This entry is part 2 of 10 in the series Self Development Tools

Why Do Mornings Suck So Much?

 

Raise your hand if any of these things describe you:

 

I’ve been finding it really difficult to get up in the morning without snoozing my alarm. I realized that there was one huge factor contributing to this: I had nothing to be enthusiastic about in the mornings. I think the number one reason we have trouble getting out of bed in the morning is that we don’t have anything to look forward to. Luckily, I’ve come across a method that has totally changed my mindset. I found a way to get myself pumped up about waking up in the morning with the added bonus of taking care of my health at the same time.

The Self-Care Power Hour Method

 

So how do you break your alarm snoozing habits and develop a self-care routine at the same time? You start by devoting 20 minutes to your mind, 20 minutes to your body, and 20 minutes to your soul in order to take care of yourself in just one hour. It’s like a power hour for your well-being!

 

At first I was like, Do I really have to get up an extra hour to do this? But strangely enough, when you’re excited about something and know it’s going to improve your mood, it makes getting up a lot easier. I feel like I’m more productive, my stress levels decrease, and my outlook is more positive when I start my day this way.

How The Self-Care Power Hour Works

Choose Three Activities

Start by choosing three activities from the list below for your mind, body, and soul. You can also think about activities you love or want to try that may not be on the list.

Set Aside Time

Set aside an hour in the morning to try this. It may seem impossible to wake up an hour earlier, but the goal is to find activities that are exciting and enjoyable enough to you that you don’t mind losing that extra hour of sleep. You could also go in baby steps and just focus on one area (mind, body, or soul) for 20 minutes each day.

Start The Timer

Do each activity for 20 minutes. You don’t have to go in any particular order, just choose the thing that excites you the most first. You don’t have to do this in the morning or in one big chunk. You can span it throughout the day or do it before bed. I personally think it’s the best strategy to get excited about waking up.

 

The best way to focus on yourself, improve your well-being and begin on your self-love journey is to incorporate a power hour into your daily routine. For those of you who mightn’t know what a power hour is, it is simply time dedicated to you, doing things that make you happy. A lot of people prefer to incorporate their power hour into their morning routine, as it is an empowering way to start your day. In saying that, this is not one size fits all! If you aren’t a early-bird, or would prefer to use your power hour to wind down in the evening, absolutely go for it! It is all about finding what works for you.

 

By definition, your power hour should be broken down;

20 Minutes for your mind

20 Minutes for your body

20 Minutes for your soul

 

The idea behind dedicating time to your mind, body and soul is that you are beginning or ending your day with gratitude (mind), movement (body) and inspiration (soul).

 

Currently, my morning hour of power looks like this:

 

The most important thing when creating your routine is to make sure you’re doing things that make you feel good and bring you happiness.

 

Every one is different, it is all about finding what works best for you. There will be days where you simply don’t have the time to take a full hour out of your day and that is 100% fine! What matters most is consistency. So instead of just skipping your power hour, break it down even more. If you usually read 10 pages, read 5. If you usually listen to 15 minutes of a podcast, listen to 5 minutes. If you usually spend 30 minutes exercises, cut it down to 10 minutes! Be realistic with yourself and make do with what you have, you’ll feel the benefits no matter what.

 

If you struggle to find activities when creating your power hour routine, check out some examples below.

 

ACTIVITIES FOR THE MIND

Reading

Colouring

Learning a new language

Meditating

Breathing exercises

Writing

ACTIVITIES FOR THE BODY

Dancing

Walking

Exercising

Yoga / Pilates

Stretching

 

ACTIVITIES FOR THE SOUL

Listening to a podcast

Cuddling your pets

Cleaning or tidying your room

Baking / Cooking

Watching the sun rise / set

Having a nice bath or shower

 

Remember, you are in complete control over your power hour! If something isn’t working for you, swap it out. Have fun with it and make it as enjoyable as possible! I feel like I have improved so many areas of my life after having my routine for over a year now. It is something that makes me jump out of bed in the morning, keeps me centred and sets me up for an amazing day!

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