Tag Archive for: mornings

Morning Routines

“Nothing much happened today….”
Those were the opening words of my first diary entry on January 1st, 1978.
Since then, I have written thousands more.
In a few weeks’ time, it’ll be 47 years since it all began.
And my daily morning entries have filled 49 page a day journals (a couple of years 1983 – 1985 I filled a few.)
I am grateful for my mother.
Since Christmas day 1977, with her gift of the little diary, every December 25th since, she has presented me with a new journal for the year ahead.
Filled with priceless memories, stories, insightful experiences, a few travelogues and a number of boring entries too 😉, they have become a record of my life.
They are a way to remember.

Mornings

I believe that how you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day.
In 1977, I began my years at High School in Dunfermline.
That summer, I started an early morning newspaper round.
Those early rises allowed me to establish regular morning habits that developed into consistent, reliable daily patterns from a young age.
I discovered that if you start every day with intention, a disciplined mindset is the result.
It has been the foundation for steady growth in my personal learning, development, family and professional life.
A structured morning routine helps you to focus on any priority tasks for the day ahead, without feeling hurried and to plan your time and resources accordingly.
Finding a morning routine that suits you, may take a little time.
The important thing is to commit to a routine that supports your own goals and lifestyle.
For me jotting down my thoughts of the activities of the day before in my journal is a powerful way to slow me down and clear my mind.

Top Tips

– Set a regular, consistent wake up time.
– Hydrate immediately and drink a glass of water.
– Journal – Start small – my first journal entry was just 12 words.
– Meditate & Study
– Prioritise your day.
As opposed to those first few words of my journal of 1978, something of real value happened that day, which has set the daily routines of my lifetime.
What did you do this morning?

Side by Side

I enjoy my early morning studies.
Sleep is very important, but for me my desire to learn the gospel and to come to know my Saviour Jesus Christ has always been more important than lying in my bed for too long each morning.
Russell M. Nelson has said “To those who feel defeated and downtrodden, look to the early hours of the day for your rescue.”
In the wee small hours every morning, when all is quiet and peaceful, there is nothing I enjoy more than to sit on the living room sofa, wrap myself in a blanket and snuggle up with a good book to help me come to know my Saviour Jesus Christ, a little more.

Scriptures

The scriptures have always been a good friend and in them there are many examples of those who arose early in the morning:
• Genesis 19:27 “Abraham gat up 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 to the place where he stood before the Lord”
• Exodus 34:4 “Moses rose up 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone”
• Joshua 6:12 “And Joshua rose 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord”
• In Mark 1:35 we read that the Saviour himself arose 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 “…𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed”.
I know that more flashes of inspiration and insight come in those early morning hours, than at any other time of the day.
In the early mornings of the last two weeks, my thoughts have turned to Palm Sunday and General Conference weekend of Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April.
Why not join us online?
I’ve enjoyed the General Conference talks from six months ago.

Side by Side

Each morning, I pick up two copies of the Liahona and study them 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞.
One in Dutch and one in English.
Firstly, I study a talk in Dutch and try to understand as much of the talk as I can.
Secondly, I study the same talk, but this time in English to gain further clarity.
Interestingly, the two-language approach, brings additional inspiration, insight and understanding.
In a letter of 2nd March, the First Presidency said, “General conference provides an opportunity to receive personal revelation as general Church leaders give counsel and direction”
I know personally, that one of the best ways to come to Christ is to listen and study the words of His special witnesses.
The best time for me to that, is 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 in the early hours of the morning.
Our missionaries can help you learn of Jesus Christ.
They also like the early mornings too!
What is your favourite time to study?