Yes 👏👏👏 I would even say start with the first 30 minutes if 2 hours still feels overwhelming. 30 minutes can create a lot of momentum and you'll often find yourself still going long past the 30 minutes.
Not as much as in 2 hours, no. But I see it as a baby step for people who feel really stuck. You can make a surprising amount of headway in 30 minutes, and it's enough to build the habit of prioritizing, and then it's easier to increase that with the excitement and momentum that comes from it.
I love getting up early everyday. It’s also so peaceful during that time of day.
I built wellness talk radio to help other people get through difficult times. I produced and hosted it on AM FM Radio for over 20 years.
Working now on writing and moving the interviews into a podcast format.
And just writing, which I enjoy.
Finding it mildly amusing that I’m at a really difficult time in my life and am having to use a lot of the insight I gained from many of the interviews from my show.
Great advice! Of course different things work for different people, but that discipline is habit-forming. I tried the morning thing but inspiration wasn't forthcoming so I gave up evening TV and now prefer working to watching. But I do find that half an hour of exercise in the morning gets me going.
This is just what I needed this morning. So serendipitous. It's exactly where I am. Just writing now matter what's going on or how I feel. 🎶✨💕
On Substack I am cultivating my garden of HOPE. Showing folks how to rewire their brains, embrace technology and walk confidently into the future. We are building our resilience toolboxes and inspiring change together.
The 21 Day Challenge - happening mid October. For 21 consecutive days: in the morning, as soon as you wake up you say 5 things you are grateful for - and at night you say 5 things you are grateful for - before you close your eyes.
It can be as basic as: "I am grateful for the water that comes out of my tap."
If you miss, you start at day 1. Consecutive days are key. Like any habit, your brain will resist - it doesn't like change. As time passes your brain changes. They can actually measure this physically.
My videos will provide additional input and encouragement and folks will have the opportunity to participate in my Chat and connect with each other. An attitude of gratitude changes lives.
Creating in the first two hours of your day is something to consider seriously given that both you and Ayo say this. I give my first two hours to sports five times a week. It gives me more energy in the day ahead. My best ideas come at lunch time. My best writing is in the evening.
No, because I wouldn't be able to do muscle-ups (the ceiling is 2,50 m). It's when you crank up both arms above the bar so the upper part of your body is above the bar.
I like the monkey bars at my local park. Doing thirty seconds a day going back and forth has built enough strength that I took up the flying trapeze. Do you do chin ups mostly?
Yes I'm not interested in quitting the day job just need to double down on the skills I already have and work more opportunities for myself. Thanks for this!
You're right that came across as limiting. Let me reframe it. I'm committed to doubling down on the skills I already have while staying open to learn new ones.
I go with the flow :) when I feel like journaling I journal when I feel like doing yoga I do yoga when I feel like going to the sea I go to the sea and if I have a deadline and an urge to work on something I do that. I’m a rebel against structures although I know sometimes the container is the necessary safe space for creation to flourish. This morning my subconscious woke me with an inner voice asking me “name three things you love about barcelona” as I’ve been feeling uncertain and ungrounded this was truly the best medicine and I’m so grateful my subconscious is such a bad 4ss! Do you have a morning routine Tim? I suppose it involves writing?
Great question! You can start with a YouTube video yoga for runners with a short video and I’d say, go to a class for beginners get someone to explain body alignment and make the right brain to body connections with a Hatha Yoga class (avoid power yoga or dynamic vinyasa to begin with although you’ll probably find it more fun it’s a terrain for injury and misalignment in my opinion). Keep going even when you think this doesn’t feel like a workout or you’re bored because and once you get to fully let go in shavasana (end pause when you lie down) you might get addicted to the feeling of floating (I genuinely felt like I had smoked a splif after my first yoga classes in Manly Australia!), once you get into it you will notice the days you don’t practice. Definitely more than a workout it’s a practice of presence, alignment, observation, acceptance and general philosophy of life to take away from the mat. Then find someone on YouTube you like and keep practicing with them - I like Yoga With Adriene she has an Austin accent and a cooky sense of humour but there’s plenty of options out there. I specialise in yoga nidra which is a bit like hypno but maintains people in a deep half awake half asleep state (Hubermann calls it non REM deep sleep) it’s deeply regenerative and helps access one’s unbound creative mind, I’ve noticed participants accessing old memories through this practice, or generally a sense of plenitude. 40 min of Nidra = 4h of sleep! I need to write about this!
