Productivity | My Productivity Routines - Miracle Morning & Notion Habit Tracker
Learn how to boost your productivity with the Miracle Morning routine and Notion Habit Tracker. Simplify your routines and achieve your goals.
Hi All,
Today, I wanted to talk about my favorite productivity routines and habit tracker that keeps me on track. Do you often find yourself struggling to stay focused or accomplish tasks? Are you looking for ways to improve your productivity and achieve your goals? You are with me on this then. Many of you may already know that I am a productivity enthusiast who has been striving to optimize my routines and time management for years to increase my output. Despite my efforts, I have struggled to find a routine that works for me long-term. Before Covid-19, this was partly due to frequent business trips across countries and continents, as well as taking university courses from a different time zone which often requires me to stay up late (2-4 am class in UK time) or pull all-nighters, on top of working full-time. So, I had to find a way to stay disciplined.
I read hundreds of books on productivity and tried dozens of things on myself, but at the end of the day, I realized to be consistent, 'SIMPLICITY' is the key. I also found having a tracker to visualize my progress helps to keep me get going - in a way it is 'gamifying' the whole routine and process but finding the right tracker was another challenge. I tried dozens of platforms, apps, and spreadsheets, but found the notion tracker most sticky - esp. because I can check off things on my phone, laptop and computer seamlessly. If you have multiple workstations both in the company office with firewalls and at home with a couple of phones, AND always on the go or traveling internationally across different timezones like me, you will love this option. If none of these applies to you - even better! You will still love it. When you check off the boxes over a period of time, you see the missing spots, and that's when you get motivated to come back on track. James Clear also said "Never Miss Twice."
So, What Worked For Me?
First, I came across 'Miracle Morning Routine' (not paid to say this; on the website, you can find a free app link) during the pandemic and I personally loved it. Finally, something that gives me structure yet simple! Also, using the Notion Habit Tracker (again, not paid to say this; you can download the free template from the link or you can build your own) over the years helped me stay consistent. Plus, giving myself a 100-day challenge and posting it with the relevant hashtag on social media with a circle of the community who's doing the same challenge was a game changer. In the end, I give myself a reward and have a break period to gather myself and resume another 100-day challenge, and repeat this process. In this post, I'll explore the benefits of these two productivity routines and how you can incorporate them into your daily life.
I. What is the Miracle Morning?
The Miracle Morning is a daily routine created by Hal Elrod. It is a daily routine you can follow to amplify your life and reach your full potential by priming your morning - it is a way to allow you to tap into your own divinity, invincibility, and clarity.
"Your days are your life in miniature. If you start your day well, and take care of the day that follows, the days slip into weeks, weeks slip into months, and the months slip into years. You are pretty much guaranteed a world class life if you get your days right." - Robin Sharma
I will let you read his story (he overcame so many adversities in life - from 2008 financial crisis and life-threatening car accident and a comma to cancers, etc.) or watch this Tom Bilyeu's interview or his latest film and get blown away on your own. It involves waking up early and spending time on six key activities, known as the 'SAVERS': Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing. By completing these activities each morning, you can set the tone for a productive and successful day.
You can complete the routine the first thing in the morning - roughly 60 min if you have time, but if you are on the go, you can do one minute per activity, 6 minutes in total. There is no set time per se, so develop the routine that suits you.
Silence
The first activity in the Miracle Morning is silence. This involves taking a few moments to sit in quiet meditation or reflection. By clearing your mind and focusing on your breath, you can reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mental clarity.
Affirmations
The second activity is affirmations. This involves reciting positive statements to yourself, such as "I am capable and confident" or "I am worthy of success." By affirming your beliefs and values, you can boost your self-confidence and motivation.
Visualization
The third activity is visualization. This involves visualizing your goals and dreams as if they have already been achieved. By imagining yourself living the life you desire, you can increase your motivation and focus on taking actions to make it a reality.
Exercise
The fourth activity is exercise. This involves engaging in physical activity, such as yoga or a brisk walk. By getting your blood flowing and releasing endorphins, you can increase your energy and improve your mood.
Reading
The fifth activity is reading. This involves reading for personal or professional development. By learning new information and expanding your knowledge, you can improve your skills and achieve your goals.
Scribing
The sixth and final activity is scribing. This involves writing in a journal or planner. By recording your thoughts, ideas, and goals, you can clarify your priorities and hold yourself accountable.
II. What is Notion Habit Tracker?
Notion Habit Tracker is a digital tool that helps you track your habits and routines. It allows you to create custom templates and trackers for specific goals, such as fitness, productivity, or personal development. By using Notion Habit Tracker, you can monitor your progress, stay motivated, and identify areas for improvement.
