My Morning Routine: How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired

by Benjamin Spall, Michael Xander

ONE OF AMAZON'S BEST BUSINESS BOOKS OF 2018 SO FAR
ONE OF THE FINANCIAL TIMES' BUSINESS BOOKS OF THE MONTH UPON RELEASE
ONE OF BUSINESS INSIDER'S BEST BUSINESS BOOKS TO READ THIS SUMMER

'This small book carries the irresistible implicit promise that if you follow the morning routines of famous, important and successful people, you will become famous, important and successful yourself.' Financial Times

How are you spending your most valuable hours? The first few choices you make each morning can unlock greater productivity, creativity, and calm - or bring out your worst self.

Marie Kondo performs a quick tidying ritual to quiet her mind before leaving the house. The president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, Ed Catmull, mixes three shots of espresso with three scoops of cocoa powder and two sweeteners. Retired U.S.Army Four-Star General Stanley McChrystal works out at 4:00 AM every day for at least an hour.

Part instruction manual, part someone else's diary, My Morning Routine interviews sixty-four of today's most successful people - including Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter; Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post; and Michael Acton Smith, the CEO of Calm - and offers timeless advice on creating a routine of your own.

Some routines are all about early-morning exercise and spartan living; others are more leisurely and self-indulgent. Whether you want to boost your productivity, implement a workout or meditation routine, or learn to roll with the punches in the morning, this book has you covered.

Once you land on the right routine, you'll look forward to waking up.

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From inside the book:

'A big part of my morning routine is about what I don't do: when I wake up, I don't start the day by looking at my phone' - ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, founder of the Huffington Post and Thrive Global

'I travel a lot for work, so my days are always different. Having a morning routine really means fitting things in around everything else' - CAMERON RUSSELL, fashion model and cultural activist I

'if I don't get a chance to play with my son in the morning I feel like I missed something that I'll never get back' - BIZ STONE, cofounder of Twitter

'Find certain things you know you should do, don't like to do, or make excuses to avoid, and then do them every day' - STANLEY McCHRYSTAL, retired U.S. Army four-star general


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BENJAMIN SPALL AND MICHAEL XANDER are the founders of mymorningroutine.com. Spall has written for outlets including The Huffington Post, 99U, and The Next Web. Xander is a product designer and engineer.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Productivity, Audiobook, Business, Personal Development, Psychology

278 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

BENJAMIN SPALL is the founding editor of the online magazine My Morning Routine. He has written on the topic for outlets including the New York Times, the New York Observer, Quartz, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and more.

Reviews

[Nathan M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's nothing spectacular. I was interested in it at first because I have my own morning routine (we all do). But after reading thirty to forty pretentious douchebags drone on and on about how they can't start their day unless they run a half marathon and drink ice water from a melting glacier somewhere near Nepal, while snacking on quinoa and flaxseed, I decided I would rather bash myself in the head with the book than finish reading it. I get it: you're better than me. I learned nothing from the book and it for sure didn't inspire me in any way, other than making sure I don't ever end up acting like one of the people featured within its pages. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go put on some instrumental jazz music recorded by a group of homeless orphans while I Bing search for non-GMO USDA certified organic pure caffeine powder based protein smoothie recipes. I decided to incorporate those things into my morning routine after reading that it's what successful people do.

[Liong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I want to know more about successful people’s morning routines.

You will discover that people have a common morning routine every day.

One of my morning routines is making my bed.
The simple set things I can do to help wake up my mind and get ready and prepared for the day ahead.

Meditation is a popular morning routine in this book.

Statistics of the interviews show
7.29 hours of Sleep Average
6.24 a.m. Wake-up Average
10.57 p.m. Bedtime Average

A very interesting 🧐 book to read.