Taking all opportunities that are out there. The writing career is a priority that I must readjust and take more seriously and there are other things too.
2 and 3 are my key action takeaways. My warmup routine takes a good 20-30 min chunk! 😬 And the days I start knowing exactly what I’m working on are the most productive.
Stretching bed, saying thanks to the birds and the trees and the sun 🌞 and prayer. Some things I won’t squeeze, this is my well from which I draw inspiration for my writing.
“On the 5th of September I had booked a flight for a holiday.
It was for my annual summer holiday and I was so looking forward for it.
Problem was the flight was very early in the morning and the transport to get there was troublesome.
So I put the alarm at 4 with the clear goal to leave from home as soon as possible.
That night I slept late packing things till the last minute.
At 3:50 in the morning I got up beating the alarm and feeling bright.
I arrived at the airport well ahead of time .”
You can find a million of ways to do something right and each time stop it.
Why? Because the How is not enough.
So many times I have watched high disciplined people doing their stuff their way and I have tried copying them for a while but then procrastination gets me, especially when I'm weak .
Find in your self a strong valid reason why you need this to happen and stick to it.
You may put reminders about it everywhere.
Everywhere to remind you that strong valid reason that speaks to your heart.
When you said…….The way we deal with the downsides of a conventional life society wants to have is to eat sugar, drink alcohol, drown in distractions, and to endlessly entertain ourselves to death with Netflix and superhero movies.
There’s a better way of life…….. This is so ridiculously accurate but how on earth do you break this cycle? I just think it’s my personality. Really hard to break this cycle with regular job family etc etc. I’m just tired TBH 🤣🤣
"Make sure what you're building is fun." I have to come back to this over and over. AND it's fascinating how much I have to defend that as a goal in and of itself. When people ask me why I'm doing what I'm doing (starting my own theatre company) and I respond "because it's fun and I love it and I want to," I'm often met with a response along the lines of "that's not a good enough reason." I appreciate your reminders that it IS a good enough reason and maybe it is even the BEST reason!
Yes 👏👏👏 I would even say start with the first 30 minutes if 2 hours still feels overwhelming. 30 minutes can create a lot of momentum and you'll often find yourself still going long past the 30 minutes.
Not sure you can get much done in 30 mins?
Not as much as in 2 hours, no. But I see it as a baby step for people who feel really stuck. You can make a surprising amount of headway in 30 minutes, and it's enough to build the habit of prioritizing, and then it's easier to increase that with the excitement and momentum that comes from it.
Exactly. Start where you are and do what you can. 30 minutes is better than zero minutes. And it could help build the habit.
I love getting up early everyday. It’s also so peaceful during that time of day.
I built wellness talk radio to help other people get through difficult times. I produced and hosted it on AM FM Radio for over 20 years.
Working now on writing and moving the interviews into a podcast format.
And just writing, which I enjoy.
Finding it mildly amusing that I’m at a really difficult time in my life and am having to use a lot of the insight I gained from many of the interviews from my show.
Where will you host the podcast?
Hi Tim. Looking at that now. Any suggestions?
Great advice! Of course different things work for different people, but that discipline is habit-forming. I tried the morning thing but inspiration wasn't forthcoming so I gave up evening TV and now prefer working to watching. But I do find that half an hour of exercise in the morning gets me going.
Shoni, what are you working on?
Communicating interesting ideas and complex concepts through stories.
On Substack?
Indeed. My answer reads super pretentious looking back at it. I just like writing stories. That's all.
I like putting the phone away ideal. The hardest thing is to walk the dogs so I may have to keep it on me while I walk the dog.
However, I won’t check anything.
I also may turn all these notfications off.
I wanna throw my phone in a lake. Can you relate Daniel?
I can relate.
😂😂
I roared with laughter Tim!
