox.
Whatever activity you choose, setting aside time for silence allows you to sit with your emotions and work through them accordingly; that way, you can enter your day feeling calmer and more grounded. Plus, sitting in silence can boost creativity and release stress and anxiety, so you’ll feel less overwhelmed even when you have a lot on your plate. Repetition is key here, and allowing yourself this silence will help you feel more present and in tune with yourself.
2. Choose a personalized affirmation to set the tone for your day
Affirmations work to rewire your subconscious mind and help release limiting self-beliefs, which is why they’re a crucial step in The Miracle Morning. But the key is picking an affirmation that’s tailored to you rather than the generic “I am beautiful” or “I am enough” phrases. To find an affirmation personalized for you, think about your goals, beliefs, and desires. For example, something like “I am a smart and successful [insert job title], and my work is helpful and meaningful” or “I have worked hard for my success, and I deserve to be recognized for my achievements with a promotion” would work. Once you’ve figured out what your affirmation is, repeat it out loud to yourself or write it down and place it somewhere you’ll see throughout the day.
3. Mentally rehearse what you want to achieve
The practice of visualization involves picturing what you want in life and placing yourself in that mental image. It increases optimism, releases anxiety, improves decision-making and problem-solving skills, and allows you to bring your goals to fruition because you’re vividly imagining yourself in your ideal situation. Similar to affirmations, mentally rehearsing what you want to achieve allows you to subliminally influence your thoughts and beliefs, along with your habits and behavior patterns. Elrod recommends setting aside five minutes each morning to visualize your ideal day and witness yourself performing everything with ease, confidence, and enjoyment.
For example, if you have a work presentation coming up, picture yourself confidently strolling into the meeting wearing your favorite power suit with your hair and makeup on point and delivering all your points with ease. If you’re trying to become consistent with your workouts, you might envision yourself waking up Monday through Friday donning your favorite tennis skirt to hit the court; you’ll feel the burn in your muscles and adrenaline rushing through your body, bringing that image and feeling to fruition. If you need help gathering inspiration, turn to your vision board or Pinterest to get a clearer mental picture of what you’re trying to make happen.
4. Move within 1-2 hours of waking up
Exercising in the morning can boost focus and energy levels throughout the day, but according to research, it can also reduce caffeine dependence and enhance your social life. And if that’s not enough incentive, working out in the first hour of your day can also help you maintain a consistent morning routine, which in turn makes it easier to practice the self-discipline and personal development needed for success. But that doesn’t mean you have to wake up at 5 a.m. to run eight miles or get in a serious HIIT workout before work. Instead, Elrod emphasizes the importance of moving your body to get blood flow and oxygen to your brain, whether that’s stretching for 10 minutes, taking your dog for a walk (increase the intensity with this hack), or doing a short yoga flow.
5. Read 10+ pages of a book
Curling up with a good book is way more common in the evenings, but reading in the morning has its perks: It can enhance creativity, improve concentration, and promote better sleep quality. Elrod encourages reading at least 10 pages of a motivational self-help book or religious text first thing, but if you’re not a self-help girlie, even reading a fictional book bright and early can help boost your mood and stimulate learning and personal development. Plus, knowing you get to read something you love and are enthralled in first thing will naturally make you more excited to wake up and start your day.
6. Personalize your “scribe” routine
The last and final step in the miracle morning routine is scribing, which is really just a fancy name for writing or journaling. This can look like free-flow writing in a notebook, answering journal prompts, or writing a gratitude list before starting your day. Journaling not only allows you to release your thoughts from your mind and get them out onto paper, but studies have also found that it can lead to better sleep, a stronger immune system, more self-confidence, and a higher I.Q.
The important part is picking the journal prompt or exercise that you need that day. If you feel stressed, try a self-therapy sesh and set a timer to 60 seconds while you brain dump worries and to-do’s to release your stress onto paper. If you feel inspired, manifestation journaling can help you tap into your best self and strategize how to get closer to your dream life. If you’re unsure where to start or find yourself stumped on what to write (because you may have those kinds of mornings, too), try these prompts for some inspo.
Tips for Trying The Miracle Morning
It can be as short (or as long) as you want
If you’re thinking, How can I fit six steps into my morning routine when I’m struggling to get out the door every morning!? rest assured, you can make The Miracle Morning routine as short or as long as you want. If you don’t have a lot of time in the morning, you don’t need an hour to knock out all six steps; you can do it all in the span of 15 minutes (think: 3 minutes of sitting in silence, 1 minute of affirmations, 5 minutes of movement, etc.), or pick the top three steps that resonate most with you and focus on those. Tweak The Miracle Morning according to how much time you have in the morning and spend more time on the steps that benefit you the most.
Perform the practices in the order that works best for you
Elrod suggests performing the six practices in any order that best suits your schedule. Here’s my take: Since I’m always the first one up in my house, I savor my alone time by enjoying my coffee with a fiction book before hopping on the treadmill for a workout. From there, I’ll shower, read the daily passage from The Book of Awakening, meditate, visualize, and repeat my daily affirmation (if I’m struggling with something or stressed, it’s “May all beings suffering be happy and free,” or if I could use more self-confidence, it’s “I am unshakeable, I am unmovable, I am unflappable”). Lastly, I’ll finish with free-flow writing in my notebook to clear my mind, so I feel ready to dive into work and take on the day.
Instead of worrying about following the practices in perfect order, figure out what works for you. Make The Miracle Morning work to your advantage. This might require some experimentation, but that’s OK—give yourself time to get acquainted with the rituals and make adjustments as needed. Remember: No morning routine is one-size-fits-all.
Start as soon as you wake up
As tempting as it is to hit the snooze button, I’ve found that staying in bed after my alarm (whether sleeping more or scrolling through my phone) often leaves me groggy and unmotivated. So, I always make sure to jump out of bed right when my alarm goes off. Laying in bed scrolling or snoozing the alarm clock is taking away precious (limited) time that could be spent fitting in your Miracle Morning, and you’ll feel more energized throughout your day. If you don’t feel ready to hop out of bed right away, you don’t have to: keep your book of choice or a journal by your bed, or even plan to sit in silence and take some deep breaths before getting up. You can start your Miracle Morning as soon as you open your eyes before you even get out of bed if that feels better to you.
Plan it out the night before
Most people dread their alarm going off the next morning. Imagine how much better you’d feel every day if you were excited to wake up the next day. According to Elrod, setting an intention that you’ll wake up feeling inspired and energized can trick your mind into feeling more awake. Plan out your Miracle Morning (what will you journal about, how will you move, what is your affirmation?) the night before so you have something motivating to look forward to and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. While I’m a morning person who doesn’t have trouble getting out of bed, this still has been a game-changer for my sleep. Going to bed with a positive intention for the following day not only shifts my mindset for the better but also allows me to relinquish whatever fears or worries are plaguing me at the moment—and I get a better night’s rest because of it.