This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "The Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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How is your morning energy level? Could you use more energy in the morning to get your day started right?
In The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod shares his routine for maximizing the first part of your day. This includes activities that boost your morning energy level. Elrod provides insights to help you leverage exercise and eating to get more energy in the morning.
Read more to discover ways to boost your morning energy.
Boost Morning Energy With Exercise
Besides being good for your health, exercising for a few minutes each morning boosts your energy and mood and increases your mental clarity and focus.
Your Miracle Morning routine should include aerobic exercise such as jumping jacks, pushups, and situps. Alternatively, you could follow along with a yoga video. You can do additional exercise with a longer duration, such as running or working out at the gym, at other times during the day, but you still should incorporate a short period of exercise into your morning routine to increase your energy and focus for the day.
Elrod prefers yoga. It dovetails well with other aspects of the Miracle Morning method, and it gives a nice boost to morning energy.
It’s a multipurpose activity: it can incorporate stretching, strength training, and cardio. It can be combined with focused breathing and serve as a form of meditation.
Yoga can take various forms. There are different practices to address the physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual aspects of life. Choosing the practice you need can help bring your life into balance.
While everyone knows it’s important to exercise consistently to maintain good health and increase your energy, it’s easy to make excuses for not exercising—for instance, feeling tired or not having time. However, the Miracle Morning routine provides a structure (a designated time when you’re not tired) that eliminates these excuses so you can make exercise a habit.
Boost Morning Energy With Diet
Digesting food takes energy—the more you eat, the less you feel like doing. Forgoing breakfast until after your Miracle Morning routine ensures that you’ll be alert and focused—your blood will be going to your brain instead of your digestive system.
But if you need to eat first thing in the morning, start with something light and easily digestible. What you eat—and when you eat it—affects your morning energy level.
Eating for Energy and Health
Many people choose what to eat based on taste, convenience, or dietary restrictions they may have. We get emotional enjoyment from the way foods taste—for example, fried chicken, fast food, ice cream, or soda. However, for more energy and better health, it’s better to choose foods based on those criteria. Food that’s healthy and gives you energy can still taste great—for instance, fresh fruits and vegetables.
With an aim to increase energy in the morning, Elrod created a Miracle Morning fruit smoothie to provide a healthy, energy-boosting breakfast. It includes protein, antioxidants, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Here’s the recipe:
- 1 cup water, orange iuice, or almond/soy milk
- 1 banana (can be frozen)
- 1 handful of spinach (can be frozen)
Optional additions:
- 1 leaf Swiss Chard or Kale
- 1 handful of berries (can be frozen) or a mango
Whatever you choose to eat, make sure it’s good for you as well as great-tasting.
If you’re looking for ways to boost your morning energy level, exercise and eating the right thing at the right time are key.
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Like what you just read? Read the rest of the world's best book summary and analysis of Hal Elrod's "The Miracle Morning" at Shortform .
Here's what you'll find in our full The Miracle Morning summary :
- How getting up early and following a simple, daily routine can empower anyone to transform any area of their life
- How Elrod's "Life S.A.V.E.R.S." routine can help you feel energized and motivated
- Why hitting the snooze button is comparable to resisting your life
