Look, I'll be the first one to say it,

Morning routines are getting out of hand.

How much importance do you place on getting your morning "right?"

Just for a sec, get out of your cold shower, press pause on your affirmations, and take a moment to recalibrate yourself to the "Why" behind putting so much pressure on your first moments.

I get it, I remember being a kid, excited to wake up to a sugary, marshmallow-infested bowl of "cereal." Life was perfect unless I opened the fridge and saw there was no milk. That is why there were so many little knuckle-sized dents in our old mustard colored refrigerator.

You know how to wake up. 

Nailing your day can happen with or without a perfect routine, but try noticing your frame of mind when you wake up. Then notice how that feeling changes when you think about your day or routine. Do you catch yourself immediately dropping into a checklist-and-comparison mode? "I have to nail my morning and accomplish this protocol, because according to a podcast, science says my dopamine levels will be non-optimal."

Imagine waking up motivated and productive without the vague "science" protocol you just learned about? Seriously? All we have to say now is "Science!"

If State change is the goal, just get a person in a lab coat saying something is good for you. PS: Anyone can buy a lab coat. Here's a Link, buy 10. The capacity to maintain your state throughout the day is rarely discussed. Like road rage after your yoga class, or the lull after your retreat bliss ends, you know better to be better.

Take an inventory of things that you've tried to add to your morning routine and why?

Are you cold plunging, exercising, meditating, having high protein gluten-free pancakes, and aging urine for the stem cells, while listening to a podcast between a Navy SEAL and a monk as they tell you to make your bed and detach from outcomes as you work off commission and have a big presentation? Cool.

Temples support monks; they have people in an office who make sure they can detach from outcomes. Navy SEALS do a lot more than just make their bed. That's like Simone Biles telling you to bring a snack. I get it, you get it, it all adds up.

For every new thing you add, subtract two.

New mindset "hack?" Make space in your mind.

A new training method was only recently released to the public, which was used by elite teams, and "backed by Science?" It's probably suggesting breathing and noticing your mindset, self-talk, diet, rest, and recovery. All those require making space; subtraction, not addition. 

Maybe the missing step is noticing your capacity.

Have you ever thought of the fact that you are already completely complete?

Start from there.

I have a simple formula, since my life varies a lot. Plus, a non-negotiable. 

If my work is physical, I do a more mental or meditation practice in the morning. If my work is very mental on the computer or less physical for the day. I'll work out in the morning. 80/20 applies for simplicity. 

The non-negotiable is an old one: A warrior's life is a life of noble acts and anonymous service to others. Your first noble act should be for yourself, or else you will begin to resent the things you serve. 

I try not to overthink routines anymore, but that's because I have been so regimented for decades. The loop and constant routine built a solid structure, but just like learning a language or any art form, you use the routine discipline to build structure, then have some conversations.

You are sharper and learn quickly when you can stay a little confused.