In partnership with

Welcome to another edition of the 1% Habits Newsletter!

This is where you’ll get up-to-date information on small wins to improve your habits, productivity, and life satisfaction. 

Let’s get to it…

— SPONSORED AD —

Imagine having all the tools you need to build small, consistent habits that lead to big changes over time?

With the Whole Store Bundle, you’ll get an all-in-one collection of 130+ premium printables designed to help you master the art of building 1% habits.

We’ve already raised the price once. And since we add 5 to 10 products each week, we will be raising the price at the end of the year. 

So get this bundle at its lowest possible price here.

— END SPONSORED AD —

📈 Top 12 Morning Habits of Successful People

Jim Rohn once famously said that:

His point was that if you want to achieve great things in life, then look at the habits and routines of the world’s most successful people, then model their behavior.

Specifically, most successful people begin their morning with a variety of positive habits that set them up for the rest of the day. 

In the last email, we talked about 10 morning habits you should avoid. So in today’s featured article, we will talk about the 12 best morning habits you can use to increase your focus, motivation, and energy for the rest of the day. 

Now let's get started by talking about how we’ve organized these habits.

We are using what we call the “VIP Formula” for a morning routine.

V is for “vigor,” which are the habits that will give you energy throughout the day.

I is for “intellect,” which are the habits that will expand your mind and help you think creatively.

P is for “planning,” which are the habits that help identify the high-leverage tasks that are important for your long-term goals.

With me so far? 

Okay, great!

Now, let’s dive in and talk about the vigor habits.

#1. Surround Yourself with Natural Light

Did you know most people spend about 90% of the day indoors?

So getting whatever natural sunlight you can in the morning will give you a quick boost of energy.

Morning sunlight will help your brain produce serotonin, improve your mood, and make you feel well-rested. It’ll also help your body produce endorphins, the feel good hormone.

So as soon as you wake up, open all your shades and blinds, and let in the natural light.

#2. Get Hydrated

Want to increase alertness, boost your energy, and lose weight?

If so, then drink a large quantity of water as soon as you wake up in the morning. 

According to a recent study, our bodies are dehydrated after sleeping all night, so you should try to drink about 32 ounces of water in the first hour after waking up.

Then, refill the bottle at least one more time and commit to drinking it throughout the day.

Drink at least 64 ounces of water each day to provide you with a basic level of hydration.

#3. Start Moving!

If you want to improve your attention, visual learning, and decision-making skills, then get at least 5 to 10 minutes of movement in the morning. This will wake you up by getting your heart pumping and giving you a boost of adrenaline.

It doesn’t matter how you get movement because the best form of exercise is whatever habit you will stick to for 5 to 10 minutes.

This light movement can include stretching, yoga, calisthenics, walking, or using a tool like the 7 minute workout app.

#4. Eat a High Protein Breakfast

Only 34% of Americans eat breakfast each day, meaning 66% of us miss out on a habit that will help you experience sharper focus and increased energy throughout the day.

And if you want to experience a boost of energy in the morning, then we suggest eating a protein rich breakfast. 

To get started, here is a list of 63 high protein breakfast ideas.

Okay, now let’s move on to Intellect Habits.

#5. Practice Breathing or Meditation

Meditation has more than tripled in popularity since 2012.

What many practitioners have found is that the meditation habit will calm your mind and help you think clearly about what’s important in your life.

To get started, spend five to ten minutes focusing on your breathing and calming your thoughts. 

Now, if you want to build a simple meditation habit, then we suggest what’s called the 5 by 5 by 5 exercise. 

Just breathe in through your nose for five counts, making sure the air is going deep into your abdomen.

Hold this air for just a moment before exhaling through your mouth for five counts, contracting the muscles in your torso to release all of it.

And then repeat this exercise five times to notice a substantial release of muscle tension.

#6. Express Gratitude

Gratitude is expressing your appreciation for what (and who) you currently have in your life.

Research shows that practicing gratitude is the single most powerful method of increasing happiness.

Whether you practice gratitude through journaling or through affirmations, you will increase optimism, decrease stress,and boost your confidence throughout the day.

