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The Morning Routine of Marcus Aurelius and Top 21 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes
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Why create a morning routine?
A morning routine can help you begin your day with you in control, lowering your stress and increasing your productivity. You simply set actions you plan on doing in the morning and complete them.
A morning routine can take as little as five minutes or as long as 3 hours. The choice is yours.
It can be as simple as making your bed and having a cup of water; to as elaborate as you want to make it. Morning is a great time to start a new habit and reinforce all of your already established good habits.
In this article, we will review the morning routine of a very famous stoic from the first century, Marcus Aurelius. Stoics were big proponents of consistency and self-control; therefore, morning and daily routines were normal practice for them.
In addition to reviewing the morning routine of Marcus Aurelius, we also include inspirational daily routine quotes from different prominent historical figures. This shows that not only morning routine is a necessary practice, but that it has been practiced by great historical figures through the centuries.
A quick note on Marcus Aurelius
The study of Marcus Aurelius’ daily routine was based on a review of his Meditations written by him. This was a personal journal that was never meant to be published. Luckily for us, it was, as it gave us an in-depth look into the mind of one of the great Roman emperors and stoic teachings.
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is divided into twelve books, the following passages and learnings were taken from books two, four, and five.
1. Wake Up Early
In the morning when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present I am rising to the work of a human being.
Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world?
Or have I been made for this, to lie in my bed-clothes and keep myself warm?
But this is more pleasant.
Do you exist then to take pleasure, and not at all for action or exertion?
Marcus Aurelius
The morning routine begins with waking up early and getting out of bed. Benjamin Franklin, a fan of Marcus Aurelius, wrote about getting up at 5 am himself. He outlined this in his Autobiography providing us with his own daily routine. Daily Routine of Benjamin Franklin.
If you have difficulty with this task of waking up early, take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Marcus Aurelius began book five stating that if you do not want to get out of bed in the morning, like him, remind yourself that you are alive for more than just to seek pleasure. You exist for something bigger, and that bigger awaits you in the upcoming day.
Marcus Aurelius throughout his writings pointed out that we need to live according to nature. This can be interpreted in many ways, but specifically living to your true self.
Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself. – Henry David Thoreau
Unless you push yourself out of your comfort zone and do something out of the ordinary, you may not find out what your true nature is.
A bird staying in the nest may never find out that it can fly. Make it a point to challenge yourself, even with something as simple as going to bed earlier so you can wake up earlier.
Wake up early, get out of bed and discover your potential.
2. Meditate and Observe Your Thoughts
Those who do not observe the movements of their own minds must of necessity be unhappy. – Marcus Aurelius
Throughout his writings, Marcus Aurelius stresses the importance of observing your thoughts. Let us call this meditation on your thoughts. This practice of thought observation is very powerful. Not only does it teach us that the thoughts that we have just show up on their own, but also, that we have the power to choose the thoughts to focus on.
For there are also those who have wearied themselves in life by their activity, and yet have no object to which to direct every movement, and, in a word, all their thoughts. – Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius also points out that lives get hectic. He cautions against what may be called a ‘scatter brain’. A made-up term, but nevertheless gets the point across. Another good term for this is ‘multitasking’. Focusing on many things at once and as a result not really focusing on anything.
He calls us to be mindful in our actions and in our thoughts. Meditation or observation of your thoughts is just the right practice to get you there.
Including meditation and thought observation in the morning routine does not need to be elaborate. Yes, there are people that spend hours meditating every morning. It is, however, not necessary. Even if you have a few minutes to do it every day, you will reap the benefits of improved attention span, reduced stress, improved memory, and enhanced self-awareness. 12 Science-Based Benefits of Meditation
3. Read and Learn Something New
Do things from the external fall upon you and distract you? Give yourself time to learn something new and good and cease to be whirled around. – Marcus Aurelius
Learning comes in different forms. You can take classes, read, listen to books, and practice new skills. Whatever you do, remember the importance of always learning something new.
Reading is the easiest and most versatile type of education you can get. Books not only transport you to different times and places, but they also get you into the minds of great authors. Create a list of books to read, set time aside in the mornings, and start reading.
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. – Benjamin Franklin
If you have time to read in the morning, that is excellent. And if you do not, consider making the time by waking up a bit earlier. If you do, remember sleep is essential, so go to bed earlier.
If you are one of those lucky souls that can take a one-hour lunch, consider adding reading or taking classes to your lunchtime.
Otherwise, try fitting it into your evening routine. Nevertheless, regardless of when you do it, set time away for reading.
Once you stop learning, you start dying. – Albert Einstein
4. Gratitude Journal and Journaling
Given that we are literally reviewing a personal journal of Marcus Aurelius, it should not come as a surprise that journaling was a big part of his daily life.
There are different types of journaling that you can practice. Marcus Aurelius practiced reflective journaling and gratitude journaling.
