Starting the Day Right with \"Miracle Morning\": 6 Morning Routine Habits Successful People Swear By

It may seem counterintuitive that to be more productive, you need to wake up earlier than usual and the first thing to do is just sit in silence for a few minutes. But studies have shown that silence helps stimulate brain growth, reduce stress (cortisol) level, allow you to sleep better, reduce heart disease, increase your awareness and provide more opportunities to solve problems [src]. 

During the pandemic, silence became my refuge — whether through deep breathing, prayer, or guided meditations on the Insight Timer app. On days when my thoughts were all over the place, I’d lean into them with Morning Pages (inspired by Julia Cameron), writing three longhand pages to clear my mental clutter.

2025 Update:
These days, silence still anchors me. I don’t always need a full meditation session — even 2 to 5 minutes of stillness in the morning helps me reconnect. Some mornings, I pair it with soft music. Other times, I just sit with my coffee and breathe deeply. Silence doesn’t have to be formal — it just needs to be intentional.

Hal Elrod defines an affirmation as a statement that directs your focus toward something of value. He offers a twist on traditional advice, saying that to create affirmations that produce results, you need to affirm what you're committed to instead of affirming who you are or what you want to be. This is similar to James Clear's advice to focus on building systems instead of setting goals (Book: Atomic Habits).

According to Elrod, results-oriented affirmations should include:

• WHAT you really want

• WHY you want it

• WHO are you committed to being (to create it)

• WHAT are you committed to doing (to achieve it)

There is a template on the Miracle Morning website to help you get started.

2025 Update:
I now keep a digital copy of my affirmations. I read them on my tablet during quiet mornings or while waiting for my coffee to brew. It’s less about reciting perfectly and more about reconnecting to my “why.”

Elrod says you need to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for whatever the day has in store for you. You need to visualize what you really want -- major goals, deepest desires, etc.  You need to be as vivid as possible. Visualize what success means to you and what it feels like, and visualize who you need to be and what you need to do to succeed. It's also important to start seeing yourself enjoying the process.

2025 Update:
The written life purpose, vision, and affirmations help me visualize more clearly. When I read it, I can easily picture my affirmation coming true — becoming that “future me” I want to be. As I get reminded to see the bigger picture every morning, it is easier to visualize what my "ideal day" is like.

According to Hal Elrod, exercise in the morning gives you an energy boost to help you wake up more quickly. It doesn't need to be an hour long though. Even a seven-minute workout every morning can do wonders to your energy level and motivation to face the day ahead.

2025 Update:
Ah yes, the habit I struggle with the most. I tried different routines — cardio made me too tired, and yoga sometimes made me sleepy (relatable?). 😅

Instead of forcing a workout, I’ve reframed this part. I now see exercise as “movement” — stretching for 5 minutes, dancing to one upbeat song, or taking a 10-minute walk outside. I may not have a strict fitness routine yet, but I’m learning to enjoy movement without guilt.

The most successful people in the world are known to be voracious readers.  Warren Buffett reads between 600 to 1000 pages per day. Bill Gates reads 1 per week. Elon Musk grew up reading two books a day. Mark Zuckerberg resolved to read a book every 2 weeks. 

Reading is a powerful tool for personal growth, and Hal Elrod recommends approaching it with intention — beginning with the end in mind. Why are you reading a particular book? What area of your life are you hoping to improve?

2025 Update:
To be honest, this is one habit I haven’t quite gotten back to. I used to be a bookworm, and I’ve had seasons where I pushed myself to rekindle that habit, like adding a reading log in my journal or trying out speed reading techniques. But lately, I haven’t turned that switch back on yet. And I’ve learned to be okay with that.

Right now, I’m focused on rebuilding my morning routine one layer at a time. So when I do find the mental space and energy, I know I’ll be able to ease back into reading—not as a pressure, but as a gift I get to enjoy again.

Scribing is just a fancy word for “writing” or "journaling," but a “W” or "J" would have ruined the SAVERS acronym. Really, scribing is just putting whatever is on your mind to paper (or screen if you prefer going digital).

2025 Update:
Writing remains one of the most powerful tools in my morning routine. Whether it’s gratitude journaling or doing a brain dump, the process clears space in my head and heart.

I now keep a hybrid system: I use my bullet journal when I have time to sit down, and the Goodnotes app when I’m journaling on the fly.