001 - Is Rising Early Really The Secret To Success?

For years I’ve tried in vain to develop the habit. There was some success but it didn’t stick. Is there’s any point even trying?

Image by Josh Rose

For years I’ve tried in vain to develop the habit. There was some success but it didn’t stick. Is there’s any point even trying?

The short answer is I don’t know. And it depends how you frame success.

I rose this am at 05:10. That’s a big deal for me because if I’m not committed to someone or something then I don’t get up.

Some days I’d lie in until 11:00 no bother to me.

This morning was different for some reason, I didn’t need to force it. The alarm went off and 05:00, I hit snooze and 10 mins later I was up and had my running gear on.

And so begins the start of a new habit.

Fulfilling A Commitment

Everyone has a routine of one kind or another. They can be very helpful in our efforts to get shit done. Your’s may not be very efficient but at least it’s there and it gets you results.

Just like mine do. The only problem being they may not be the results we want.

I’ve wanted to establish an early morning routine for a long time now, and on previous attempts I’ve had some short term success. However it was only ever short term and that wasn’t good enough for me.

But I let it slide. Funny that, the apparent duality of desire going on at the same time… wanting something then spoiling my own efforts to get it.

Ever have that going on?

I’d enlist the help of friends to call me and 05:30, take their call then jump back into bed.

The only way I’ve managed to fulfill a personal commitment to myself in the past is to publicly announce it.

When there’s nobody else in the picture it’s easy to let ourselves off the hook.

“Ah sure I’ll start tomorrow…”

This morning felt different and it started last night when I drafted this article. Something about the intent was different.

The notion of failing to deliver on a commitment even if there was merely the possibility of someone reading that commitment was enough to get my arse in gear.

The Psychology Of Commitment

I know that the above method of getting something done places the source of motivation outside myself and that to me is a little flawed, in so far as what’s driving my action is the thought of someone else offering disapproval if I don’t deliver.

Does that make it ok?

Sure. Why not. At least I’m conscious of it and it gets me what I want.

I regard personal integrity as one of, if not the highest of personality traits any human being can possess, so when I make a commitment to someone, you can be sure I’ll do my damndest to follow through.

At the end of the day if it helps us develop something that makes us better at what we do then that’s good. We just need to be careful not to spend too much time concerned with what others think of us.

If it doesn’t work out then move on and try something else.

The Artist’s Manifesto is a short book about staying true to our art. It is a call to Artists and Creatives like you to create from the heart with passion and integrity, disregarding the need for applause and recognition. It’s available from 13th May 2017. Grab your FREE copy here.

The Morning Routine

I’m quitting the day job in about two weeks to focus on my writing and art, and so this period is about establishing the basic habit of getting up early and writing.

The first thing I’ll write is this journal, and I’ll do my very best not to turn it into some kind of self indulgent here’s the best way to live your life kind of shit, ok?

It’s simply what I’m doing to develop my writing and my art and build a career doing it.

So if you’re interested, here’s what I’m at…

05:00 — Rise

05:10 — Run/Workout

05:40 — Shower. Dress. Coffee

06:00— Write

10:00 — Break

What’s The Goal?

The goal in all of this?

I’m an artist and a writer and my goal is to build a following and offer something meaningful to other creatives in the process. The Editor’s Journal will also serve as a bit of a mind dump of ideas and thoughts and a means of tracking my own progress.

I’m working on a couple of book ideas and aim to publish those over the next six months to year. I’ve also some art like this that I want to make so establishing an early morning routine is important.

If you get value from what I’m doing then that’s great. If you don’t that’s alright too. Follow along if you like, try what I’m doing for yourself and see how it works.

So, until tomorrow,

Have a good Monday.

The Artist’s Manifesto is a short book about staying true to our art. It is a call to Artists and Creatives like you to create from the heart with passion and integrity, disregarding the need for applause and recognition. It’s available from 13th May 2017. Grab your FREE copy here.

Like Some More of This Kind of Thing?

Howdy, I’m Larry, Writer & Artist. Thanks for taking the time to read my stuff. I write about art & creativity. When I’m not doing that I write short stories about the ordinary lives of people and the challenges they face. My stuff can be edgy, hard hitting, and sometimes controversial, but never contrived. If that’s your bag you can Sign-up To Sunday Letters Here.