Picture this: The alarm goes off, and you instinctively reach for the snooze button. Just ten more minutes, you tell yourself. But those ten minutes turn into twenty, and before you know it, you’re rushing out of bed, already feeling behind. Whether you’re juggling the morning routine of getting the kids ready for school, preparing for a packed day of meetings, or managing a never-ending to-do list, the morning feels like a whirlwind. The house is in chaos—everyone’s hungry, you’re scrambling to find something clean to wear, and the dog is barking to be let out. Or maybe it’s the emails and notifications already buzzing on your phone, reminding you of the deadlines and demands waiting for you. Your mind races through the day’s tasks, but it feels like there’s no time to get anything done.
You reach for your phone, intending to check the time, but instead, you find yourself scrolling through social media. One post leads to another, and soon you’re flooded with images and messages that leave you feeling less-than, behind, or overwhelmed. The emails and texts start coming in, each one demanding your attention, each one adding to the stress. Before you’ve even stepped out of bed, you’re already in a negative spiral, feeling like the day is slipping away from you.
You glance at the clock and realize you’ve lost the window for your workout, and the guilt starts to creep in. But there’s no time to dwell on it. You throw on whatever clothes are closest, skip breakfast because you didn’t have time to prep, and now you’re grabbing a granola bar on the way out the door, hoping it’ll hold you over. You’re stuck in traffic, already late, and the frustration builds as you think about how the day is already spiraling out of control. By the time you drop the kids off or arrive at the office, you’re emotionally drained, and it’s only 8 AM.
The day becomes a blur of meetings, errands, and obligations, with no time for yourself. You grab fast food for lunch because it’s quick, but it leaves you feeling sluggish and guilty. The afternoon drags, and by the time you get home, you’re exhausted. The kids need attention, the house is a mess, and all you want to do is collapse on the couch. Or maybe it’s the emails and work that have piled up, keeping you tethered to your phone or laptop long past when you wanted to unwind. But instead of relaxing, you pour yourself a glass of wine, trying to take the edge off the day’s stress. Maybe you find yourself mindlessly snacking in front of the TV, telling yourself, “Tomorrow will be different.” But deep down, you know you’re stuck in a cycle, and tomorrow feels like it’s already been lost to the same pattern.
Does any of this sound familiar? Maybe it’s not always this extreme, or maybe it’s something in between. But here’s what I’m getting at: Your life will go in the direction of your strongest thoughts, and your day will be determined by your morning routine and your whole week from how you plan on Sunday. You are in full control of how your story goes.
If you want your life to change for the better, the secret is found in your morning routine. There is power in your morning routine—it can be life-changing. I tell the FCB community all the time in our mindset coaching that discipline really comes down to how organized you are. The better organized you get with your time, the easier discipline will be.
One important step in creating your morning routine is to avoid checking your phone first thing in the morning. I know it’s tempting to see what’s happening on social media or to catch up on emails and texts, but this can set a negative tone for your day. Instead, consider leaving your phone on airplane mode or simply ignoring it until you’ve taken time for yourself. Focus on what truly matters—your intentions, your goals, your well-being.
If you’re using the FCB app, try starting your day with the mindset section instead of social media. Use that time to center yourself, set your intentions, and begin your day with positivity and purpose. Better yet, if you can, keep your phone out of your morning routine altogether. This is your time to work on personal growth, whether that’s reading, exercising, meditating, or planning—you are being intentional with what you want and showing up as your highest self.
Waking up early is not about sacrificing sleep; it’s about investing in yourself. It’s a mindset shift. When you hit that snooze button instead of getting up, you’re giving in to comfort, and now you’ve missed your opportunity. What that opportunity is, you’ll never know, but it’s one that’s meant for you and will better you. When you start your day early, you gain something invaluable: time. Time to think, time to plan, time to savor the quiet before the busyness of life. This gives you time to set your intentions for the day, to visualize your goals, and to map out your day.
Rising early is a commitment to yourself and your goals. It’s saying, “I value my time, and I will use it wisely.”
It’s also about empowerment. Each day is a blank page in your story that you get to write. It’s about creating something that will lead you to your highest vision for yourself. I talk about this all the time—mornings have really impacted my life. It’s my favorite part of the day. Everyone is sleeping, and I get to connect with myself, with God, and dream, pray, believe, grow, and learn.
It’s about being grateful and thankful for each new day. It’s about aligning your emotional and mental state with your deepest desires and values.
If you want to be successful at anything, the way you start your day matters—as Jim Rohn says, “Don’t start your day until you’ve finished it,” meaning plan and set the tone for the whole day before the day has you. It’s you taking the wheel of the car in your life and choosing the direction. You don’t have to get up at 3 AM like me (lol). Trust me, the more you do it, the earlier you’ll want to get up. But just start with 15-30 minutes at first and do this daily, 7 days a week. Make your coffee, tea, or protein shake, and if you’re not sure what to do in this time, I’ll give you some ideas—you choose what aligns with you most. This is your story, not mine—I can guide you, but I can’t tell you the right way for you.
You can choose to write out your to-do list for the day or list your 5 non-negotiables (we have this in our FCB app). These will align with your goals and help you stay focused. You could write out what you’re grateful for—this sets your heart and mind in a positive place because what we focus on, we attract into our life. You could journal, listen to a personal growth podcast, or read a personal growth book—something that helps you learn and keeps your brain curious. Learning is important for self-esteem. You could exercise, meditate, visualize, reflect, or read a daily dose of motivation or devotional. This could be 5 minutes or up to 60 minutes—it all depends on where you’re at.
Just start small and build from there. In the app, you have a whole section that looks like this: 5 non-negotiables, then gratitude, reflections—this is your wins and lessons—then a daily dose of motivation or devotional. This can take as little as 5 minutes but has a ripple effect so big that it creates momentum in your day and life. Your day will rise up to match your intentions, affecting all other areas of your life.
When you choose to get up early and create a morning routine, you’re taking control of your life. You’re saying, “I am important, I am grateful for this day, and it’s going to be a great day. I am reaching my goals and building the life of my dreams—this is important to me.”
It’s all about aligning your commitments with the highest version of yourself. It’s your ability to choose how your story goes. It’s taking control of the day instead of letting the day take control of you.
So start your morning routine. Start small. It will change your life—I will bet my life on it. You will become happier, less anxious, less depressed, reach your goals faster, have more energy, and life will open new opportunities to you. As the saying goes, “The early bird gets the worm.”
Hannah