A couple of months ago I set myself the challenge to change my morning routine for a week – so instead of sitting in my pjs with a cup of coffee scrolling social media I popped on some clothes, grabbed a coffee and walked down to the beach every morning.

I enjoyed it so much I kept it up for another week

And then I went on honeymoon and spent a month in Australia helping crew a boat. So by the time I returned home winter had sunk its claws in and the mornings were too cold and dark to head down to the beach but I’m hopeful that in the next few weeks I can start venturing out again.

But I was reflecting on the changing of my routine and what, in two those two weeks, I learnt from it.

And there were five things…

1) Starting is always the hardest part

Get past all that internal chatter telling us why we shouldn’t, why it’s a bad idea, coming up with excuses and imagining any number of worst-case scenarios, and amazingly once we actually start things quieten down. And even better – we might actually enjoy it.

2) Every day will be different 

One day I was energised, another I was tired, another I couldn’t be bothered. This is normal, it’s the ups and downs of living in the feeling of our thinking. The bottom line is to not take those feelings so seriously because… (see point 3 below).

3) You can still do it even if you don’t feel like it or if you feel like you can’t

I walked down to the beach everyday in spite of how I felt. The truth is you can do stuff even when you think you’re not good enough, even when you feel unmotivated, even when you’re tired, even when you think the world is against you, even when bed seems more tempting.

4) Your worst-case scenarios that you’ve told yourself about will hardly ever come true 

I imagined changing my morning routine would stuff up the rest of my day, that I’d faint because I was exercising before breakfast, that I’d be tired for the rest of the day. None of those things actually transpired. Instead I felt awe, joy and being alive.

5) Do it because you want to not because you should 

Getting up and walking down to the beach won’t be for everyone, just like joining the 4am club won’t be for everyone. Don’t change your routine just because you think you should. Do it because you want to.

What’s your morning routine? What would you change?

#ownyourawesome

PS – I’ve been setting myself challenges to step outside my comfort zone to raise awareness of the stories I’m telling myself and to see what’s possible. So far I’ve written a poem and recited it on social media, I’ve tried jackfruit and yoga, started Parkrun, said yes to a month’s experience crewing a boat in Australia, and worn an item of clothing out in public that I didn’t think I could. If you’re sick of being stuck in your comfort zone and want to dip a toe in the water but not sure how, then get in touch and let’s talk about what’s possible for you.

PPS – If you know someone who might benefit from coaching or this post, please share!