The 6-Minute Morning Routine That Changed His Life (Hal Elrod’s Secret)

(Clears throat dramatically) Ah, Ken, my boy! What a glorious morning! The sun is shining, the birds are… well, they’re probably still asleep, it’s quite early. But we are awake!

(Chuckles) Oh, you and your youthful cynicism! No, no, my dear Ken. Today, we embark on a grand intellectual adventure! A journey into the very fabric of… morning routines!

(Waving a hand dismissively) Nonsense! This isn’t just any morning routine, Ken. This is the Miracle Morning! A concept so powerful, it’s been translated into 20 languages! It’s like the secret handshake of successful people. And trust me, it’s far more exciting than calculus. Or even that time I accidentally dyed my hair purple trying to fix the washing machine.

Ah, but there’s the rub, my young padawan! For years, these “routine videos” have been all the rage on YouTube, not just in Japan, but globally! Everyone wants to know how the successful folks start their day. Why? Because people believe, quite rightly, that the secret to success might be hidden in their daily habits. And they’re not wrong!

(Winks) Not magically, no. But consider this: Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter, wakes at 5:30 AM. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, 5 AM. Even Howard Schultz, former Starbucks CEO, and Tim Cook of Apple, are up by 4:30 AM! The correlation between success and early rising is… statistically significant, let’s say. You won’t find many successful people rolling out of bed at noon. No “morning routine” video ever starts with, “Alright, it’s 12 PM, let’s begin!”

(Pats Ken’s shoulder) Precisely the point, Ken! Most people know they should wake up early, but they don’t know what to do. That’s where Hal Elrod comes in. He’s an American bestselling author and entrepreneur who went through not one, but two rock bottoms. First, a near-fatal car accident where he was clinically dead for six minutes, and later, over $40 million in debt after the Lehman Shock.

(Chuckles heartily) He certainly saw something! He was told he might never walk again, but he rehabilitated and even returned to sales, achieving his best year ever! Then came the financial ruin, which he said was even harder than the accident because he felt utterly alone. But it was during this darkest period that he discovered the very morning method we’re discussing.

Indeed! A friend suggested he start running in the mornings, which sparked his research into what makes a morning truly productive. Within a year of being suicidal, he paid off all his debt and even ran a double marathon! This isn’t just some random person’s advice, Ken. This is from a man who literally clawed his way back from the brink. And the best part? It costs nothing and anyone can do it. Hal claims people see changes in their lives within weeks!

(Grinning) No chanting required, though a good “Om” never hurt anyone! Let’s dive into the Six Life-Changing Morning Routines!

First up: Meditation. I have always emphasized its importance, and I always will. What was once the domain of a select few is now common practice among entrepreneurs, business elites, and athletes worldwide. Even giants like Google, Apple, Intel, and Nike offer meditation programs and rooms for their employees.

(Laughs) Ah, the modern mind! But no, it’s much more. Meditation lengthens your attention span, reduces stress, and studies even show it can enlarge the hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for memory! For me, it feels like a “brain juice” release. It’s incredibly comfortable, like stepping into a perfectly warm hot spring. You know that “Ah, this feels good” feeling? It’s exactly like that, but for your mind.

Second: Affirmations. This is about speaking positive statements aloud to imprint your ideals onto your subconscious. It’s self-hypnosis, essentially.

(Chuckles) I understand the skepticism, Ken. I was half-believer myself at first. But think about it: our thoughts are constantly influenced by others, aren’t they? A child praised for their efforts grows up with high self-esteem, ready to take on challenges. One constantly criticized tends to give up easily. Words are powerful! If others’ words can affect us so much, imagine the power of your own words!

Muhammad Ali, arguably the greatest boxer ever, repeated “I am the greatest” even when he was unknown, and he truly became it. He said, “Repetition of affirmations leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”

(Waving a finger) Not just empty words, Ken! The best way is to state your ideals and goals with clear numbers and deadlines. For example, “By December 2026, I will achieve a monthly income of 1 million yen.” Or, “By March 2027, I will quit my current job and live off a job I love.” The more specific you are, the higher the chances of it happening!

Someone I know declared in 2023 that he’d reach 10,000 subscribers by year-end, and he hit over 20,000! For 2024, he aimed for 100,000 by April, and though he hit about 80,000, he reached 100,000 by May! He truly believes he wouldn’t have achieved it without affirmations. It’s not magic; it’s simply steering your thoughts towards your ideal. Most people have the ability but don’t achieve their ideals because their brain hasn’t been programmed with the destination. Affirmations set that GPS for your mind.

Third: Visualization, or Imaging. As soon as you’ve done your affirmations, you move into this. It’s about vividly imagining your ideal self or ideal day in your mind.