- Reflective journaling is the type of journaling where you answer specific questions that make you dive deeper into yourself. This is very therapeutic process and can help you manage emotions and get to know yourself better. [Used by Marcus Aurelius]
- Daily journaling is writing about what happens to you on daily basis.
- Travel journaling reflects your travels.
- Art journaling is like a sketchbook. You can use any medium you like and draw what you are feeling and thinking.
- Stream of consciousness journaling (a.k.a. brainstorming) is the act of writing down everything that comes into your mind. This is a great way to get started if you are not sure what to write about.
- Gratitude journaling is writing down things you are grateful for. [Used by Marcus Aurelius] For ideas and additional information see Top 9 Gratitude Examples and Tips From The Journal of Marcus Aurelius.
There is no wrong way to journal, the important thing is to do it.
Reading makes a full man; Conference a ready man; and Writing an exact man. – Francis Bacon
Journaling helps you discover your nature, deal with your feelings and emotions and really refine you as a human being.
There is no one who hinders you from always doing and saying the things which are according to the nature of which you are a part. – Marcus Aurelius
Gratitude journaling specifically has been proven to put you in a positive state of mind, setting the right tone for the rest of the day.
Be pleasant until ten o’clock in the morning and the rest of the day will take care of itself. – Elbert Hubbard
5. Prepare for The Day Emotionally
Begin the morning by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the meddling, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. – Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius prepared himself for the day emotionally by acknowledging that he will meet people that will disappoint him, that will be unkind to him, arrogant, unsocial, etc. He further elaborated stating that these things happen to them because of their own ignorance.
He then went on to explain that not everyone sets the same standards for themselves as he does. Not everyone had the same type of education as he had. However, everyone is part of the greater humanity like him.
The nature of him who does wrong, is still human like me, they participate in the same intelligence and the same portion of the divinity, I can neither be injured by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly – Marcus Aurelius
He then stated that these people cannot hurt him or cause any negative emotional outbursts because he is expecting this to happen.
Marcus Aurelius would not act surprised if he met someone arrogant or someone who did not live up to his expectations. He would simply remember his motto and repeat that ‘All these things happen to them by reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. ‘
Consider including similar practice in your morning routine. You may want to change some words around, i.e. add people who cut you off in traffic, rude customer support personnel, etc.
Whatever verbiage you choose, is not as important as the practice of preparing yourself to see people that will not always live up to your expectations. Be ready to save your emotional energy for the times when it truly matters.
To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy is to set your own conditions for the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
6. Look Up at the Sky
The Pythagoreans bid us in the morning to look to the heavens that we may be reminded of those bodies which continually do the same things and in the same manner perform their work, and also be reminded of their purity and nudity. For there is no veil over a star. – Marcus Aurelius
How often do you look up at the sky? Consider putting such practice into your morning routine. Not only will sky-gazing spark your creativity and work as a stress reliever, but like for Marcus Aurelius, it can serve as a reminder to live true to your nature.
Each of the heavenly bodies, i.e. the sun, moon, stars, and planets, have a purpose and they perform it on daily basis. The sun provides warmth, the moon regulates the tides and provides light, and stars are multiple suns in their own right and provided guidance for navigation. All these heavenly bodies are part of one cosmos making it one whole.
Similarly, each of us have a purpose, living to our true nature. We are a part of one whole. Looking up at the sky can be a reminder of just that. There are no little things when it comes to living to your nature. The important thing is that you do what you believe is right. Take the risks, learn, and grow. And in all of that stay true to yourself.
Marcus Aurelius pointed out that ‘there is no veil over a star’. Do not let your light be covered up by someone else’s expectations.
Having this as a practice, of looking up at the sky, in the morning will remind you throughout the whole day to stay true to your calling and be true to yourself.
7. Move and Exercise
Of course, no morning routine will be complete without incorporating some type of movement. Marcus Aurelius when writing about the habits he wanted to mimic, wrote about his father.
He took reasonable care of his body, not as one who was greatly attached to life, or out of regard to personal appearance, or in a careless way, but so that, through his own attention, he very seldom was in need of the physician’s art or medicine. -Marcus Aurelius
Marcus pointed out that exercise is important, not because of personal appearance, but for the health aspects. He did not strive to achieve a perfect body, what he was going for was good health. Specifically to avoid the need for doctors.
This cannot be stressed enough. Bodies are made for movement, exercise is important to reduce stress, improve physical and mental well being.
Given that Stoics were big on living according to nature, find the exercise that is best suited for you and your lifestyle. Walking, running, biking, strength training, HIIT, rowing, skiing, hiking, swimming, etc. are all good ways to exercise. The most important thing is to do it.
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. – Henry David Thoreau
8. Set Daily Goals
Let no act be done without a purpose – Marcus Aurelius
When you are getting ready for the day, make it a point to set an intention for the day. Setting the daily goal gives you the guiding light for the remainder of the tasks that you set.