This is just what I needed this morning. So serendipitous. It's exactly where I am. Just writing now matter what's going on or how I feel. 🎶✨💕
On Substack I am cultivating my garden of HOPE. Showing folks how to rewire their brains, embrace technology and walk confidently into the future. We are building our resilience toolboxes and inspiring change together.
Love to see it Janet. What's your next big goal?
21 Day Attitude of Gratitude Challenge. 🌸
Free subscribers will get Challenge.
Paid Subscribers will get daily videos.
Plus anyone will be able to purchase the accompanying journal.
Big stretch - do a Zoom at end of the Challenge- for paid subscribers.🎶✨
Super cool Janet. What does one have to do to be grateful for each of the 21 days?
Thanks Tim :-)
The 21 Day Challenge - happening mid October. For 21 consecutive days: in the morning, as soon as you wake up you say 5 things you are grateful for - and at night you say 5 things you are grateful for - before you close your eyes.
It can be as basic as: "I am grateful for the water that comes out of my tap."
If you miss, you start at day 1. Consecutive days are key. Like any habit, your brain will resist - it doesn't like change. As time passes your brain changes. They can actually measure this physically.
My videos will provide additional input and encouragement and folks will have the opportunity to participate in my Chat and connect with each other. An attitude of gratitude changes lives.
Spot on! Also, creativity is at its peak in the morning.
Does it work for you?
Yes, I’m up working now!
Great to hear!
Creating in the first two hours of your day is something to consider seriously given that both you and Ayo say this. I give my first two hours to sports five times a week. It gives me more energy in the day ahead. My best ideas come at lunch time. My best writing is in the evening.
Denis, what sport do you play?
I either run along the river in my town or go to a pull-up bar outside.
Gotta love the pull up bar. Do you have a full home gym?
No, because I wouldn't be able to do muscle-ups (the ceiling is 2,50 m). It's when you crank up both arms above the bar so the upper part of your body is above the bar.
I like the monkey bars at my local park. Doing thirty seconds a day going back and forth has built enough strength that I took up the flying trapeze. Do you do chin ups mostly?
I take my kid to the playground every day. Love it so much!
Glad to know, Shoni. I do push-ups, pull-ups, and muscle-ups at a local park.
What's a muscle up Denis?
I want to have purpose with a sense of adventure and meaning.
So why not do it Aidan?
Yes I'm not interested in quitting the day job just need to double down on the skills I already have and work more opportunities for myself. Thanks for this!
So you won't add new skills?
You're right that came across as limiting. Let me reframe it. I'm committed to doubling down on the skills I already have while staying open to learn new ones.
purpose with a sense of adventure and meaning
double down on your skills
work more opportunities for yourself
You can do it Aidan! Rooting for you!
Do it.
Great reminder to keep it simple Tim.
I'm still adjusting my system. I prefer consuming info and getting my brain going in the morning and creating at night.
Find what works and stick to it. Plus not creating out of desperation is key.
What sort of info? Newsletters?
Sometimes newsletters, but could be research papers or summaries of latest findings (neuroscience, psychology, random natural world stuff etc)
haha - I like the giggles, we do take life way too seriously. To H3ll with morning routines! I think every morning is an act of creation!
Do you follow a morning routine Camille?
I go with the flow :) when I feel like journaling I journal when I feel like doing yoga I do yoga when I feel like going to the sea I go to the sea and if I have a deadline and an urge to work on something I do that. I’m a rebel against structures although I know sometimes the container is the necessary safe space for creation to flourish. This morning my subconscious woke me with an inner voice asking me “name three things you love about barcelona” as I’ve been feeling uncertain and ungrounded this was truly the best medicine and I’m so grateful my subconscious is such a bad 4ss! Do you have a morning routine Tim? I suppose it involves writing?
No morning routine for me. I do gym 4 times a week. How do I get started with Yoga?