Now, if you want something extremely easy way to practice gratitude, then just respond to this one sentence:

The simplest way to build this habit to challenge yourself to write down one gratitude thought for the next 30 days. (This worksheet can help you do this.) 

#7. Journal Your Thoughts

Similar to talking to friends about your issues, journaling will help you clarify your problems and come up with unique solutions for any issue you’re currently facing.

James Altucher, an author and entrepreneur, has a daily ritual of writing down ten ideas.

Just pick a specific topic and write down the first 10 ideas that pop into your head.

These could be new business ideas, recipes to try, or fun hobbies to explore. 

The point is to flex your ideas muscle and force yourself to come up with 10 good ideas for any area of your life.

#8. Practice Self-Education (with Intention)

In our era of diminishing budgets and increased resources available online, many people choose to become self-taught on a variety of topics.

So if you want to maximize your morning time, then identify one skill that you want to build, and then spend 5 to 10 minutes learning about this subject.

The world is full of information, so it’s not hard to educate yourself on any topic.

You could:

● Read a book related to the skill

● Listen to a podcast or audiobook

● Watch awesome YouTube videos (like this one) to get step-by-step information

● Or even invest in a course that you can find on platforms like Masterclass, Skillshare, Udemy, or Coursera. (Again, links in the description box.)

If you want to be successful in a specific area or career field, then self education should be a main focus first thing in the morning.

Finally, let’s talk about Planning Habits

#9. Review Your Goals

According to a Harvard Business study, only 14% of people have goals, and these people are 10 times more successful than people without goals.

So one of the best long-term habits you can build is to create simple goals for all areas of your life. 

And for the sake of simplicity; we recommend two simple rules:

1. Create goals in 90-day sprints (because these will be relevant to your current life right).

2. Review these goals daily.

You can keep these goals anywhere you want, like: a journal, sticky note, whiteboard or on an app.

The only “rule” is to have a list of your goals in a prominent place where you easily look at them.

Also, to get the full benefit of this habit, look at your to-do list every morning and ask yourself how the tasks align with your goals.

This can help you eliminate unnecessary tasks, to help you focus on what’s truly important.

(Sidebar: We have a productivity bundle here that can help you take action on this habit and the next 3 ideas.)

#10. Review Your Day

A great habit is to do a quick review of your schedule.

This will help you align your goals with what you have planned for the day and identify any potential obstacles that you may face.

If you don’t focus on your goals, it’s frighteningly easy to get to the end of the day and realize you’ve achieved nothing of importance.

So we recommend you make a list in the morning of the specific tasks you want to complete by the end of the day. 

The key here is to be realistic about what you can actually accomplish and what’s important to your long-term success. Do those things and eliminate the rest.

#11. Identify Your 3 MITs

Some say this is the only productivity tip you’ll ever need.

If you want to make the most of your mornings, then identify your 3 most important tasks (or MITs) and focus on completing them before doing anything else.

Again, these should be the tasks that have the biggest impact on your long-term goals.

We recommend that you break down your MITs into three areas:

A task that’s related to an urgent project, one that’s related to your personal life, and a task that’s related to an important long-term goal. 

And the task that’s related to a long-term goal should be your “one thing,” which is the next and final habit.

#12. Start on Your “One Thing”

This phrase was popularized in a book called The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.

The point behind this question is to closely look at your #1 goal to identify the most important habit. Then once you know this habit, carve out time to work on it daily. And the best time to do it is at the end of your morning routine.

For example, if you’re a writer, then you write for 30-minutes, or if you’re trying to lose weight, then do a workout, or if you work in sales, then start your day by calling or meeting with potential customers.

Whatever your “one thing” is, do it first thing in the morning.

Final Thoughts on the Best Morning Habits

Well, there you have it -- 12 morning habits of the world’s most successful people.

Now, there is one major mistake that people make when it comes to their morning routine.

That mistake is to create an hour-long morning routine, crammed with as many habits as possible.

Sure, you might be able to stick to this routine for a few days, but eventually, you will probably give up when you encounter a challenge or obstacle.

A better idea is to pick a few of the habits that we just talked about and build a simple 10 to 15 minute routine that focuses on these actions. 