(Nods knowingly) Exactly! But with purpose! Once your ideal is clear from affirmations, you make it even more vivid in your mind. Hal suggests imagining your ideal day, right after you wake up. Take a deep breath. “Okay, today I’m effortlessly completing this task. Even if problems arise, I’m solving them smoothly. And by the end of the day, all my tasks are done, and I feel fantastic!”

(Smiling) Of course, just imagining it won’t make it real. But the more vividly you imagine it, the faster your brain’s programming accelerates, and you’re more likely to be pulled towards that ideal. Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Will Smith—many successful people credit visualization as a major factor in their success. It costs nothing and takes little effort, so it’s definitely worth a try! So far, we’ve covered routines that change your subconscious: Meditation, Affirmations, and Imaging.

Fourth: Exercise. Now we move to output! You don’t need intense workouts. Just focus on getting your heart rate up slightly to wake your body.

(Chuckles) Hal says even a few minutes of morning exercise boosts your energy levels for the day, improves health, stabilizes emotions, and enhances thinking and concentration. Many successful entrepreneurs I’ve read about exercise in the morning not just for weight loss, but specifically to boost focus. Anything works: yoga, a walk, jogging, hitting the gym.

Personally, I recommend a walk. I used to do running and HIIT, but raising my heart rate too much made me dread waking up. A walk, however, allows for contemplation and can even be a time for input, like listening to a podcast.

Fifth: Reading. Hal recommends reading just 10 pages in the morning. The impact of reading on your life is immeasurable, but the biggest benefit of morning reading, I believe, is the immediate application.

(Shakes head playfully) While those have their place, Ken, we’re talking about books that offer knowledge you can apply. Nighttime reading is great for memory retention, but morning reading allows you to immediately try out what you’ve learned in your work or daily life. If you read 1,000 pages but never apply anything, your life won’t change. But if you read just 10 pages and try one thing, change will happen.

You might think 10 pages isn’t much, but if you read with the mindset of “Is there anything I can use today?”, you’ll be surprised how much valuable information jumps out at you. Start with 10 pages!

Sixth, and finally: Journaling. Writing things down, like a diary, has become a huge trend in the self-help world recently. Why? Because successful people on YouTube and social media are all doing it, and those who try it experience real results. It’s like meditation, gaining renewed attention.

(Laughs heartily) You could! But the main benefit is accelerating your growth. Especially recording and visualizing your goals on paper is incredibly good for your brain. It boosts motivation, clarifies what you need to do, and your brain instinctively starts working towards further growth.

Why are games so addictive? Because all your data—your level, your experience points, your rankings—is perfectly visualized! There was even a famous “recording diet” where people lost weight just by tracking their daily weight. Writing things down makes your brain unconsciously strive for growth. Many people say journaling changed their lives.

(Winks) Hal says anything you’re conscious of is fine: things you’re grateful for, exercise records, today’s tasks. He himself writes down things he’s grateful for, things he’s accomplished, and things he needs to improve, along with specific actions to take.

Personally, for a morning journal, I think writing down your tasks for the day is crucial. I’ve been journaling for a long time, and the difference between having my tasks clear and not having them clear is night and day. When tasks are vague, your mind is constantly fuzzy, like a smartphone with too much memory being used.

Without wasting memory on “What should I do today?”, you can focus solely on what’s in front of you. I feel like I enter a “zone” more easily after writing down my tasks. If you don’t know what to write, start by listing what you need to accomplish today.

So, those are Hal Elrod’s life-changing morning routines! He suggests doing all six in a total of 60 minutes: 5 minutes meditation, 5 minutes affirmations, 5 minutes imaging, 20 minutes reading, 5 minutes journaling, and 20 minutes exercise. But you can customize it!

If it were me, I’d start with a 20-minute walk to get my body moving and get some sunlight. Then, back home, 15 minutes of meditation for focus, 1 minute of affirmations, 5 minutes of imaging, 10 minutes of reading, and finally, 10 minutes to organize my tasks for the day before diving into work.

(Nods understandingly) Excellent question, Ken! Hal has an answer for that too! For those who truly lack time, he recommends a 6-minute version! While the 60-minute version yields greater results, even this condensed version makes a noticeable difference compared to doing nothing. No matter how busy you are, try this 6-minute version!

Here’s the 6-minute Miracle Morning:

Minute 1: Immediately upon waking, meditate. Don’t touch your phone. Focus on your breath in silence.

Minute 2: Do quick affirmations. Look at your pre-written goals and read them aloud.

Minute 3: Simultaneously, imagine yourself achieving those goals and how you’ll feel.

Minute 4: Write down just one thing you want to accomplish today.

Minute 5: Read just one page of a book. The idea is to quickly scan for a usable phrase or insight, not just read. Look for something you can apply today.

Minute 6: Get your heart rate up with exercise. Hal suggests push-ups or sit-ups with maximum effort, but I recommend a minute of squats. Even if you can’t go all out, moving your lower body is incredibly efficient for raising your heart rate and getting blood flowing, waking your body instantly.

