Getting out of bed is one of the best times of the day to have some time for yourself. This is what Matthieu Desroches , consultant, coach and speaker on organization and productivity, firmly believes. "People often complain about not having time for themselves. However, if they simply rethink their bedtime and wake-up time, while respecting their sleep needs, they could free up just 30 minutes to make a real difference in their day."

Matthieu Desroches has been interested in this issue for several years. “I was the perfect example of a person who goes to bed late and gets up late. I always felt like I was behind in my day. I was experiencing stress and frustration. It was as if life was absorbing me.”

He then immersed himself in best-selling books like The Miracle Morning (see box) and Wake Up Successful and gradually changed his habits. "Today, this discipline is part of me, it brings me enormous satisfaction and benefits." His approach? Take the time, like Andreea Vanacker , to awaken the three fundamental elements of being: the body, the soul and the spirit.

ACTIVATION ROUTINE

The body	Blade	The spirit
Take the time to prepare and energize your body for the day by practicing the physical activity of your choice. “Going for a walk, working out at the gym, doing some stretching or yoga postures, the type of exercise doesn’t matter. The important thing is to wake up the body and reactivate blood circulation after being immobile during the night.”	Choose a time for introspection which can be in the form of visualization, meditation or prayer. This is sometimes an opportunity to enter a positive mindset that will reverberate throughout the day.	Doing an activity that engages the mind, such as reading, writing, or planning, as long as it is done away from external stimuli (email, calls, etc.). This time is an opportunity to engage in a creative task at a time when attention is often at its peak.

“Of course, the ritual can only integrate two of the three aspects, but they will definitely give the feeling of being in control of your day, of being proactive, rather than reactive.” And what about productivity? By going to bed and getting up earlier, Matthieu Desroches calculated a real gain in free time each week. “I gain at least five hours of personal time per week. Rather than hanging out in front of a series or my phone late at night, I invest this hour in something more meaningful in the morning.”

For Andreea Vanacker, her morning routine is a way to keep the promises she makes to herself throughout the day. Haven't seen her video? Check it out here !

Go ahead, but at your own pace!

The future belongs to those who get up early? Not always… When it was published in 2012, the book The Miracle Morning was a hit. In it, its author Hal Elrod suggests taking charge of your life by getting up one to two hours earlier than usual to devote them to your personal development. “However, medical science has shown that this principle does not apply to everyone and that a segment of the population is simply not a “morning person,” explains Matthieu Desroches. In the excellent book Live at the Right Rhythm , Michael Breus talks about “chronotypes” to designate individuals’ sleep rhythms. That’s why we should talk about wake-up routines rather than morning routines. The principle is to wake up intentionally and proactively, no matter what time you get up.”

His favorite tools

The Morning Sidekick Journal (English only) – a personal journal to help you set up your morning routine

Wake up Successful by SJ Scott