How to Win Your Morning (Without Waking Up at 5 AM)

"Minimum Viable Morning", the counter-intuitive approach to building a powerful, consistent routine that actually works

The “Minimum Viable Morning” Framework

I used to obsess over morning routines. I’d read articles about how Tim Cook wakes up at 3:45am, or how Oprah journals and meditates before breakfast, and I’d think: “If I just copy their routines, maybe I’ll finally unlock my best self.”

So I tried. For a week, I set my alarm for 5:30am, laid out my running shoes, prepped a green smoothie, and stacked my favorite books on the nightstand. By Friday, I was exhausted, cranky, and, ironically, less productive than ever.

The Real Problem With “Perfect” Mornings

Here’s what I learned: most “perfect” routines are designed for someone else’s life, not mine. They’re aspirational, not sustainable. And when life inevitably gets messy, late nights, sick kids, travel, deadlines, the whole thing falls apart.

As productivity expert James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, wisely puts it: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” My elaborate morning routine was a goal, not a system I could consistently maintain.

But I noticed something interesting. On the days when I did just a couple of small things, like drinking water and opening the blinds, I still felt a little more in control. I didn’t need a 10-step routine. I just needed a win.

Where Did “Minimum Viable Morning” Come From?

The “Minimum Viable Morning” (MVM) framework borrows its philosophy from the “Minimum Viable Product” concept made famous by Eric Ries in The Lean Startup. While there’s no single inventor of the MVM idea, it’s been adapted and popularized by many productivity writers, coaches, and everyday people who wanted a simpler, more sustainable way to start their day. Think of it as a community-driven evolution—an idea that’s spread because it works.

The Birth of the Minimum Viable Morning

That’s when I started experimenting with my own MVM. The idea is simple: what’s the absolute minimum you can do in the morning to feel like you’ve started your day on purpose?

For me, it’s three things:

• Drink a glass of water (before coffee, before email, before anything)

• Open the blinds (let in some natural light, signal to my brain that it’s time to wake up)

• Write one sentence in my journal (sometimes it’s profound, sometimes it’s “I’m tired”)

That’s it. If I do more, like a workout or meditation, it’s a bonus. But if I just do those three, I’ve already won the morning.

Why the MVM Works (Even When Life Gets Messy)

The magic of the MVM is that it’s frictionless. It’s so easy, you can do it half-asleep, in a hotel room, or when you’re running late. There’s no guilt, no shame, no “I’ll start again next week.” You just do the minimum, and you move on.

As the great philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The MVM is that single, consistent step.

And here’s the kicker: those tiny actions create momentum. When you start your day with a win, you’re more likely to make better choices all day long. It’s not about discipline—it’s about designing for consistency. Or as Aristotle famously stated, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” The MVM helps build that foundational habit.

How to Build Your Own Minimum Viable Morning

If you want to try this, here’s a simple process:

1. Identify your non-negotiables.
   What are the 1–3 smallest actions that help you feel awake, grounded, or just a little more human? (Hint: it’s probably not a 30-minute HIIT workout.)

2. Make it ridiculously easy.
   If you want to meditate, set the bar at 2 minutes. If you want to write, commit to one sentence. The goal is to make it impossible to fail. As Stephen Guise, author of Mini Habits, advises: “The smaller the habit, the less willpower it requires.”

3. Test it for a week.
   Track how you feel on the days you do your MVM versus the days you don’t. Notice if your mood, focus, or energy shifts—even a little.

4. Iterate as needed.
   If something feels like a chore, swap it out. The MVM is meant to serve you, not the other way around.

Real-World Examples

I’ve shared this framework with friends, clients, and readers, and the responses are always fascinating. Here are a few real-life MVMs people have shared with me:

• “I make my bed, brush my teeth, and step outside for 60 seconds. That’s it.”

• “I drink water, write down one thing I’m grateful for, and check my calendar.”

• “I put on real clothes (not pajamas), open a window, and play one song I love.”

None of these routines are glamorous. But they work—because they’re doable, even on the hardest days. As productivity guru David Allen, creator of Getting Things Done, often says: “You can do anything, but not everything.” The MVM helps you focus on the "anything" that truly matters to start your day.

The Takeaway

The Minimum Viable Morning isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about raising your baseline. When you make it easy to win, you start every day with a sense of progress, and that’s what builds real momentum.

If you’re tired of feeling like you’re failing at mornings, give the MVM a try. Start small. Celebrate the tiny wins. And remember: you can always add more, but you never do less.

What’s your Minimum Viable Morning?
Hit reply and tell me. I read every response, and I’d love to hear what works for you.

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