From there, you can build up a longer routine once your morning routine becomes a permanent habit.

So my recommendation?

Take a few minutes today to review this list again and commit to a few of the habits we just discussed.

⚙️1% Habit Idea

Today’s idea is for all the parents out there. This is a habit that we had to build as a family. 

Mornings can be chaotic, especially when trying to get kids ready and out the door for school.

After weeks of arguing, my wife and I learned to set an alarm for 10 minutes before we had to leave. This alarm acted as a gentle nudge for the kids, encouraging them to pick up the pace without constant reminders from their parents.

By placing the responsibility on an external source, the kids learned to manage their time more effectively, leading to a more harmonious start to the day.

Why Is a 10-Minute Early Alarm Helpful?

● It reduces stress for parents – Setting an extra alarm helps alleviate the morning rush for parents. Instead of repeatedly prompting their children, parents can focus on other tasks, knowing the alarm will remind the kids.

● It encourages independence in kids – When children respond to an alarm rather than a parent's constant urging, they start taking responsibility for their own time management. This small step fosters independence and self-discipline, crucial skills for their overall development.

● It promotes smoother morning routines – The early alarm serves as a buffer, allowing for a more relaxed morning. Kids have an extra ten minutes to gather their belongings, finish breakfast, or complete any last-minute tasks, resulting in fewer frantic moments and forgotten items.

How to Get Started

Step 1: Explain to your children the purpose of the new alarm.

Emphasize that it’s a signal that it’s almost time to leave the house for school, encouraging them to speed up their morning activities.

Step 2: Select an alarm that is distinct but not overly jarring. The sound should be loud enough to grab attention but not so loud that it causes distress.

Test different alarm sounds with your kids to find one that they respond to best.

Step 3: Adjust the alarm clock or your smartphone’s alarm settings to go off 10 minutes before the usual time to leave the house.

This slight adjustment is sufficient to make a noticeable difference without significantly altering your morning schedule.

Reinforce the importance of listening to the alarm and acting promptly, turning this new habit into a fun and engaging part of the morning routine.

By setting an alarm 10 minutes earlier, parents can transform chaotic mornings into a smoother, more efficient start to the day.

This simple change not only reduces stress for parents but also fosters independence in children and ensures a more organized morning routine.

🗂️ The Resource Roundup

🎣 How to Make More Time for Hobbies and Interests - Struggling to find time for your favorite hobbies amidst life's chaos? This insightful guide offers practical strategies to help you reconnect with your passions, reminding you that nurturing your interests adds joy and balance to your daily life.

📖 Rich in Life-Changing Books - Looking for books that can truly change your perspective and enrich your life? This article shares six transformative reads that blend practical wisdom with timeless lessons, helping you reset your mindset and prepare for a more intentional and fulfilling 2025.

🚫 How to Break Free from the Yes Autopilot: Setting Boundaries that Work - Are you trapped on "Yes Autopilot," constantly overcommitting and draining your energy? This article offers practical steps to break free from overextending yourself and set healthy boundaries, helping you reclaim your time and focus on what truly matters.

🗓️ What Could You Change in a Year? - Wondering how much real change is possible in just a year? This article explores the transformative power of consistent effort over time, offering motivating insights for anyone looking to make meaningful progress toward their goals.

📏 How to Measure Your Life - Are you measuring your life by the right metrics? This article challenges the traditional money-driven view of success and introduces a refreshing, holistic approach to measuring true wealth across time, social, mental, physical, and financial pillars—helping you redefine what it means to truly thrive.

Thanks for reading.

I hope you had an excellent weekend!

Talk soon.

Cheers,

Steve Scott 

— SPONSORED AD —

Eat healthier. Live better.

Save hours planning, shopping, and cooking like millions of other Americans already shopping with Hungryroot.

Healthier and tastier customized meal plans mean you can achieve your goals on your terms. More veggies? Less sodium? Hungryroot has you covered.

Not sure where to start? Take the quick and easy quiz to get customized recommendations you'll love. Hungryroot is even throwing one free item plus 30% off your 1st delivery if you take the quiz today.