Great question! You can start with a YouTube video yoga for runners with a short video and I’d say, go to a class for beginners get someone to explain body alignment and make the right brain to body connections with a Hatha Yoga class (avoid power yoga or dynamic vinyasa to begin with although you’ll probably find it more fun it’s a terrain for injury and misalignment in my opinion). Keep going even when you think this doesn’t feel like a workout or you’re bored because and once you get to fully let go in shavasana (end pause when you lie down) you might get addicted to the feeling of floating (I genuinely felt like I had smoked a splif after my first yoga classes in Manly Australia!), once you get into it you will notice the days you don’t practice. Definitely more than a workout it’s a practice of presence, alignment, observation, acceptance and general philosophy of life to take away from the mat. Then find someone on YouTube you like and keep practicing with them - I like Yoga With Adriene she has an Austin accent and a cooky sense of humour but there’s plenty of options out there. I specialise in yoga nidra which is a bit like hypno but maintains people in a deep half awake half asleep state (Hubermann calls it non REM deep sleep) it’s deeply regenerative and helps access one’s unbound creative mind, I’ve noticed participants accessing old memories through this practice, or generally a sense of plenitude. 40 min of Nidra = 4h of sleep! I need to write about this!
Thanks, nice tip well worded
Any idea stand out from this essay?
Hi Tim,
Your article spoke to me, I want a better life and I can't seem to find the time to make things right.
Your 2 hours morning routine is a goal that I keep resisting for quite some time.
I don't like the idea of getting up earlier than normal even if it's the only answer.
It's a decision that I must make even if I hate it.
The time is there. You'll have to give up some things. What are you willing to give up?
Good question.
I think it's about moving priorities in the right order .
Is there a single priority for you that you want to focus on?
Taking all opportunities that are out there. The writing career is a priority that I must readjust and take more seriously and there are other things too.
Know what I LOVE about “a swift kick in the pants”? It propels you forward! Thanks for the unexpected head start—I really needed that today.
What are you going to do with this breakthrough Kara?
Another amazing piece, Tim.
2 and 3 are my key action takeaways. My warmup routine takes a good 20-30 min chunk! 😬 And the days I start knowing exactly what I’m working on are the most productive.
Thanks again!
What's your warm-up routine Issa?
Stretching bed, saying thanks to the birds and the trees and the sun 🌞 and prayer. Some things I won’t squeeze, this is my well from which I draw inspiration for my writing.
And I can add that often the warm up ends in procrastination from half hour it can double or triple, I have seen it happening in my life often.
yep, been there too. how do you prevent this from happening to you?
By making it urgent.
Hi Issa,
That's my short answer to you.
And I will explain it first with a story,
“On the 5th of September I had booked a flight for a holiday.
It was for my annual summer holiday and I was so looking forward for it.
Problem was the flight was very early in the morning and the transport to get there was troublesome.
So I put the alarm at 4 with the clear goal to leave from home as soon as possible.
That night I slept late packing things till the last minute.
At 3:50 in the morning I got up beating the alarm and feeling bright.
I arrived at the airport well ahead of time .”
You can find a million of ways to do something right and each time stop it.
Why? Because the How is not enough.
So many times I have watched high disciplined people doing their stuff their way and I have tried copying them for a while but then procrastination gets me, especially when I'm weak .
Find in your self a strong valid reason why you need this to happen and stick to it.
You may put reminders about it everywhere.
Everywhere to remind you that strong valid reason that speaks to your heart.
I hope that helps
Epic!!!
What was your favorite part?
When you said…….The way we deal with the downsides of a conventional life society wants to have is to eat sugar, drink alcohol, drown in distractions, and to endlessly entertain ourselves to death with Netflix and superhero movies.
There’s a better way of life…….. This is so ridiculously accurate but how on earth do you break this cycle? I just think it’s my personality. Really hard to break this cycle with regular job family etc etc. I’m just tired TBH 🤣🤣
I know your article explains it all but where do you get the energy from 🤔
"Make sure what you're building is fun." I have to come back to this over and over. AND it's fascinating how much I have to defend that as a goal in and of itself. When people ask me why I'm doing what I'm doing (starting my own theatre company) and I respond "because it's fun and I love it and I want to," I'm often met with a response along the lines of "that's not a good enough reason." I appreciate your reminders that it IS a good enough reason and maybe it is even the BEST reason!