[Enzo Pérès-Labourdette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to be great, but it's just not for me. It's extremely repetitive and way too American for my taste, the culture gap is just too big. By "successful" people they mostly mean productive, I can't imagine these people being happy. Also the constant capitalism and product placement get's incredibly annoying. Some of the people were interesting, mostly the non-American NY-ers that seemed more down to earth. It did make me think about what I want to do with my mornings, so that's good. Also my tip, don't work out during your lunch breaks, just take a lunch break and chill the F* out.

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the way a group of people were interviewed on their morning routines. Additionally, sleep hygiene, the way tech is addressed in the morning, the way partners, exercise, breakfast and other aspects of going about life impacts their life. Not accessing phones, social media, emails etc before breakfast and while in bed is a sound idea, which may work for some.

CEOs, writers, entrepreneurs, and artists comprised of the majority of subjects, so I suppose like everything, wealth and privilege need to be considered.

I like routine myself and found it interesting and sometimes funny in the precise foibles and rhythms people have, sometimes to the minute calculation and zero deviation to the plan when it comes to time, food and exercise regime.

I cannot imagine waking at 3am to partake in exercise, the thought makes me want to vomit, but this will make some people happy. The authors provide the stats at the end, with the extremes to each question presented, along with the averages.

Not sure if I learned anything specific as I already lay my clothes out and maintain order in the kitchen before retiring for the night, so this was more of a voyeuristic look on how the other half live. I agreed with some of the more light-hearted subjects who recommended being fluid, not judging your routine to what others say theirs to be the best.

One gentleman said he doesn’t answer emails because if he doesn’t hear back in a couple of weeks the issue must have been resolved, and he’s trained people to not call him by not answering their calls. He does not use phone calls as part of his routine. So interesting. I have to delete delete delete as it comes.

I like this from Shane Parrish, founder of Farnam Street:

I’m not a fan of trying to solve common life problems with apps and software programs. Some basic old school planning and discipline do the job fine. And if you don’t have discipline, an app won’t help. That’s just my take. There’s a certain amount of technology fetishism that creeps in.

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Further adventures in routines...this could be a good companion to Currey's "Daily Rituals".
This one focuses on morning routines, and possible evening preparation for it. It's meant to be an inspiring thing that can help us make mornings better, or add something useful to them. One can dip to certain persons or certain themes (in 10 chapters), or just read all.
Each chapter ends with further tips on the theme. At the end is the conclusion of what to do next, some statistics that can be gathered from the interviews of 300+ people on the site (the book has chosen 64 people's interviews) like waking hour average, alarm clock use, breakfasts etc. Finally there's a small list of further reading.

The routines vary, though some similarity appears (of course). The questions are generally around sleep patterns, what people eat, workouts, use of electronics, etc. The chapters are:
1. the getting up, 2. productivity, 3. workouts, 4.meditation, 5.evening preparations, 6.sleep quality, 7.parenthood, 8.self-care, 9.travel routine, 10.failures and compromises.

Benjamin Franklin's way of achieving virtue is listed here, which I'm familiar with from his writings. The suggestion to get a dog is not really for me, but might work for some. Doing good in the morning seems to be also important because the willpower is strongest in the morning. And the getting up time is not about getting up early being the only answer, but choosing one that helps you get everything you want out of your morning.

Ultimately, what you can gather and use, and what details you put into morning are up to you; this is merely a book that suggests some ways (and also talks about ignoring some ways, which is nice). The point is to make the morning less rushed and feeling like you achieved something already, or at least making the morning so that it won't leave you feeling off the rest of the day.

I got a lot of useful ideas from this book: ways to exercise, on what to eat, and other routine ideas. Things that I can look forward to trying. :)

[Duaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take-Aways

1- Whether you’re an early riser or a late sleeper doesn’t matter. The choices we make during the first hour or so of our morning determine whether we have productivity and peace of mind for the rest of the day or whether it will clobber us over the head.

2- To carve out time after you wake up, set your alarm five minutes before your usual time. Add five minutes every week until you have created time to carry out a morning routine before rushing out of the door. Break the snooze button habit.


