The Morning Routine

How you start your day can make or break it. Here’s what my morning routine looks like…

• I wake up at 4:50am
• I take a cold shower. Yes, cold. I do this for two reasons:
  1. Cold water on the skin causes blood to rush towards the skin in an attempt to warm it up. The blood stored in organs (which usually does not get circulated as much as other blood) comes to the aid which causes that blood to then circulate throughout the system.
  2. Starting the day by councuring the cold water early in the morning is a great way to set the tone for the day. First win of the day!
• I practice yoga… Kundalini Yoga to be more specific. My yoga practice consists of three parts:
  1. Breath (Pranayam) – Kundalini Yoga employs a wide range of pranayam, using the breath to effect and manage different states of consciousness, relaxation, and well-being.
  2. Kriya -The word kriya means action. In Kundalini Yoga a kriya is a series of postures, breath, and sound that work toward a specific outcome. Practicing a kriya initiates a sequence of physical and mental changes that affect the body, mind, and spirit simultaneously.
  3. Meditation – Meditation in Kundalini Yoga contains specific, practical tools that carefully and precisely support the mind and guide the body through the use of breath, mantra, mudra, and focus. The range and variety of meditation techniques in the Kundalini Yoga tradition is truly extraordinary.
• I get caught-up on the news that matters. I subscribe to Morning Brew, a free daily email that summarizes the most important news which can all be digested in minutes. Check it out!
• Sometimes… I’ll sneak-in a bit of reading into my morning routine. While I make time to read everyday, I don’t always do so as part of my morning routine. Reading is an important part of my personal growth. I am typically reading about three different books at any given time. The trick is to reading multiple books at the same time is that they are not on related subjects. For example, I will be reading a book on personal growth, a biography, and one on business development. I usually have one with me, one at home, and another at the office. That way, I can reach for a book when I have 10 or 15 minutes of downtime and learn something new.

The takeaway, start your day off right and get shit done!