How you start your day often sets the tone for everything that follows. Hitting the snooze button and rushing out the door leaves you feeling reactive and behind. But by dedicating just one hour to yourself first thing in the morning, you can become proactive, centered, and empowered. This concept, popularized by Hal Elrod’s book “The Miracle Morning,” is based on six life-changing practices known as the S.A.V.E.R.S. This routine can transform not just your mornings, but your entire life.
The S.A.V.E.R.S. Routine
The goal is to spend about 10 minutes on each of the following six activities, for a total of 60 minutes. You can start with less time (even 1 minute each) and build up.
1. S – Silence
Begin your day in silence to calm your mind and reduce stress. This is not the time to check your phone. This practice allows you to start from a place of peace rather than reactivity.
Ideas: Meditation, prayer, deep breathing, sitting in silence, or mindful gazing out a window.
2. A – Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements that describe who you want to be and what you want to accomplish. They help you overcome self-sabotaging thoughts and program your subconscious for success.
Ideas: Read aloud or recite affirmations that resonate with your goals and values. (e.g., “I am capable and confident. I am productive and focused. I attract positive opportunities.”)
3. V – Visualization
Also known as creative visualization, this is the practice of creating vivid mental images of your goals and dreams as if they have already been achieved. This engages your emotions and primes your brain to recognize the resources and opportunities that will make your vision a reality.
Ideas: Close your eyes and visualize yourself achieving a specific goal—crossing a finish line, giving a successful presentation, feeling healthy and energetic.
4. E – Exercise
Moving your body for even a few minutes boosts your energy, increases focus, and enhances your mood by releasing endorphins.
Ideas: A brisk walk, a 10-minute yoga flow, bodyweight exercises (push-ups, squats), or stretching. The goal is to get your blood flowing.
5. R – Reading
Reading a few pages of an inspirational or educational book each morning fills your mind with positive ideas and helps you learn and grow daily.
Ideas: Choose books on personal development, your career field, or wellness. Even 10 pages a day adds up to over 15 books a year!
6. S – Scribing (Journaling)
Writing down your thoughts, ideas, and things you’re grateful for provides clarity, relieves stress, and helps you process your emotions.
Ideas: Gratitude journaling, brain-dumping worries, writing down your top 3 priorities for the day, or answering a specific journal prompt.
How to Implement Your Miracle Morning
- Start Small: Don’t try to do 60 minutes on day one. Start with 6 minutes—one minute for each practice. Gradually increase the time as the habit sticks.
- Prepare the Night Before: Decide what you’ll do for each “S” and have your materials ready (yoga mat, book, journal).
- Get to Bed Earlier: To wake up an hour earlier, you may need to adjust your bedtime to ensure you still get 7-8 hours of sleep.
- Be Consistent: The magic is in the daily practice, even on weekends. Consistency builds momentum.
The Miracle Morning is less about what you do and more about who you become by doing it. This hour of personal development ensures that no matter what the rest of the day throws at you, you’ve already won. You’ve already invested in yourself, setting a powerful, positive tone for the hours to come.