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Revising my Mornings
Mornings.
If you would have asked me ten or even two years ago if I would love morning, I would have emphatically told you "No!" I would snooze my alarm numerous times, actually setting it at least 30 minutes before I absolutely had to be out of bed. Sleep was paramount to everything. After it was inevitable that I had to emerge from my cozy cave, I then had to rush around, getting myself and my son ready for the day. Sometimes I would have time to make a quick coffee in a to-go cup, and we would be out the door.
I spent years with my mornings ruling me.
A well-known framework I came across a few years ago, Hal Elrod's, The Miracle Morning, seems like A LOT! I get it. When I first read the book, I was in the throes of chaotic mornings but recognized I wanted it to change. But I was overwhelmed by his proposal of what "should" be part of a morning routine.
Now I'm returning to it.
Elrod built his method around six practices, bundled into an acronym:
SAVERS.
Silence - a few quiet minutes of stillness before the noise of the day begins, whether that's
meditation, prayer, or just breathing.
Affirmations - statements you speak to yourself about who you're choosing to be that day. Visualization - mentally rehearsing the day or the life you want, rather than defaulting to whatever version shows up.
Exercise - even a few minutes of movement to wake the body along with the mind.
Reading - a small amount of material that feeds growth or perspective, in place of scrolling.
Scribing - journaling, to get thoughts out of your head and onto the page where you can actually see them.
I'm now coming to mornings with a Life Drafting mindset of process over perfection. I am loosely adopting the formula while making my own edits. The beauty of it is that the amount of time is completely flexible, ranging anywhere from a few minutes on each step to spending a leisurely hour on any one of them depending on your schedule. They can be ordered however makes sense to you. You don't have to wake up at 5am, unless that's your thing. But I highly recommend that you find start your day with at least 15 minutes with yourself.
Journal Prompts
If I could only choose three things to include in my morning, what would make the cut — and why those three?
What does my body actually need first thing, versus what I think it "should" need?
When have I had a morning that felt like mine? What was in it?
What am I currently doing in the morning out of habit, not intention — and what would I replace it with?
If my morning had no rules, what would I want it to look like?
What's one thing I'm willing to give up 15 minutes of sleep for?
Affirmations
I get to design this morning, not just survive it.
My morning belongs to me before it belongs to anyone else.
I choose what goes on this page today.
Retreat Announcement:
I have a tentative plan for our annual planning retreat . . . Drafting Your Year, 2027!
I am having it local, tentatively Saturday, December 5 (full 6ish hour day) and Sunday, December 6 (morning 3ish hours) downtown Richmond at Holistic Life Studios. It will be free for members, but I am welcoming others to attend as well, so think about who might benefit:) Stay tuned while I iron out details.
Office Hours: Office Hours for September are Thursday, September 17. This is for Editor's Circle Coaching Members as well as any Guided Revision Coaching Members who would like to touch base between scheduled coaching appointments. HERE is the link to schedule a 30-minute slot
The Weekly Draft: happens every Sunday evening at 7pm at this link. Come prepared to reflect on the past week and draft the upcoming week. It is meant to be a heads down, co-planning time, with me being available to share strategies and/or answer questions. Join me HERE
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