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Feeling Unmotivated? This Morning Ritual Will Help You Get Sh*t Done
Thanks to my new puppy, I'm finally a morning person. After years of being a night owl, I have now been confined to a life of waking up at 3:30 and 5:30am to go tinkle, and sis is tired. I am sis. While this newfound lifestyle change has not necessarily been easy, it's allowed me to slide back into my morning routine like I never left and I have some tips that will help you get back on your grind, too.
Since the beginning of this quarantine, it's easy to get distracted and let anxiety overwhelm me, but the SAVERS morning routine has allowed me to slay the day like the savage that I am.
The routine, which I initially read about on Pinterest and adopted a few years ago, was inspired by The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life Before 8AM,a self-help book that promises to cure your productivity problems for good. And for this I Tried It, I put this theory to the test.
S.A.V.E.R.S stands for:
- Silence
- Affirmations
- Visualizations
- Exercise
- Reading
- Scribing
And to me, it is a foolproof method to leveling up your focus despite being stuck in quarantine.
As, hands down, the most distracted woman in the world, I brought this morning routine out of retirement for a week, and I must admit my mornings were actually pretty magical.
Silence
I wake up around 5:00am. Wipe my face down with Witch Hazel and brush my teeth. At that point, I take the puppy out to tinkle and begin my routine.
Once I come back in the house, I put the dog back in his kennel to sleep, and get some serious alone time (with myself). I spend the first 10 to 15 minutes of my day in silence. I pray during this time and use the opportunity to tell God thank you for all of the amazing things in my life. I also meditate and think about absolutely nothing. It helps to use apps like Headspace and Calm if meditation isn't really your thing.
Affirmations
@prettyhonore for xoNecole.com
Next, I move on to affirmations, which I often say in the mirror. I received Fearless Faith + Hustle: 21 Day Devotional Journey by Arian Simone at a Pajamas & Lipstick event in 2018 and it is full of affirmations for boss women. A few of them are:
- I am fearless in pursuing my destiny.
- I make decisions in alignment with my purpose.
- God supports my success.
- I am loved.
- I am a solution to someone's problem.
- I spend my time and energy in areas that are fruitful.
Remember to speak each of these affirmations with conviction and don't forget to say it with your chest.
Visualizations
After I speak life over myself, I'm ready to move on to the visualization part of my morning routine, which is probably more effective than you realize. I sit in silence and imagine myself accomplishing all of my goals for the day. I think about how productive and happy I want to be. I imagine the epic interactions I have (even in self-isolation) and I see myself at peace with how I spent my time.
Exercise
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Now, it's time to get that ass (and your heart rate) up with a brief workout.
I know. it's early. You're wondering who in the hell has time for this. But it's you, sis, you have time for this and you deserve to start your day with a burst of energy. I stretched and then moved into a quick circuit of at-home workouts.
Reading
Reading every morning can help you reduce stress, improve focus and concentration, and can even prevent memory loss, which makes it the perfect activity to incorporate into your morning routine.
I'm currently re-reading The Alchemist, which I try to read at least twice a year. But I would also recommend The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz or Acts of Faith by Iyanla Vanzant as great morning reading materials.
Scribe
@prettyhonore for xoNecole.com
Finally, it's time to use all of the morning motivation you've gained from the last five steps and get it all on paper. I use a modified version of bullet journaling in a bulleted notebook I got from Walmart for about $10 and I do a brain dump of everything I want to accomplish that day and then prioritize those items. I also like to use books with prompts or exercises during this time, this one is called How to Be Happy, Dammit: A Cynic's Guide to Spiritual Happiness.
I use this opportunity to release any thoughts or anxieties that I have—to get rid of any icky feels or unwarranted worries. I write letters to God and make a list of all the things I'm grateful for, which ultimately puts me in a kick-ass mood for the remainder of the day.
Next, I take a shower, get into my skincare routine, and get dressed to slay the living room.
