We all have some form of a routine in the morning. Some are meticulous down to the minute and others just wing it like riding an elephant in. I believe morning routines are incredibly important as they can set you up for a successful day or a devastating one. You can choose to smile and know your routine works for you or start with a frown or even worse, an excuse.
My morning routine actually starts the night before. In the life of a gym owner and personal trainer, our day usually starts somewhere between 5:30 to 6:30 AM. This requires discipline and planning to be successful every day. My current morning routine is much different than it was 12 years ago. Before children and running a gym, I used to take an hour and a half in the morning to prepare food, review work-out plans, and sit with my thoughts.
 
Now, with the stress of two kids and a business to run, I find quality sleep to be very important. I could be lying in bed sound asleep then 40 minutes later be working with my first client, educating and motivating them with a smile. I say this to point out that your routine can and should change to fit your lifestyle, personal, spiritual and business goals.
 
Now that I start my first client at 5:30 AM, my morning routine begins around 7:30 PM the night before. I pick out the outfit I’m going to wear, pack my gym bag, and make sure my food is ready for the next day. This allows me to sleep in an extra 15-20 minutes in the morning. When my alarm goes off at 4:50 AM I immediately wake up. This part is very important! Do not hit the snooze button. I repeat, do not hit the snooze button. I have a strong opinion towards the snooze button and will write another post about that later.
 
Once I wake up, I walk downstairs and drink 2 ounces of apple cider vinegar mixed with about 5 ounces of water. Acetic acid in ACV can promote weight loss and prevent fat from building up. It also contains polysaccharide, which promotes healthy bowel movements, as well as lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
 
These are only a few benefits of drinking ACV in the morning on empty stomach. If you research you can find many more. With that being said, be careful of all the hype that you read on the Internet about ACV. It’s not a magic bullet for everything. It alone can not get people in shape and lose all their fat in 3 weeks. ACV is simply part of a healthy lifestyle.
 
I brush my teeth and dress, then kiss my wife on the cheek, and head out with a 20 oz cup of warm water a half lemon, squeezed. (I had a grandmother that lived on her own till 99 years old and this was one of her tricks.)
 
Warm lemon water is amazing to cleanse your digestive system. Its high levels of vitamin C loosens toxins and boosts the immune system. With a proper pH balance, it’s also a wonderful way to hydrate your body after a good night of sleep. It aids weight loss by promoting digestion and increasing your metabolic rate.
 
Some mornings on the way to work I will pray. Some mornings I visualize how I want the day to go and what I want to achieve that day. And some mornings I listen to music or a podcast. I try to pray and plan more often than the music and podcasts.
 
And that’s my morning routine Monday through Friday. This helps create a successful day and gets me started on the right foot and in the right direction. What are your favorite tips to prepare for your day? Do you have systems in place? Try adding some new habits to help build a better day!