(Grins) Doing just these 6 minutes will elevate your productivity, vitality, and focus for the entire day! Give it a try!

Now, Ken, when Hal taught me these routines, a few questions popped into my mind. Like, what about breakfast? What about night shift workers who can’t wake up early? And what are the tricks to waking up early? You might have thought the same! Thankfully, Hal has advice for these too.

(Chuckles) First, breakfast. His conclusion: the lighter, the better. Digestion is a huge burden on your body, Hal says. You know how you feel sluggish and sleepy after a big meal? Hal recommends a light breakfast after your morning routine to keep blood flowing to your brain and maintain focus. He drinks a smoothie with 200ml water, almond milk, one banana, frozen berries, and ice. I’d add protein powder to that!

The sleepiness after meals is often from excessive carbs. This smoothie is low in sugar and, with protein, keeps you full. Stop eating pastries or white rice for breakfast if you do! That might be why you feel sluggish in the morning.

Personally, I skip breakfast until lunch. It sounds unbelievable if you’re used to eating breakfast, but my focus is definitely higher without it. Since my energy isn’t going to digestion, my brain gets proper blood flow, leading to high productivity. Skipping breakfast is, for me, the ultimate life hack! So, either skip it or keep it as light as possible.

Next, what about night shift workers or those who can’t wake up early? This is a common issue. If you work late, waking up early cuts into your sleep. Not everyone has the same lifestyle. Hal says: this routine doesn’t have to be done in the morning. What he means is, do it at the beginning of your day, whenever that is. Adjust your waking time slightly to fit this routine into your lifestyle. Even then, these six habits can significantly change your life.

And finally, what are the tricks to waking up early? This is where many people struggle, isn’t it? You know the routine changes lives, but you think, “I’m not a morning person.” Hal gives two tips for waking up refreshed.

(Waving a hand) No cold showers, though they have their benefits! First: Be mindful of your mindset before bed. Do you ever think, “Oh, I only have 5 hours of sleep tonight”? Hal said something that really stuck with me: “The first thought you have when you wake up is usually the last thought you had before you fell asleep.” It’s so true! If you thought, “I only have 5 hours of sleep,” when you wake up, your first thought will be, “Ugh, I only slept 5 hours.”

Hal did an experiment on himself: regardless of sleep duration, if he convinced himself he’d be tired the next day, he was. He tried 4 hours, 5 hours, 6, 7, 8… and even after 9 hours of sleep, if he told himself he’d be tired, he woke up feeling tired! The mind is powerful. Before you set your alarm for every minute, focus on what you think about before bed.

(Chuckles) Well, sleep is still important, Ken! But to wake up feeling good, focus on two things: clearly visualize when you’ll wake up, and be grateful for the sleep you do get. Instead of “I only get 6 hours of sleep,” think “I get to sleep for 6 hours!” Surprisingly, this alone can help you wake up without an alarm.

Second tip for early rising is to drink a glass of water immediately upon waking. When you wake up, you’re always dehydrated. And when you’re dehydrated, you feel tired. Often, that “ugh, I’m tired” feeling in the morning isn’t lack of sleep, but lack of water! Drinking water solves it. Instead of checking Instagram first thing, drink water!

(Sighs contentedly) And there you have it, Ken! Hal Elrod’s life-changing morning routines! People who achieve outstanding results consistently use their mornings. Think about the difference between someone who genuinely dedicates an hour to their morning and someone who just drifts aimlessly: the gap after one, two, three years will be immense. Successful people unanimously say, “I’m so glad I started waking up early.”

It might be tough at first. But if you want a life different from the average, if you want to transform your life for the better, the secret is often hidden in the things most people are unwilling to do. So, please, pay attention to how you spend your mornings!

(Beaming) That’s the spirit, Ken! Chocolate is a possibility, with enough cocoa powder! Now, go on, my boy. Conquer your day! I have a feeling you’ve got a lot to think about.

(Turns to face the camera, a thoughtful look on his face, perhaps with a slight smile) Well, Ken’s off to ponder the mysteries of morning routines. And perhaps to experiment with chocolate smoothies. (Chuckles softly)

You know, it’s easy to dismiss these things as simple habits. But sometimes, the simplest changes have the most profound impact. Just like a tiny seed, with the right morning light and a little consistent effort, can grow into a mighty tree.

Life often throws us curveballs, doesn’t it? Like Hal Elrod, we all face our own challenges, big and small. But what truly defines us isn’t the fall, but how we pick ourselves up. And sometimes, picking yourself up starts with something as fundamental as how you begin your day.

It’s not about becoming a robot, perfectly executing a list. It’s about intentionally creating space for growth, for clarity, for a moment to connect with yourself before the world rushes in. It’s about building resilience, one sunrise at a time. Because when you take charge of your mornings, you take charge of your life. And that, my friends, is a lesson worth waking up for.