3- To start your morning, make your bed. Keep the television and your digital devices turned off. Listen to classical or soothing music. Do your prayers to feel gratitude. Going for a walk, run or bike ride sets a positive intention for the day.

4- Successful people who feel most alert and energetic in the mornings use this time to get as much done as possible.

5- Start your day with focus and intention. Create a to-do list at day’s end to work on in the morning. Writing tasks down frees your mind from thinking about what you need to do. Limit your list to five or six items, and work your way through it, crossing them off as you go. ​​​Tackle the most urgent items first, when you’re most alert and focused. Protect your productive morning time by scheduling calls, meetings and less-demanding tasks for later in the day.

6- Checking your email first thing upon waking generally isn’t a good idea; the moment you open your email you enter reactive mode, and you begin working on someone else’s agenda rather than your own.

7- A consistent exercise routine nourishes your mind, body and spirit. Incorporating a workout into your morning routine puts your day on a positive track. Try to vary your exercise. For example, do cardio activity one morning and weight training the next. If you haven’t worked out regularly, start with short, manageable exercises. A few push-ups, squats and stretches will get your blood flowing.


8- A meditation or mindfulness practice gives your day clarity, focus and a sense of peace. Meditation improves concentration, boosts focus, reduces stress and helps you sleep better.

9- Create an evening routine that helps you relax, let go of daily demands and organize the next morning. Evening activities that people find beneficial include selecting their clothes for the next day and getting their workout clothes ready. Write to-do lists at the end of the workday, and review the next day’s schedule. Waking up to a tidy home is nice, so clean up before bed. The time you spend winding down in the evening opens opportunities the next morning to meditate, pray, or write in a journal.


10- A good night’s sleep provides energy for your morning routine and enables high performance during the day. To get the best sleep possible, go to bed a little earlier, and follow consistent bedtimes and waking-up times. Make your bedroom a sleep haven by keeping it dark, quiet and cool. Invest in a high-quality mattress, and good pillows and bedding. Beginning in the late afternoon, avoid caffeinated beverages. When it’s time to go to sleep, make your bedroom a digital-device-free zone. Televisions and digital devices emit a blue light that interrupts your body’s natural circadian rhythms. You deserve to give yourself the best shot at your morning routine, and the best way to do that is by making sure you’re well-rested.”


11- Beginning the day with self-care and attention sets you up to handle whatever may follow. Every morning offers the possibility of a “clean slate” and the ability to start fresh. Taking care of your needs first thing helps you respond calmly and productively to the day’s challenges. The “me time” you enjoy in the morning’s quiet hours can become precious and necessary for your well-being.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I highly recommend this on audio. I was able to listen to at a fast speed as I got ready each morning.

I’m a total snoop and always love the morning and night routines on YouTube, so this was up my ally!

There is one narrator that is consistent who interviews and asks each person a series of set questions. The people being interviewed do change each time, which I enjoyed. The book is set up with themed chapters ( morning routines, night routines, mornings with kids, etc.)

It was repetitive but filled with good information ( both new info and reminders on how to maximize your morning and life.)

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting little book - although there's some repetition, I liked that not everyone followed the ban of looking at their phones first thing. I also like the categorisation of routines to help include people with kids and people who might travel a lot for work. I've picked up one or two things I'd like to practice which is great. Some of these are just crazy unrealistic though, but there had to be a few right?

[Karen Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little paperback oozes smugness from cover to cover - a procession of well-rested, zesty pre-dawn meditations, often accompanied by fresh coffee with a mysterious cherry aroma, followed by a full metal jacket sunrise workout and a disgustingly healthy breakfast, usually involving chia seeds.

I think Mark Wahlberg must've read it too . . . his morning routine, publicised this week, involving five pieces of steamed sweet potato, as it does.

Anyway, the book. It could have been a brilliant satire on first world preoccupation of self, but nope, it's for real.

And you know what: I loved every damn page.

Fascinating insights into the lives of a bunch of random people, all of whom are labelled by the authors as 'successful'.

