Mornings can make or break your day. When I was younger, I wasn’t intentional with my mornings at all. In fact, most of my college years began with me rushing out the door. I didn’t make the time to ground myself or mentally prepare for the day. As a result, I always felt overwhelmed and exhausted.
When I transitioned into freelance writing, I decided to establish a powerful morning routine, so I could finally feel a sense of peace. But like all habits, it took time to implement them. My goal? Wake up, drink coffee, and journal.
It sounds simple, right? Not exactly. It took me a while to get into a natural flow. Fortunately, I was finally able to make my dream morning routine a reality. And you can do it too.
Here’s how I transformed my mornings to align with my new lifestyle as a freelance writer!
My Old Morning Routine Was a Mess
Finally, I was my own boss, which meant I could do whatever I wanted. But like other solopreneurs, I didn’t know how to manage my time sustainably. I had no idea how to establish boundaries between my work, school, and personal life. This became even more evident when I began working with clients and prioritizing their projects over my own needs.
While clients are important in a freelance business, it’s also essential to take care of yourself. This means scheduling time for relaxing, engaging in hobbies, and spending time with loved ones.
During the first year of my business, my mornings looked like this:
- Wake up
- Wash my face
- Get a sip of coffee
- Hop onto the computer
This morning routine negatively impacted my productivity levels. Since my mind was full of mental clutter, I became overwhelmed by small tasks, and I struggled to focus. This wasn’t what I envisioned as a freelance writer.
Instead, I wanted to feel calm, cool, and collected. I desired to start each workday with confidence rather than anxiety. The only way I knew how to reach this state of self-assurance was through journaling.
If I wanted to create a powerful morning routine, I had to confront the elephant in the room: my self-pressure.
Food for thought: Review your morning routine and how it affects your overall well-being. Do you feel stressed, rushed, dissatisfied, or not put together? Consider how you want to feel as you start your day.
Overcoming My Self-Pressure
The pressure I put on myself isn’t new. I’ve always had aspects of Type A personality in terms of equating my self-worth with my achievements and being a workaholic. Even as a college student, I often stayed up late to study because I desperately wanted an A in every class.
While there’s nothing wrong with working hard, problems arise when you put too much stress on yourself.
My self-pressure manifested itself in guilt trips, imposter syndrome, and disapproval. No matter how hard I worked, it never seemed like enough. Fast forward to becoming my own boss, it became more challenging to define success.
After leaving a conventional job, I felt compelled to prove myself to the world. But the pressure I put on myself didn’t serve me. It didn’t contribute to my productivity or craft. If anything, it was causing my mental health to deteriorate.
If I’ve learned anything on my journey, it’s this: I need to take care of myself, so I can put my best work out into the world. Good content doesn’t come from pressure or overworking. It comes from building a life of enjoyment.
Once I acknowledged my self-pressure, I decided to design a powerful morning routine, so I could finally become the writer I always wanted to be. Say hello to coffee and journaling!
Breaking Out of the 9-to-5 Mindset
One of the most challenging aspects of becoming an entrepreneur was breaking out of my 9-to-5 routine. I was conditioned to work a full-time schedule. Any hours that went outside the box felt completely foreign to me, and I had to reprogram my mind.
Prior to freelancing, my mindset was as follows: I must work within a specific timeframe (9 am-5 pm) to be productive.
But this wasn’t true. I just had to find my golden hour. This meant trying out various routines until I found the right fit.
If you’re a new writer and you’re struggling to create a powerful morning routine and schedule, start by asking yourself what hours of the day you feel the most creative. For instance, 10 am-1 pm or 4 pm-9 pm.
During the hours when your energy is depleted, you can focus on activities that replenish you, such as meditation, exercise, or eating a snack. Remember, rest is productive too!
Habits Take Time to Become a Reality
Habits don’t take root overnight. According to Healthline, habits can take anywhere from 19 to 254 days to be established. In my case, I practiced being intentional with my time and mapping out my day to include the activities that I enjoyed. For example, drinking coffee and journaling, going on walks, and watching YouTube.
If you want to create a healthier morning groove, start by being gentle with yourself and managing your time accordingly. We often believe there aren’t enough hours in the day to get things done; however, more often than not, we don’t make the time to do the things that matter most to us.
There is time for self-care. You just need to make it a priority.
What a Typical Morning Looks Like Now
Recently, I’ve been easing into my mornings with coffee, journaling, and a walk with my dog. This is almost a MUST these days, especially if I want to be productive.
From there, I like to create a list of intentions in my journal. Outlining a list helps me stay accountable and include more self-care in my routine. Then, I review my work tasks and other to-do lists on Notion.
Sometimes, I play music in the background to boost my mood, and other days, I prefer the silence to calm my mind. If you’re looking for some feel-good instrumental music, I highly recommend Lofi or jazz.
Customize a Powerful Morning Routine for You
Being a freelance writer has many advantages. For instance, the freedom to create content on you own watch. But it also requires being mindful and organizing your day in a way that best serves you. As easy as it is to put your clients ahead of yourself, you must think about what works for you too.
Fuel your creativity by beginning your day with activities you love. This will ultimately set you up for success and make your day way more enjoyable. So, how do you begin your day?
Let me know in the comment section below!
As always, good luck on your journey,
Harumi
I start the day with a cup of coffee and a review of world and local news.
Nice! Coffee is my go-to for starting the day.