My Thoughts:
This is totally something I would recommend for women who feel stuck and unfocused during quarantine. Self-isolation doesn't have to mean slacking on your to-do list and although this morning routine didn't completely solve my productivity problems, it allowed me to start and end my day with a little less anxiety and a lot more inspiration.
Do you have a morning routine that you swear by? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image courtesy of @prettyhonore.
- The Miracle Morning Solution - a 7-step morning routine ›
- A Concise Description of 6 Miracle Morning Savers - YouTube ›
- My Morning Routine - And Why You Need One Too | Boho Berry ... ›
- The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod (animated book summary) - How ... ›
- The 7-Step Morning Routine That Transforms My Entire Day ›
- The Miracle Morning For Writers | HuffPost ›
- Savers Daily Morning Routine — Morning Tips ›
- Start Your Day Off Right with the SAVERS Morning Routine ›
- The (6-minute) Miracle Morning - halelrod.com ›
- I tried the 'The Miracle Morning' productivity routine for a month ... ›
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Mariee Revere On Her History-Making Million-Dollar Sales And The Future Of MoonXCosmetics
If the name Mariee Revere sounds familiar, it's probably because you heard of her beauty and skincare brand, MoonXCosmetics, or you may have heard about her history-making achievement of making $1.8 million in less than eight minutes. But before starting her million-dollar brand, Mariee was just a teenager trying to cure her acne.
While she grew up in the skincare capital of the world, South Korea, Mariee didn't really experience breakouts until her senior year of high school. Like many people who get their first breakout, she didn't know what to do, and there weren't many products out there at that time. So she decided to experiment. What she didn't know was that what she came up with would ultimately be her ticket to success.
"When I graduated high school, I moved back to America, Georgia, and I ended up making, like, the oil, the Rose Galore oil, which is like the staple product of my brand. I don't know what made me make it, but I did, and it literally cleared my face up," she tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview.
"I end up selling it as a body oil first because, obviously, I'm 17, [and] don't have any background as an esthetician or anything like that. I just made a product that worked for me, but people bought it and was using it, and I reformulated it, and then it just stuck like with me."
While MoonXCosmetics is known for its facial products, it wants to expand to body care and home. It just released its new product, Moon-Gel body wash, and it's only up from there. As Mariee continues to grow the brand, it's more than likely that she will see more history-making moments. And so far she has.
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When asked if she feels pressure to obtain more of those milestones, she says yes and no. "I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more," she says.
"I want to say more reach than more like fast-paced sales. I do want that. Obviously, every girl wants that, but I do want to have a better overall reach for my brand because I did take two years off so I was able to learn, [and] study a lot of different things. See how things have changed from 2020 to now."
"I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more."
Another part of expanding for any company is hiring people. Finding the right person to help you can be a hassle, especially for business owners who are used to doing all the work themselves. Mariee can relate to this, and she touched on this topic in her documentaryThe Million Dollar Story. She recommends having someone be your "right-hand man" who you trust to handle the ins and outs of the company.
"I could say, definitely get, like a right-hand man to help you within the process because that really was what helped me. I never had a job. I literally was 18 now, being like, you know, the boss of over 30+ employees at one point in time, and I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything about no W-2s, no taxes, no clock in, clock out because all I [have] ever known was my brand," she explains.
"So I definitely partner with people who are very skewed and versed in those areas, and they helped me get through it. Even to this day, I still have my same person helping me with hiring, firing, [and] doing everything that I can right now because I'm still learning. But obviously people get jobs young, so they have way more experience than me, but still learning."
And though she is still learning, one thing she makes sure to stay on top of is being consistent. Consistency is what trips many people up when it comes to achieving goals, but Mariee says it's all about scheduling. Whether it's when to post on social media or email marketing, scheduling it out can make a world of difference. That same practice also works when planning out her future goals for the company.
"Right now, future goals would be to drop at least five more products before the end of the year. We always do outreach, where we do drives and all that, but definitely do way more this year, she says. "Then really dive into body [care], and then hopefully open up MoonXBody underneath MoonXCosmetics to let that branch out and be open and definitely get back consistent."
For more information, visit moonxco.com.
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