Think my favourite is the bloke who claims responsibility for inventing 'bulletproof coffee'. Guess what he drinks at the start of every day. Oh, and he swallows 120 pills, because he intends to live until he's 180.

So a lot of this is 'don't try this at home'. At least, not in my home. But as I say, it's a fast fun read that is unlikely to have you pausing to hit the snooze button. Recommended.

[Márcia Monteiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read. Has many interviews and experiences from successful people but very much the freelancer and “american dream” type of people. Missing the real world experiences....

[elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the newsletter, and generally like learning about the minutiae of people's lives. In book form, the topic was super repetitive.
On the whole, famously productive people get up at 5am, work out for an hour every day, and meditate.

[Breanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unrelatable.

[Amir · Rating 3 out of 5]

مفید بود. کتاب برگرفته از وبسایت زیر هست که توسط نویسندگان کتاب اداره میشه و به بحث و معرفی روتین های صبحگاهی خوب می پردازه.
https://mymorningroutine.com

[Emily Duchon · Rating 5 out of 5]

my morning routine is one of those things i can't stand "tweaking." i'm my best in the morning--more creative, energetic, and fulfilled. throughout the day, those levels of positivity change. many of the tips in this book are things i normally do in the morning:
*exercise
*make coffee
*read a bit
*make the bed
anyway, if you're a morning person looking for inspiration, or would just LIKE to be more of a morning person, i think this has some insights that are worthwhile.

[Manas Saloi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these kind of books where you can get distilled learnings from successful people who have created routines/frameworks which allow them to get the most out of their lives.

I completely changed my morning routine based on ideas from this book. Highly recommend it.

[منال الندابي · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! It helped me a lot to start my own morning routine (and try to stick to it). It compiles interviews with so many people about their morning routines and really, it felt nice reading about how other people spend their mornings.
The book is a gentle reminder to embrace life as it is, to find yourself in a mad mad world and give yourself the space and time you need to take care of yourself (physically, emotionally and mentally).

The book is divided into chapters: Getting up, Focus and productivity, Morning workouts, Morning meditation, Evening routines, Sleep, Parents, Self-care, Different environments, and Adaptation. I loved this categorization. It gives a holistic view on every aspect of mornings and routines.

[Andreea Chiuaru · Rating 3 out of 5]

O carte ușoară și simpatică, numai bună pentru lectura de dimineață sau o lectură de weekend. Mi-a plăcut faptul că a fost structurată pe domenii. Nu vine cu momente „aha” și nu e un must-read, dar cu toate astea cred că avem de învățat un lucru important din ea: nu există rutina perfectă sau ora perfectă la care să te trezești. Cheia stă în adaptabilitate și potrivirea rutinei tale la viața ta de zi cu zi. În plus, mi-a dat idei pentru mici schimbări ușor de pus în practică.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked most about this audiobook is that it fully catered to my nosiness. I just love hearing about what other people do with their lives (and judging them), so listening to so many peoples' morning routines was really interesting. What I didn't like was that pretty much every person included in this book had various privileges that most "average" people do not. I understand that the book was about how "successful" people spend their mornings, but I wish it featured more morning routines that people practiced before reaching that level of noted "success", rather than just what they've been doing with their mornings now that they are successful and can afford to practice these morning routines.
These people have the time and money to stop and get breakfast/coffee every day, or spend time reading, or take yoga classes, before starting their work for the day. The most common thing I noticed in this book was that most of these people were, in general, in control of when their day started. Sometimes they might have "early meetings" that required them to alter their routine, but for the most part, they had control over when they started work without having to worry about being able to afford to pay their bills. I wish this book had mixed in more routines of people who have more rigid work hours, or earlier/later work shifts, or even people from a wider range of income levels whose morning routines would be affected by all these things.
The book did also include tips and best practices for crafting a morning routine that works for you, but it felt like a very small portion of the book was spent on this information, and I didn't really find that it was anything more profound or useful than what you could find yourself by googling "morning routine tips".

