6 Morning Rules

I'm not much into New Year's Resolutions. However, the concept is a good one. Using the arbitrary day of the year changing is an excellent way to begin again in something you want or even need to do. If it works for you to use January 1 to start again, then do it.

I am writing this on December 19, 2023, and I've already started a new routine this week. My favorite author, Ryan Holiday, has these six morning rules for himself.

1. Get up early
2. No phone for the first hour
3. Take a walk
4. Sit with a journal
5. Do the important things first
6. Be happy…you woke up alive.

Rule number 1: Get up early is easy for me. I already get up early most days. I wake up when my body, or my cat, tells me to. That is usually between 0445 and 0615. I don't set any alarms for myself; as a failsafe, I have my bedroom lights on a timer. They start to come on gradually at 0615 until, after 10 minutes, they achieve full brightness. 0615 is my failsafe time to ensure I do get out of bed to begin my day. Getting up still allows me enough time to have my ritualistic espresso and get cleaned up, dressed, and on my way to the office. It doesn't happen too often that I am still in bed asleep by this time, but occasionally, it happens.