The Power Hour

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I have a little obsession with the Power Hour Podcast, in which Adrienne Herbert interviews successful people about their morning routines. It turns out that a common thread is getting up early, taking the time to meditate, exercise, healthy breakfast…all without looking at phones/tech.

TBH, I mostly listen to this around 11am at the weekend, still in my PJs and drinking a hot chocolate. I am NOT a morning person and I marvel at these people who choose a run over an extra hour in bed.

While I may not be able to change the habit of a lifetime and wake up with the larks, I thought perhaps a little structure to my mornings could go a long way, so I decided to experiment…

After a few attempts at the 6:30am yoga classes at Breeze followed by a mad dash for the train to work, and some half-hearted runs around the local park, I’ve realised that that level of organisation in the morning is not my forte and a slower start to the day works best. My mornings for the last few months have settled into a lovely routine that takes around 90 minutes.

  • Waking up to a real alarm clock, rather than my phone, and not using my phone until I get to work

  • Making a cup of tea or hot chocolate and doing a 10-minute meditation with the CALM App while it cools down. Finishing the drink snuggled on the sofa for another 10 minutes or so and letting my mind wander.

  • Rolling out my yoga mat. TBH, yoga first thing in the morning seems a bit unnatural to me (does that make me a bad yogi?!) I feel so stiff and cold but persevere. A few rounds of sun salutes and warriors later, and I feel energised and ready for the day. Who knew yoga could be so transformative ;)

  • Shower with some delicious smelling soaps

  • Get ready and eat a healthy breakfast while listening to 6 music on the radio.

  • Head to work determined not to use my phone. Stare out of the window on the train or read a book.

    I arrive at work feeling as if I have already achieved a few things, paid attention to my mind and body, and given myself space to ease into the day.

Do you have a morning routine or rituals? What works for you? I would love to know.

Hannah Legg