Feeling Unmotivated? This Morning Ritual Will Help You Get Sh*t Done

Silence

I wake up around 5:00am. Wipe my face down with Witch Hazel and brush my teeth. At that point, I take the puppy out to tinkle and begin my routine.

Once I come back in the house, I put the dog back in his kennel to sleep, and get some serious alone time (with myself). I spend the first 10 to 15 minutes of my day in silence. I pray during this time and use the opportunity to tell God thank you for all of the amazing things in my life. I also meditate and think about absolutely nothing. It helps to use apps like Headspace and Calm if meditation isn't really your thing.

Affirmations

Next, I move on to affirmations, which I often say in the mirror. I received Fearless Faith + Hustle: 21 Day Devotional Journey by Arian Simone at a Pajamas & Lipstick event in 2018 and it is full of affirmations for boss women. A few of them are:

• I am fearless in pursuing my destiny.
• I make decisions in alignment with my purpose.
• God supports my success.
• I am loved.
• I am a solution to someone's problem.
• I spend my time and energy in areas that are fruitful.

Remember to speak each of these affirmations with conviction and don't forget to say it with your chest.

Visualizations 

After I speak life over myself, I'm ready to move on to the visualization part of my morning routine, which is probably more effective than you realize. I sit in silence and imagine myself accomplishing all of my goals for the day. I think about how productive and happy I want to be. I imagine the epic interactions I have (even in self-isolation) and I see myself at peace with how I spent my time.

Exercise

Now, it's time to get that ass (and your heart rate) up with a brief workout.

I know. it's early. You're wondering who in the hell has time for this. But it's you, sis, you have time for this and you deserve to start your day with a burst of energy. I stretched and then moved into a quick circuit of at-home workouts.

Reading

Reading every morning can help you reduce stress, improve focus and concentration, and can even prevent memory loss, which makes it the perfect activity to incorporate into your morning routine.

I'm currently re-reading The Alchemist, which I try to read at least twice a year. But I would also recommend The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz or Acts of Faith by Iyanla Vanzant as great morning reading materials.

Scribe

Finally, it's time to use all of the morning motivation you've gained from the last five steps and get it all on paper. I use a modified version of bullet journaling in a bulleted notebook I got from Walmart for about $10 and I do a brain dump of everything I want to accomplish that day and then prioritize those items. I also like to use books with prompts or exercises during this time, this one is called How to Be Happy, Dammit: A Cynic's Guide to Spiritual Happiness.

I use this opportunity to release any thoughts or anxieties that I have—to get rid of any icky feels or unwarranted worries. I write letters to God and make a list of all the things I'm grateful for, which ultimately puts me in a kick-ass mood for the remainder of the day.

Next, I take a shower, get into my skincare routine, and get dressed to slay the living room.

My Thoughts:

This is totally something I would recommend for women who feel stuck and unfocused during quarantine. Self-isolation doesn't have to mean slacking on your to-do list and although this morning routine didn't completely solve my productivity problems, it allowed me to start and end my day with a little less anxiety and a lot more inspiration.

Do you have a morning routine that you swear by? Let us know in the comments!