[Mai Anh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuốn sách này có rất nhiều gợi ý cho một buổi sáng thức dậy với nhiều thói quen tốt, được tập hợp từ nhiều bài phỏng vấn đến từ 64 người (thành công) trên thế giới.
Một số highlight về cuốn sách
- Build routine helps more for creativity not hammer it
- Morning routine should be for yourself: not check outside world but inside, do meditation, work-out, spend with kids and family
- Quality of sleep the night before impacts the morning routine, so it is must to have good sleep (maybe) by taking phone off, make to-do list and review today so our mind doesn't need to wander all worrisome of tomorrow.
- Create morning routine to work for us, not the reversal, be flexible when it doesn't turn out to be same as plan, when it does just pick up one or two important key and stick with it
- Morning routine can be kept while we do travel (some tips in books)

Các bài phỏng vấn được kể khá là chân thành và cởi mở, hầu hết mọi người đều dành buổi sáng để cho bản thân và gia đình, khi được hỏi điều gì quan trọng nhất với bạn vào buổi sáng, nhiều người nói rằng: đó là chào vợ/ chồng/ con cái và nói với họ rằng họ yêu vợ/chồng/ con mình; be present with every moment
Sách rất hợp với một đứa morning person như mình (dù dậy sớm nhưng vẫn không biết cách tận dụng thời gian để giải quyết nhiều việc trong ngày). Tựa sách nghe có vẻ to tát nhưng chia sẻ trong sách lại rất đơn giản và thiết thực.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the stories. I have a morning routine that works for me but I like to hear what others do and see if any tweaks I want to make. I have a few in mind now.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas. I enjoyed reading about so many people from diverse backgrounds and jobs and their morning routines.

[حاتم الشهري · Rating 5 out of 5]

لطالما آمنت أن هناك عناصر مشتركة بين كل فئة معينة من الناس، سواء على الجانب السلبي أو الجانب الإيجابي وهذا الإيمان كان حدسا حتى تم إثباته بقراءة كتاب (نجاحك في صباحك) لبنجامين سبول ومايكل زاندر ترجمة متعب فهد الشمري.

يؤكد الكتاب أن الطريقة التي يقضي بها المرء صباحه يكون لها الأثر الكبير على بقية يومه.

منذ أن قاما المؤلفين بإنشاء موقع (روتيني الصباحي) قاما باجراء مقابلات ونشر بيانات عن الروتين الصباحي لمئات الشخصيات الناجحة حول العالم، وتوصلا بشكل سريع إلى أن الكثير من الناس واعٍ بوجود طريقة ماء لبدء اليوم، واكتشفا عند التعمق أكثر فأكثر في لقاءات أولئك الناجحين وسؤالهم عن روتينهم اليومي أنه لا يوجد أحد منهم تقريبا يترك شيئا للصدفة.
إذن حدسي كان في محله إذ أنه وبقراءة صفحات الكتاب ستجد أن أغلب من فيه يشتركون في عدة صفات كالاستيقاظ مبكرا (6 صباحا) والجميل والغريب في آن واحد أن مقصد المؤلفين  (بالصباح) ليس شروق الشمس بل يعرفان الصباح بـ "وقت الاستيقاظ" سواء كان الاستيقاظ السادسة صباحا أو السادسة مساء؛ لأن فترة الاستيقاظ بمثابة منصة الانطلاق لبقية ساعات اليوم، وهذا لا يعني ضرورة الاستيقاظ مبكرا ولكن معناه وجوب استغلال فترة الصباح لإنجاز أكثر الأمور المهمة.

ربما تجد في هذا الكتاب أكثر من 300 روتين، وليس المقصود تطبيق أي روتين بحذافيره، ولكن المقصد أن يتم تزويدك بعدة طرائق للاستفادة من الساعة الأولى للاستيقاظ من أجل أن هذه الساعة هي حجر الأساس لبقية اليوم.

