ONE daily routine that changed my mindset.

You probably caught the sunrise at least once in your lifetime. You might not be an early bird but you might have needed to make it in time for an appointment or maybe you just couldn’t sleep all night. Maybe you ARE an early bird and watching the sunrise is your daily habit – lucky you! Whatever it is the reason that had you up at 5:00 am, you were up and you got a glimpse of the “magic” that happens at dawn.

What if you don’t feel like waking up? Even worse, what if you suddenly come to the false conclusion that you have no reason to rise?

I have been on vacation the past month and it is still unclear when this vacation is coming to an end. Over a month ago I lost my full time job as a yoga teacher in Fujairah, UAE. I still am a yoga teacher but you can say I am currently sans employer. Losing the job was definitely unsettling. I had to return a car I just bought recently in order to settle a loan I had taken from the bank. I had to evacuate my apartment immediately, as I couldn’t afford to pay rent without a salary. Luckily having Middle Eastern parents meant they were excited for me to be back in the nest and they took me in with arms wide open.

The greatest loss for me was the feeling of waking up in the morning knowing I had somewhere to go, I had purpose. And even though I was never really fulfilled as a yoga teacher in that particular job, I missed my daily routine. Having a secure job and a few classes scheduled throughout the day encouraged me to rise early because it was the only time I could get anything personal done – meditation, yoga and journaling. Soon after I lost my job, I found less reason (and less will) to get up early especially after a long night of overthinking. Consequently I lost my early morning routine.

My days became random. It was an outside force that lead the events of each day, it was out of my control. I felt there was less purpose in each day. I didn’t fall completely numb, I still practiced yoga at random times of the day, applied for vacancies online and appreciated the extra time I had to connect with my family. My parents and siblings live separately in a number of cities around the region and it was somewhat satisfying to all be reunited even if it was for just a few weeks. It was like a vacation but for me, it was one with no definite end.

Ah yes, whether you’re employed or unemployed, not having a daily routine is going to mess up with your head. Even if you are in a transition period in between homes, jobs etc..doing something daily is necessary for your physical and mental health. It’s the law of consistency. But what if this transition period also carries a lot of emotions and stress?

What if you don’t feel like waking up? Even worse, what if you suddenly come to the false conclusion that you have no reason to rise? So you stay in bed until it is absolutely necessary – a friend calls for a lunch date or it’s time to empty your bladder. So now you’re up, you check the time and notice it’s already passed noon. You feel guilt. Because you didn’t rise to cease the day. So you go on with your day with this low energy, fueled by guilt, shame and hopelessness. But your human nature kicks in eventually and you promise yourself you will rise early tomorrow. The next morning comes and you again struggle to find a reason to get up. And this cycle continues.

The whole of nature wakes up when the sun rises – flowers, birds, animals, so what’s wrong with you? Why are you still in bed?

Waking up before dawn has proven to be beneficial. You’ll find plenty of books and articles online about the magic of rising early. The CEO of Apple starts his mornings at 3:45 a.m., and Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama have been known to start their day at the crack of dawn. The whole of nature wakes up when the sun rises – flowers, birds, animals, so what’s wrong with you? Why are you still in bed?

Unlike animals and plants, we are a little more complex. We like to take natural events in the flow of life and use them to create stories that revolve around us. And sometimes these stories you tell yourself can dictate whether you get up in the morning or not.

You might not even be in a transition period. This might be your whole life! If you work in any service industry such as hotels and recreation centers, it would be almost impossible for you to rise early if you finish work at 12 am.

There were so many verses in this part of the Qur’an that resonated with me and what I was going through at the moment.

It was Friday morning in sunny Abu Dhabi and I was headed to the mosque for the Friday prayers. At this point in the summer both my parents and all my siblings were back to their own daily routine so I was alone. After the prayer ended I heard some women discussing the return of “Qur’an Recitation” classes or “Tajweed”. The classes were to re-commence this coming Sunday, 9:30 am. Given that my days were random and I had nothing planned, I decided to join this class. I was there on Sunday at 9:30 am. The teacher didn’t show up and it turns out the class was cancelled as most the previous students haven’t returned yet from their summer vacation. I stayed anyway. I read a part of the Qur’an, 49 pages in total. If you are truly present while reading every word and reflecting on the meanings, reading the Qur’an is a mindfulness practice. Practicing mindfulness is not tied to being on a yoga mat or on the top of a mountain, but in your day to day activities. There were so many verses in this part of the Qur’an that resonated with me and what I was going through at the moment. I even shed a few tears and by the end I felt lightness in my heart and stillness in my otherwise monkey mind.

What fascinated me wasn’t the reading itself but what happened after. As soon as I walked outside that mosque I felt I had a compass, a guide. Every encounter, purchase, ride that happened that day happened ever so smoothly. I noticed my anxiety wasn’t as persistent as it had been the weeks before. People were going out of their way to help me. The drive back home was calm.

I was driven to repeat this the next day. Waking up before dawn is still difficult. But I try not to be stubborn and treat my 9 am as if it were 5 am. I let go of the idea of “get up at 5 or never get up at all”. I need to be gentle on my self, not harsh. No matter what time I wake up, I’ve committed to reading the same part of the Qur’an everyday first thing in the morning. I created my own – not so early bird – daily routine.

Since then I’ve been waking up earlier and earlier each day. Today I made it at 6 am! Having that consistency of reading the same verses helped me find purpose in each day. I am back to consistently practicing yoga and writing. I’ve even made a subscription at the gym. It became easier to see and plan the months ahead and I am actively meeting people and applying for more opportunities.

You don’t have to set unrealistic expectations. Just start today, any time.

Starting a new habit or getting back a healthy old habit is not easy. The key is to stay committed the first few days or weeks, and naturally your mind will want to maintain this consistency. With time it becomes difficult to break the habit because our mind LOVES consistency. That’s why it’s very challenging to change a belief that’s been stuck in your head for years. The secret is to start realistically. Don’t fight your mind. Play along. If it’s impossible for you to practice yoga or run or pray or write or or or.. at 5 am in the morning, who says you can’t do any of those things at 9? or 11? or 3 pm? or 9 pm? You don’t have to set unrealistic expectations. Just start today, any time.

حُب وكُنون

love & inner peace,

rawan