Living Among my Most Accomplished Peers for a Week: Unveiling the 5 Daily Routines They Adopt Before 7 a.m.
In a serene mountain village, a group of Italian vacationers shared an Airbnb, each day starting before the sun rose at 7 a.m. Their morning routines, far from the usual grind, were a testament to the power of intention and mindfulness.
Rather than waking up at the crack of dawn or working tirelessly, these individuals believed that success lies in deciding what truly matters before the world dictates otherwise. Planning with intention was a common practice among them, but without the pressure of a structured morning routine.
Before the world's inputs flooded their minds, they deliberately chose what they consumed. This curation of inputs, whether through reading, meditation, or quiet reflection, helped shape their thinking before 7 a.m.
Connection was another key element in their morning routines. They intentionally connected with what gave them grounding, be it family, friends, or the local environment. This purposeful interaction set the tone for their day, providing emotional momentum.
The consistency in their small habits - movement, silence, planning, curated inputs, and meaningful connection - is what set these individuals apart. They chose each morning which "story" they wanted to connect with before the world handed them one.
Movement, for these individuals, was not about perfect workouts or racking up steps. Instead, it was about priming their bodies and minds to be awake and ready. Psychologists have linked movement to increased alertness and decreased stress due to the regulation of cortisol and dopamine.
Silence provided them with space to anchor themselves before the world's demands started pouring in. They were protective of this silence, avoiding phones, TV, or scrolling through notifications.
Every successful person in the study moved their body in some form before 7 a.m. This movement served as a gentle wake-up call, preparing them to step into the day with clarity, energy, and purpose, rather than having the day happen to them.
These vacationers were living proof of the idea that we live immersed in an ocean of stories, choosing which narratives shape our sense of self and our days. They curated what influenced their mindset for the day, creating a filter for what voices they let in.
Each participant checked in with their day thoughtfully, whether by making a list of priorities, reviewing their calendar, or identifying the one thing they had to move forward that day. They were not trying to "optimize" their mornings to perfection, but simply choosing not to leave the start of their day to chance.
In the end, these unconventional morning routines served as a reminder that we have the power to shape our days, to choose the stories we connect with, and to start our days with intention and purpose.