الكتاب يدفعك من أجل إحلال بعض العادات البسيطة الصباحية في يومك، من أجل أن تكون عادة أساسية في روتينك الصباحي.

هو لا يفرض عليك أي عادة أو أي روتين إنه فقط يعرض عليك روتين بعض أنجح الشخصيات على الكوكب..

يتم استخدام كلمة "روتين" في هذ الكتاب بمعنى إيجابي، وليس المقصود أداء أفعال رتيبة كل يوم؛ بل معناه أداء مهام ثابتة متسلسلة يكون لها أكبر الأثر في إنجاز المهام المنوطة بالمرء.

بنظرة خاطفة على الفهرس ستجد كم أن هذا الكتاب مشوّق، ويحمل بين طياته الكثير من المتعة فمرورا بكيف يبدأ النجاحون يومهم بكل حيوية، إلى الاستيقاظ إلى تمارين الصباح، ثم التركيز والانتاجية ثم تمارين الصباح والتأمل الصباحي ثم روتين الآباء والأمهات وغيرها من المواض��ع التي قطعا ستخرج منها بكمية وافرة من العادات الصالحة لادخالها في الروتين اليومي.

إن هذا الكتاب يؤكد مما لا يدع مجالا للشك أن أغلب الناجحين لا يدعون بدايات يومهم للصدفة، وأنهم حينما يخلدون إلى النوم فإنهم يعرفون ماذا سيقومون به في الغد، فهم لديهم مهام واضحة ومكتوبة ومحددة من أجل أن يتم إنجازها..

ولقد قاما المؤلفين بعمل رائع حينما جعلوا في الخاتمة إحصاءات (أرقام) عن جميع الأشخاص الذين تمت مقابلتهم وحللوا هذه المقابلات وشرحوها عبر متوسط الساعات التي يناموها وماهو متوسط عدد ساعات يومهم، لقد قاموا بتقديم معلومات من ذهب وحولوها إلى رقم؛ لأن الرقم الآن أصبح هو الذهب..

الكتاب من إصدارات دار مدارك، يقع في 431 صفحة من القطع المتوسط، الصادر في 2020م.

[Brad Lockey · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, this was good.
I’ve always found the morning to be a time of reflection and calm and amongst both of these, I’ve had deep work completed.
“Wake up at 5am, get shit done” was my old mantra.
Until I read this book I often woke up past 5am (parenting) and felt “behind”, in that I was rushing to get my daughter breakfast, dressed, ready and off for school; all while trying to answer some emails, check social media and answer some texts.
Now, regardless of when I do get up I am creating my own morning routine that I can be comfortable with.
It now starts with NOT touching my phone, but taking proper care of and giving focused attention to my daughter, getting her breakfast, grabbing a cup of coffee and talking to her while she eats, then getting her ready for school and out the door.

When I get back home I will then touch my phone and become reactive.
Before that, I choose to be proactive ... and therein lies a massive mindset shift.
Then, and only then, will I truly own my mornings.

A morning routine can be something so simple, but repeatable, that you can do anywhere.
When I’m on vacation can I wake up, spend real time with my family and not be reactive to a phone - sure can.
Can I etch out time for myself, and if I do get up at 5am can I avoid my phone and read, write and simply think - sure can.
Now, with any routine, it must be repeatable.
So, only time will tell if this does become a routine.
I certainly am hoping so and the fact that I’m writing this on January 2 is not planned at all around a New Years resolution.

Make the change, repeat it, win the long game.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book, and I'm going to be looking into buying this (took it out from the library). I feel like it has a lot of important information and advice for those of us who want to be a little more mindful or rested :)

LIKED: I enjoyed the way the book was put together, from everything from choices of who to interview, and the way the interviews and chapters were set up. One thing that I love and have taken from this book is when they ask if Shane Parrish uses apps or products to enhance the person's morning routine. He says no, and then says "How the heck did Isaac Asimov write five hundred books without an app?" ... and it really puts things into perspective about how important habits and routines are. It's really interesting reading about these morning routines. It seems like most of these people are awake by 6am, and another common thing mentioned is that they have their houses as clean as possible to have a peaceful morning

DISLIKED: Didn't really dislike anything at all about this book! Very helpful and well done.

Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a little organization or tips for how to get better sleep. There's a lot of fantastic stuff in here that is making me want to just go out and buy this book. I'm giving it 5 stars just because it has already helped me so much :)

[Ujjwal Goel · Rating 4 out of 5]

From artists who rise at the crack of dawn to
record their dreams and CEOs who swear by half an hourʼs meditation to
Olympic athletes who canʼt do without an early morning workout, there are
plenty of examples to fire your imagination

[Tatiana Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite poor rating here (below 4) i should say, it's a great book. In every book there is something that good (or not) for you at the moment you are reading it - reflections/ vibrations i don't know how to explain. Now i try to find the way to challenge and change my daily routine, so this book is an inspiration!

[Amanda Seifried · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed reading the blog over the years and was excited for the book.

The premise of the book is things you do in the day set the tone for the rest of the day. This book is not about telling you THE morning routine but encouraging you to find A morning routine that works for you. Ideally a morning routine helps you feel accomplished and primes your brain for the rest of the day.

It was generally a light read, that called heavily on blog content and reprinted many interviews in full. I wonder if it might have worked better as a coffee table book, as it doesn’t feel like there was much original writing nor synthesis / deeper analysis of the interviews that were previously conducted for the blog. I’d recommend it if you’ve never read the blog, but if you have, you’re not likely to get much more out of it.

Ideas
Use do not disturb or airplane mode on your phone to avoid checking email or social media first thing
Don’t sleep with your phone or electronics in your room
Focus on gratitude and things you are thankful for
Take yourself outside in the AM
Voice record your dreams and how they made you feel
Morning pages: Three pages of brain dumping (handwritten)
Don’t snooze or sit up when you snooze the alarm
Build a workout habit - doesn’t matter what you do. Working out in the AM burns more fat
Mid day meditation
Build in mindfulness in regular errands (i.e. waiting for tea to brew)
Hawthorne principle: study what you’re doing and change it up regularly
Schedule your weekly work outs on Sunday
Write down your morning routine
Write down your to do list at the end of last work day / have a shutdown routine; add incoming tasks during the day to a task inbox
Keep your mornings for thinking work if you can (few meetings)
Use waking up as the trigger, with each step triggering the next step

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are not normal people, interviewed about their morning routines - they are CEO’s, tech-industry entrepreneurs and self-employed creatives. Most of them have a lot of flexibility in how they schedule their day and some of them are pretty off-putting in their lack of awareness of their privilege (looking at you, Amber Rae). Maybe this is why the website the book springs from is interesting, but it makes the book feel less relevant for the reader. Also, the format, which I assume is taken straight from the website, fails at times. It reads as if the respondents answered the questions in writing. That is, the questions don’t respond to the answers. The worst examples I noted were when Scott Adams said he doesn’t meditate in the morning because he has mastered self-hypnosis, which he says is far superior to meditation, and the next question is about his email! Or, MG Siegler repeatedly refers to the fact that he drinks a bottled frappuccino in the morning, and then the last question is what is his first drink in the morning? (Duh.) That is just lazy. I did pick up a few ideas that I can think about how to apply to my mornings, but there is nothing particularly earthshaking here.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of various morning routines. While this is definitely geared to people who work outside the home, there were some good nuggets that appealed to me to help me establish my own morning routine.

I could see some common themes in the responses: rising between 6-6:30, delaying picking up their phone, some sort of mindfulness activity, and reading.

[Michael Huang]

The collection of ideas of 64 successful people’s morning routines. It’s a varied lot: some people meditate, others work out, yet others check emails or read. In the end, whatever works for you works for you. But having a more or less fixed routine is a common thread among the lot.