You could go through your day completing random tasks and putting out fires. Or, you can set a daily goal, complete the tasks related to the goal, and then focus on everything else. The benefit of doing the latter is that you will be acting with purpose. Having a daily goal will help you easily recap on what was completed in that day.
Everything lasts only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered. Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom yourself to consider that the nature of the universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are and to make new things like them. – Marcus Aurelius
Because life happens, and circumstances out of your control may take over a day, do not set too many daily goals. Start with one and see how that goes.
If you set too many goals, you will not feel accomplished, you will be stressed and overworked. Here is the most interesting part, if you overschedule yourself, you will most likely accomplish less rather than more, and will feel like you failed. So set one daily goal and expect that life will happen around it, but through all of that change you are still able to focus on something you set out to complete. If you complete the goal you can always add another one and feel like an overachiever. The main thing is that goal was cometed.
9. Prioritize Your Time
Remember that no man loses any other life than this which he now lives, or lives any other than this which he now loses. For the present is the same to all, though that which perishes is not the same; and that which is lost appears to be a mere moment. – Marcus Aurelius
Your present time is yours and how you use it is up to you. Prioritize your time and complete tasks that are most important and most relevant to your daily goals. Marcus Aurelius stated that only you go through your own time, therefore, take control of it and make it count.
If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first. – Mark Twain
An important thing to remember when prioritizing your tasks is not to procrastinate. If you have a big task to complete, “eat that frog”, schedule it for first thing in the morning. This is a sure fire way to ensure that it gets completed.
Summary
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The essential part of your daily routine is how you begin your day. Forming the positive habits of the morning rituals will be a great contribution to your long-term success.
Whether you choose to incorporate all of the morning rituals described here, or just a few, it is important that you live to your nature. Try the different actions out and see what works for you. Remember, you can’t tell if something works for you until you try it.
1. Wake Up Early
2. Meditate and Observe Your Thoughts
3. Read and Learn Something New
4. Gratitude Journal and Journaling
5. Prepare for The Day Emotionally
6. Look Up at the Sky
7. Move and Exercise
8. Set Daily Goals
9. Prioritize Your Time
21 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes
The summary of all of the inspirational daily routine quotes from great historical figures including Marcus Aurelius are listed here for your reference.
1-2 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Wake Up Early
In the morning when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world? Or have I been made for this, to lie in my bed-clothes and keep myself warm? But this is more pleasant. Do you exist then to take pleasure, and not at all for action or exertion? – Marcus Aurelius
Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself. – Henry David Thoreau
3-4 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Meditate and Observe Your Thoughts
Those who do not observe the movements of their own minds must of necessity be unhappy. – Marcus Aurelius
For there are also those who have wearied themselves in life by their activity, and yet have no object to which to direct every movement, and, in a word, all their thoughts. – Marcus Aurelius
5-7 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Read and Learn Something New
Do things from the external fall upon you and distract you? Give yourself time to learn something new and good and cease to be whirled around. – Marcus Aurelius
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. – Benjamin Franklin
Once you stop learning, you start dying. – Albert Einstein
8-10 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Writing and Journaling
Reading makes a full man; Conference a ready man; and Writing an exact man. – Francis Bacon
There is no one who hinders you from always doing and saying the things which are according to the nature of which you are a part. – Marcus Aurelius
Be pleasant until ten o’clock in the morning and the rest of the day will take care of itself. – Elbert Hubbard
11-13 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Prepare for the Day Emotionally
Begin the morning by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the meddling, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by reason of their ignorance of what is good and evil. – Marcus Aurelius
The nature of him who does wrong, is still human like me, they participate in the same intelligence and the same portion of the divinity, I can neither be injured by any of them, for no one can fix on me what is ugly – Marcus Aurelius
To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy is to set your own conditions for the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
14 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Look Up at The Sky
The Pythagoreans bid us in the morning to look to the heavens that we may be reminded of those bodies which continually do the same things and in the same manner perform their work, and also be reminded of their purity and nudity. For there is no veil over a star. – Marcus Aurelius
15-16 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Move and Exercise
He took reasonable care of his body, not as one who was greatly attached to life, or out of regard to personal appearance, or in a careless way, but so that, through his own attention, he very seldom was in need of the physician’s art or medicine. -Marcus Aurelius
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. – Henry David Thoreau
17-18 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Set Daily Goals
Let no act be done without a purpose – Marcus Aurelius
Everything lasts only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered. Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom yourself to consider that the nature of the universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are and to make new things like them. – Marcus Aurelius
19-21 Inspirational Daily Routine Quotes – Prioritize Your Time
Remember that no man loses any other life than this which he now lives, or lives any other than this which he now loses. For the present is the same to all, though that which perishes is not the same; and that which is lost appears to be a mere moment. – Marcus Aurelius
If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first. – Mark Twain
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year – Ralph Waldo Emerson
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