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
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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
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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.