Customization
One of the benefits of Notion Habit Tracker is its customization options. You can create custom templates and trackers to fit your specific needs and goals. For example, if you want to track your daily water intake or exercise routine, you can create a tracker that includes those specific habits.
Accountability
Notion Habit Tracker also provides a sense of accountability. By tracking your habits and routines, you can hold yourself accountable for your actions and progress. You can also share your tracker with others, such as a coach or accountability partner, to receive support and feedback.
Motivation
Finally, Notion Habit Tracker can be a source of motivation. By seeing your progress and accomplishments, you can feel a sense of pride and motivation to continue working towards your goals. You can also set reminders and notifications to keep you on track and motivated.
III. How to Incorporate Miracle Morning and Notion Habit Tracker into Your Daily Routine
Now that we've explored the benefits of the Miracle Morning and Notion Habit Tracker, let's discuss how you can incorporate these productivity routines into your daily life.
Set Your Alarm Clock
The first step is to set your alarm clock to wake up early enough to complete the Miracle Morning routine before starting your day. Try to wake up at least an hour earlier than you normally would to give yourself enough time to complete all six activities.
Create Your Miracle Morning Routine
Next, create your Miracle Morning routine by deciding how much time to allocate to each activity. For example, you may want to spend 5-10 minutes on silence and affirmations, 10-15 minutes on visualization, 20-30 minutes on exercise, and 15-30 minutes on reading and scribing.
Use Notion Habit Tracker
Once you have completed your Miracle Morning routine, use Notion Habit Tracker to track your progress and hold yourself accountable. Create a custom template or tracker for your specific goals and habits, and use it daily to monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Stay Consistent
To achieve maximum benefits from these productivity routines, it's important to stay consistent. Make a commitment to complete your Miracle Morning routine and use Notion Habit Tracker daily. Over time, you will notice improvements in your productivity, focus, and overall well-being.
IV. Conclusion
Incorporating the Miracle Morning and Notion Habit Tracker into your daily routine can help you improve your productivity, achieve your goals, and enhance your overall well-being. By taking the time to engage in silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading, and scribing each morning, and using Notion Habit Tracker to track your progress, you can stay motivated and hold yourself accountable for your actions. So why not give these productivity routines a try and see how they can transform your life? Do you have your favorite routines, tools, productivity platforms? Please share yours!
❓ V. FAQs
Q: Can I modify the Miracle Morning routine to fit my personal preferences?
A: Yes, you can customize your Miracle Morning routine to fit your specific needs and preferences. You can complete the routine the first thing in the morning or later during the day - roughly 60 min if you have time, but if you are on the go, you can do one minute per activity, 6 minutes in total. There is no set time per se, so develop the routine that suites you.
Q: Do I need to use Notion Habit Tracker to benefit from the Miracle Morning routine?
A: No, you can benefit from the Miracle Morning routine without using Notion Habit Tracker. However, using a habit tracker can help you monitor your progress and stay accountable.
Q: How long does it take to see results from the Miracle Morning and Notion Habit Tracker?
A: There is no exact number of days it takes for a habit to stick, as it can vary depending on the individual and the behavior being targeted. However, the 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology has suggested that it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a habit to become automatic and ingrained in one's daily routine. On average, it takes 66 days for a new habit to become automatic. However, this can vary widely depending on factors such as the complexity of the behavior, the person's motivation and commitment, and their previous experience with forming habits.
For additional reference, check out James Clear's blog post on this:
James Clear
Q: Can I use other habit trackers besides Notion?
A: Yes, there are many other habit tracker apps and tools available, such as Habitica, Streaks (app), and Habit Share (app).
Q: Is it necessary to wake up early to practice the Miracle Morning routine?
A: O, this is a tricky one, right? I myself is a night owl and I have been trying to be a 4:30am or 5am or 6am person for my entire life and I used to lament that the world is built around and for morning people! So, it does help in life if you wake up early in the morning unless you are a freelancer or a night shift worker.
You don't believe me? There is a Harvard Business Review article - it is a bit outdated as it is from 2010, but the study says the Early Bird Really Does Get the Worm. This is also the title. The study found people whose performance peaks in the morning are better positioned for career success, because they’re more proactive than people who are at their best in the evening.
While waking up early is a key component of the Miracle Morning routine, you can modify the routine to fit your schedule and lifestyle. The important thing is to consistently engage in the six activities each day. Tony Robin's life coach once told me she's seen night owls doing their routines during lunch hours or later in the afternoon when they are more awake.
*Various studies have identified correlations between chronotype and certain personal characteristics. Here’s a sampling:
