Life With The Libbys | My Morning Routine & The 5AM Club
My inspiration for a new morning routine began when I started getting clear on my goals for the new year.
My word of the year was clarity. I wanted to feel clear, focused, intentional in all aspects of my life. The past year was such a beautiful blur. Having a baby flips your whole world around - in the best and most challenging ways.
Early postpartum day to day looks different, your body feels unfamiliar, your mind not quite as sharp. Your success is no longer measured by productivity or big dream chasing but rather the small joys in the mundane as you adjust to new life. Trying to slow time down to embrace each moment, fearful it will go by too fast.
Slowly life went back to normal, I went back to work and busy season was among us. It felt like we were just constantly checking off the to-dos and had little time for anything extra to dream, learn, be still. Never feeling like there are enough hours in a day.
So I decided to make more. Be more intentional with my time, question my habits, restructure our days. Take advantage of this quieter season to create habits I could sustain in the busy season to bring more clarity into my life.
So I implemented a new morning routine after reading The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma and I wanted to share it with you as I have seen a huge transformation in my energy, my clarity, my productivity, and all around mental health.
The book shares all the research and benefits behind waking up early as well the 20/20/20 Formula I'm about to share. So I highly recommend you read it to dive into some of the bigger details.
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My morning starts in the evening. The night before really sets the tone for my next day. We typically eat dinner early (toddler life) and I usually have 2 hours after G goes to bed that I can settle in for the night. I use this time to organize what my morning looks like. Before bed I always...
gratitude journal
set out my workout clothes & roll out my yoga mat
pick out my movement & meditation and put them in my notes app
set an alarm
read
We typically make our way upstairs around 9pm and try to be asleep by 10pm. I've been good about no phones in bed and usually read 1-2 chapters of a fiction novel before falling asleep.
& here's what my morning looks like...
5:00am - Wake Up & Move
I set my hatch light to turn on a little before 5am hoping it will wake me up before my alarm so I don't bother Cole but it doesn't always work that way. I go out into our loft, change my clothes, and begin with 20 minutes of movement. In the 5AM Club book he recommends doing a vigorous workout that makes you sweat. Maybe someday I'll get to that but for right now I've been leaning into what feels good (and doesn't wake up the whole house) which is a yoga/pilates flow from Melissa Wood Health.
5:20 - 5:40 - Reflect
During this segment, I start with a meditation and end with journaling. I prefer guided meditations. MWH has some on her app or a few others I've found on youtube that I like are Deepak Chopra's Abundance Meditations or Gabby Bernstien's All is Well Meditation is a quick 5 minute go-to. Then I do my 5 Minute Gratitude Journal and if I have extra time or feel a calling to do so I free write in my journal with something that's on my mind.
5:40 - 6:00 - Learn
During this time I dive into reading but I know others listen to a podcast or audio book. I love personal development books but I feel like I never have enough time to read them all so this is my favorite time of the morning. Lately I start with reading 1-2 of the essays in 101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna West and then I'll dive into the book I'm reading which is currently Money: Master The Game by Tony Robbins.
(Thinking of maybe doing a future blog post with a round up of my favorite personal development books)
6:00 - Conquer the Day
If I'm lucky and Grey is still sleeping, I'll grab my coffee and continue reading or if she's awake I'll go in and start my day with her.
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I've been doing this new routine for almost 2 months and I'll admit, I'm not perfect. Some days Grey interrupts or I need a Sunday sleep in day but on those days I still try to find a modified version of this when she naps or whenever I get a chance for some movement, meditation, and reading. I've seen a huge shift in my life since starting this and it was exactly what I needed after a season of new motherhood. I know as a mom and busy business owner it won't always look like this but for right now, I can honestly say I'm loving it and look forward to my mornings alone and starting my days putting myself first.
What does your morning routine look like? Did this inspire you? Have you read The 5AM Club? I love talking about it so shoot me a message and share your experience.
