5 Step Morning Routine to Beat Burnout: Practice Gritty Stillness

Have you ever woken up already exhausted, your mind spinning through to-do lists before your feet even hit the floor? For years, that was me. Every morning, I asked myself the same question: How do I stop feeling so burned out and get a handle on my overscheduled life?

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I was there too. But over time, I discovered something that truly shifted how I approached my mornings and my entire day. I call it my Gritty Stillness Morning Routine.

It’s not fancy, and it’s definitely not perfect. But it’s real, practical, and it has been life changing.

Step One: Find a Quiet Place

When I first heard the advice to “find a quiet place,” I paused. Quiet? In my house? Impossible.

Every room in our home feels full. I’d read stories of people creating cozy corners with soft lighting, candles, and cushy chairs for their morning stillness. That sounded lovely but completely unrealistic for me.

For months, I put it off.

Then one day, I decided to try something different. I woke up ten minutes earlier and stopped at a scenic overlook on my way to work. It wasn’t a decorated space, but it was mine. It was peaceful. The world felt still, and I could finally breathe.

That’s when I realized something profound. I didn’t need the perfect setup. I already had what I needed. God’s creation was my quiet place.

Step Two: Shut Off Your Phone

The first time I turned off my phone for ten minutes, it was honestly terrifying.

What if work needed me? What if my family was trying to reach me? My mind raced through every “what if” scenario possible. But that anxiety was actually the wake-up call I needed.

I realized just how dependent I had become on constant connection.

So, I timed myself with the clock in my car. Ten minutes felt like forever until one day I looked up, and twenty minutes had passed. That quiet time soon became something I looked forward to.

It became freedom.

Step Three: Practice Gratitude

Once I settled into stillness, I began to speak out loud what I was thankful for. Not just general things, but specific blessings.

Instead of saying, “I’m thankful for my family,” I’d say, “I’m thankful for my husband who drove me to work yesterday in the snow.”

That small shift, naming the “why,” changed everything. Gratitude filled my heart and eased my stress. It reminded me that even in the chaos, there is beauty.

You can write your gratitude down in a small journal or simply speak it. Don’t overcomplicate it. Just be intentional.

Step Four: Pre-Game Your Day

This is when I mentally and prayerfully walk through my day ahead. I think about meetings, conversations, or anything emotionally charged that might come up.

If I’m not ready for a hard conversation, I make a note to reschedule it. If my day looks too full, I decide what can move.

This small act of preplanning in stillness helps me stay grounded. Instead of reacting to my day, I start responding with wisdom and calm.

Step Five: Speak Your Daily Mission Statement

To close my quiet time, I speak my personal mission statement out loud. It’s something I wrote during my first mornings of stillness, and it’s become my anchor each day:

"I will move slowly enough to experience God’s goodness fully and will love people deeply. I will be present in each moment and will listen intentionally to all conversations. I will focus on what is important to me and let go of what is not. I will speak truth and give all glory to God."

This daily declaration sets my focus. It reminds me who I want to be before the day begins pulling me in every direction.

Progress Over Perfection

If you miss a day, give yourself grace. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence.

Here are a few tips that helped me stay consistent:

1. Don’t wait for the perfect time or place. Start tomorrow morning!

2. Don’t overthink it. Stillness isn’t meant to be perfect, just real.

3. Breathe. Start and end your time with three slow deep breaths. It helps your body and mind know when it’s time to start and brings peaceful closure at the end.

Closing Thoughts

My mornings are still busy, and my life is still full. But now, I face the day from a place of calm instead of chaos.

Stillness doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means being grounded enough to move through the day with grace and grit.

So, if you’re tired, overwhelmed, and longing for a change, try this tomorrow:

Find your quiet place, even if it’s just your car.

Turn off your phone.

Speak your gratitude.

Plan your day.

Declare your mission.

And watch how a few moments of gritty stillness can change everything.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” - Isaish 26:3 / NKJV

Want to Go Deeper?

If this message spoke to you, you will find value in my signature talk: God, Grit, and Leadership. 

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