The 6-Step ‘Miracle Morning’ Routine That Can Change Your Life Before 8 AM

No matter how much of an early bird or optimist you are, there will inevitably 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. regimen can provide a sense of control (anyone else a perfectionist?), give your brain a break from decision fatigue, and set the tone for the day ahead; it’s the science-backed way to have more energy, productivity, and positivity. But how you start the day 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 ritual. Cue “The Miracle Morning.”

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 it takes is adopting six habits—or S.A.V.E.R.S., as Elrod refers to them—after you get up to feel less stressed and more motivated. But what is it exactly, and how truly miraculous is it? Ahead, the full rundown of “The Miracle Morning.” Plus, tips for how to implement it 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 helpful guides if you choose to meditate, you can start by simply setting aside time to do five to 10 minutes of focused 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 quiet activity you choose, it allows you to sit with your emotions and work through them, kicking off your day feeling calmer and more grounded. Plus, it 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.

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 for the practice to make a real difference, picking an affirmation that’s tailored to you rather than the generic “I am beautiful” or “I am enough” phrases is a must. To find an affirmation that resonates, think about your goals, beliefs, and desires. For example, “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.” Once you have your affirmation down pat, 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 method 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 manifests your goals 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 “perfect” day and witness yourself embracing it with ease, confidence, and enjoyment.

Say you have a work presentation coming up; picture yourself confidently walking into the meeting wearing your favorite power suit and delivering all the details on point. If you’re trying to become consistent with your workouts, you might envision yourself waking up Monday through Friday crushing the 4-2-1 workout method; feel the satisfaction after, bringing that image and sensation 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 imply waking 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, retro walking, or doing a short yoga flow.

5. Read 10+ pages of a book

Curling up with a good book may be 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 girl, even reading a fictional book bright and early can help boost your mood and stimulate learning and personal development. Then there’s reading something you love and are enthralled in first thing, which 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 jotting down a gratitude list before starting your day. Journaling gives you the chance to release your thoughts from your mind, 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 topic 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-dos. Feeling 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, give these prompts a go for some direction.

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 already 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 three steps that speak the most to you and focus on those.

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 order, figure out what works for you. Make The Miracle Morning work to your advantage. This might require some experimentation—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 goes off (whether to sleep more or scroll on my phone) leaves me groggy and unmotivated. So, I always make sure to get out of bed right when my alarm sounds. Hitting snooze takes away precious (limited) time that could be spent fitting in your Miracle Morning. But if you don’t feel ready to hop out of bed right away, you don’t have to: You can start your Miracle Morning by keeping your book of choice or journal by your bed or sitting in silence and taking some deep breaths before your feet hit the floor.

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 ahead of time can trick your mind into feeling more awake. Plan out your Miracle Morning—your affirmation, movement, journaling prompt—the night before so you have a purpose as soon as you open your eyes. While I’m a morning person who doesn’t have trouble getting out of bed, going to sleep with a positive motive for the following day not only shifts my mindset for the better, but it also allows me to relinquish whatever fears or worries are troubling me at the moment—and I get a better night’s rest because of it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arianna Reardon, Contributing Writer

Arianna is a Rhode Island native, professional blogger, and freelance writer. She’s passionate about helping women develop healthy relationships with money, become financially independent, and invest in themselves for the future. Arianna is a firm believer in going after what you want, taking time to stop and smell the roses, and the importance of a good cocktail.

READ ARIANNA’S FULL BIO

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer

Katherine Chang is The Everygirl’s Wellness Staff Writer with over five years of experience in the health and wellness space. She navigates the latest wellness topics and trends through expert interviews and studies, and she’s always first in line to try them firsthand.

READ KATHERINE’S FULL BIO

Feature graphic images credited to: BBG Vibes | Dupe, Marina Trindade | Dupe, Jules Moore | Dupe, Laura Machado | Dupe, Amanda Phuong | Dupe

The post The 6-Step ‘Miracle Morning’ Routine That Can Change Your Life Before 8 AM appeared first on The Everygirl.