HOW TO START A SELF-CARE ROUTINE USING THE POWER HOUR METHOD

Today, we're talking about a power hour that's going to improve your well-being in 60 minutes or less. An alternative title for this post could have been How To Make Yourself Want To Get Up In The Morning because this method is going to get you pumped to get out of bed as soon as you wake up.

Seem like a long shot? Those of us who aren't morning people and have to be dragged out of bed are going to be especially skeptical. I have been that person for the majority of my life.

Not only will this method help you get out of bed, it will give you time to take care of yourself and start a self-care routine (because how many of us can't seem to find the time for this?).

Before I reveal all of my secrets to you, let's just talk about mornings for a second.

Why Do Mornings Suck So Much?

Raise your hand if any of these things describe you:

You're constantly snoozing your alarm

You're always running late to work

You feel like you have no time to do anything in the morning

I raised my hand for literally all of these things. For the past 6 months or so, I've been finding it really difficult to get up in the morning without snoozing my alarm. And I mean snoozing for like a whole extra hour. I realized that there was one huge factor contributing to this: I had nothing to be enthusiastic about in the mornings. My morning routine (or lack thereof) just wasn't doing it for me.

I think the number one reason we have trouble getting out of bed in the morning is that we don't have anything to look forward to.

Luckily, my friends, I've come across a method that has totally changed my mindset. I found a way to get myself pumped up about waking up in the morning with the added bonus of taking care of my health at the same time *insert fist pump emoji*

The Power Hour Method

So how do you break your alarm snoozing habits and develop a self-care routine at the same time? You start by devoting 20 minutes to your mind, 20 minutes to your body, and 20 minutes to your soul in order to take care of yourself in just one hour. It's like a power hour for your well-being!

THE VERDICT? THIS IS THE REAL DEAL.

At first I was like, Do I really have to get up an extra hour to do this? But strangely enough, when you're excited about something and know it's going to improve your mood, it makes getting up a lot easier.

I feel like I'm more productive, my stress levels decrease, and my outlook is more positive when I start my day this way.

How The Power Hour Works

Choose Three Activities

Start by choosing three activities from the list below for your mind, body, and soul. You can also think about activities you love or want to try that may not be on the list.

Set Aside Time

Set aside an hour in the morning to try this. It may seem impossible to wake up an hour earlier, but the goal is to find activities that are exciting and enjoyable enough to you that you don't mind losing that extra hour of sleep. You could also go in baby steps and just focus on one area (mind, body, or soul) for 20 minutes each day.

Start The Timer

Do each activity for 20 minutes. Time yourself. You don't have to go in any particular order, just choose the thing that excites you the most first. For me, I usually like to wake up and either read or write, then I'll do some yoga, and then I'll listen to a podcast or watch a video.

P.S. You totally don't have to do this in the morning or in one big chunk. You can span it throughout the day or do it before bed. I personally think it's the best strategy to get excited about waking up.

Examples of Activities

Mind

Meditation

Reading a fiction book

Journaling

Coloring

Sudoku

Learning a language

Body

Walking

Yoga

Dancing

Non-running cardio

Pilates

Stretching

Soul

Playing an instrument

Listening to a podcast

Reading a non-fiction book

Watching a TED talk

Baking or cooking

Starting a DIY project

If you want even more ideas, my post with 30 goal ideas to nourish your mind, body, and soul should help you out! You'll probably find that a few things can cross-over and be placed in more than one category. It's up to you how you interpret each activity.

The Power Hour Worksheet

To make this process even easier, I put together a worksheet for you to print out so you can keep track of your activities for 7 days! You can plan these out ahead of time, or just write down each activity as you complete them. You also don't have to do something new every day. If you want to write every day, do it – but if you want to try writing one day and meditating the next, that's cool too!

Your Challenge

Because this method has helped me enormously to take better care of myself, I think it will really benefit you too! I challenge you to grab the guide and try the Power Hour Method for 7 days! See if it gets you excited about waking up, squeezing in exercise without hating it, and makes you feel more motivated and inspired in your days. Give it a go and let me know if you're a fan!