Gentleman,

Our lives are very hectic. Between taking care of ourselves, our families, our co-workers, our business, and our friends, let’s face it…..we’re tired. Despite being tired however, we have to carry on each day with more strength than the day prior. Those very people listed count on us to be there for them no matter what. What is even better is having a spouse who supports your superman abilities and in turn, supporting her super woman abilities because just an inside tip, Mom’s are the real heroes. I would be nothing without my Wife! If you have kids, think about all the diapers, feedings, attention, etc. No wonder Mom’s are constantly running on E.

So what does that mean Guys?

We have to be on our A game as often as we can. This begins with how we start our day!

If your morning involves you crawling out of bed after the 5th snooze, crawling into the kitchen praying the coffee is already made, barely getting dressed and slowly pouting while walking out the front door for a job you hate, then that is where we need to start.

The funny thing is, a lot of guys start their day like this. A solid morning routine really begins the night before. Having a good night time routine is even more important, but we will save those tips for another post.

The first tip is to find a time that works for you to set an alarm and actually wake up. This needs to be a time that gives you enough time to attack the morning obstacles and not feel rushed or stressed. My time is 5:20am. I have tried waking up at 3am, 4am, 5am, etc. You name it, I have tried it. However, I finally landed on 5:20am.

I charge my phone in the bathroom at night. This forces me to get up and walk into the bathroom to turn the alarm off. By then, I am already up and standing in front of the bathroom sink. This moment is the most crucial part of your whole day! You are faced with the decision to stay up and attack your day or lay back down and hit the snooze button. Just understand, if you lay back down with your beloved snooze button, you will be “snoozing” every decision you make that day.

Assuming you did not go back to bed….I would recommend splashing water on your face or simply washing your face. The water will help you wake up and feel alert. The light in the bathroom will also tell your brain that it is time to stay awake. I am not saying you wont feel tired, however these small steps will begin to tell your body, “Hey, this is what we’re doing every day….get over it!” Mental discipline is the name of the game with everything we do as Men. Begin by telling yourself each morning that this is the new normal. Over time, your subconscious will hear it and believe it as well.

After the bathroom items are taken care of, I always go into the kitchen for some water. Begin by drinking 12-16 ounces of water upon waking. I like to add Lemon to my water to help wake my digestion system up. Just a side note, if you have never done this, you may need to use the bathroom shortly after. Just be ready.

By this time, you have been awake for 15-20 minutes and have already done more than you usually have done. You will begin to feel more accomplished which will translate into the rest of your day.

At this point, you are free to do anything that will set your day up for success. People like to read, meditate, pray, workout, etc. I like to check my calendar on the computer so I can begin to script my day. This allows me to stay organized and attack my daily responsibilities.

After I check my calendar and emails, I will make my pre-workout drink. I like to use “Pre-Kaged” and “Creatine.” Very simple and provides me with what I need to workout for about an hour. While drinking this, I will walk the dog and enjoy the early morning breeze outside. There is absolutely nothing better than waking up early and spending some time outside in the quiet. This is a great time to collect your thoughts and really take time to yourself.

I like to think of this time as the only part of my day to be selfish. When we are in “Dad” mode, we like to fix problems. We see an issue and attack it head on! We give advice to people, we comfort, we lead, guide and direct others. Our entire day is spent focusing on others right? So when do we get time for us? Early in the morning!! Get up early enough that your significant other, children, co-workers, employees and family members are still asleep. You know you wont get any phone calls, text messages or questions. Take this time to think about your dreams. Maybe those dreams you used to have, but put to the side because work took over or you had kids and simply don’t have time to dream anymore.

“I like to think of this time as the only part of my day to be selfish.”

Take this time to be thankful. Thank God for everything you DO have. Those crazy munchkins running around stressing you out. That beautiful, but exhausted wife who enjoys sleeping late because that is HER alone time. Your house that you love to pay for on the 1st of every month. That car that was to expensive to buy. That AC unit that broke and you had to repair. These things can seem like burdens in life, but don’t ever take these things for granted. It is easy to find your identity in your job, your family or something else. However, if all of it was stripped away, who would you be?

Having something concrete like a morning routine will allow you to be more structured, hold yourself accountable, but most importantly, attack the day early and set your entire day up for success.

Below I have attached my personal morning routine.