S.A.V.E.R.S: The 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Life Before 8am

Will you believe me if I tell you that the way you spend your first hour after waking up dictates the quality of your entire day?

It might sound dramatic, but as someone who's recently put this theory to the test, I can tell you it's profoundly true. And it all stems from a powerful concept called 'The Miracle Morning,' built around six simple practices known as the S.A.V.E.R.S. practices that promise to dramatically change your day, all before 8 AM.

Just a week ago, I picked up a book for a community reading initiative I'm part of. My initial plan was simply to read it, summarize it, and prepare a review. But within the first few pages, I knew I couldn't just read this one. I had to live it. I decided to immediately apply its principles to my own life, eager to see if its promises held true and to share my personal experience.

At its core, this transformative power lies within 'The Miracle Morning' by Hal Elrod. The book immediately pulls you in with Hal's incredible origin story, a tale so captivating you'll hardly believe it. Imagine dying for 6 minutes, then being told you'd never walk again, only to face another life-threatening challenge years later. It sounds crazy, right? What's even crazier are the bold promises Hal makes about this book changing your life!

And here's the powerful truth: it can transform your life... if you're truly ready to commit.

In 1999, Hal was in a head-on car crash. His heart stopped for 6 minutes, and he was later told he would never walk again. Years later, before the 2008 financial crash, Elrod was enjoying considerable success as a coach and speaker. However, the recession hit hard, and he lost more than half his clients, significantly impacting his income. He lost his house and accumulated substantial debt of over $425,000. Then, in 2016, Hal was also diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Through these immense challenges, he found himself depressed, broke, and hopeless.

The very next morning, Hal went for a run, listening to prominent motivational speaker Jim Rohn. He heard Rohn say, 'Your level of success will seldom exceed your level of personal development.' This was a profound 'Aha!' moment for Hal. He went straight home, grabbed a book and a pen, and began mapping out the changes that would redefine his life.

Long story short, what does SAVERS stand for?

And here's a crucial confession of my own, which Hal himself wholeheartedly encourages: while he provides a powerful framework, the beauty of the Miracle Morning lies in its adaptability. I've personally taken this to heart, customizing each S.A.V.E.R.S to align perfectly with my own life, my unique hobbies, and what truly resonates with me. This isn't a rigid rulebook; it's a flexible blueprint designed to fit your best morning

So, let's break down what each letter represents:

S

While many of us might wish the first 'S' stood for 'Sleeping,' it actually stands for SILENCE. Hal suggests that upon waking, we begin with a moment of peaceful silence. This is your chance to embrace mindfulness through deep breaths, meditation, or prayer.

A

The 'A' is for AFFIRMATIONS. This involves speaking your goals aloud, using emotionally charged and specific language, and repeating these statements daily. The goal is to shape beliefs that perfectly align with your aspirations, life vision, and success. When crafting your affirmations, remember they must be specific, positive, and deeply personal. Here's a powerful example that helped Hal overcome self-doubt and stay motivated:

When you’re writing down your affirmation, it has to be very specific, positive and tailored to you. Here’s a perfect example that helped Hal beat self-doubt and stay motivated:
”I am committed to maintaining unwavering faith that I will achieve my goals and to putting forth extraordinary effort, no matter what.”

V

V here is for Visualization. Visualization is creating detailed mental images of achieving your desired outcomes. It’s to mentally rehearse your future success. It’s to see, feel, and believe in your goal. Actually, your mind must arrive at your destination before your life does.

E

The 'E' is for EXERCISE. A quick 20-30 minute movement session as one of the first things in your morning can instantly energize your body and mind. It doesn't have to be an intense workout; simple stretching, yoga, or even jumping jacks can do wonders. Crucially, exercise is scientifically proven to boost dopamine and serotonin—your body's natural 'happy chemicals'.

R

The 'R' is for READING. This is your daily dose of knowledge and inspiration. Consider this: if you read just 10 pages every day for a year, you'll have completed 3650 pages. That's a substantial amount of growth and learning! If 10 pages feels daunting, commit to 10-20 minutes of reading each morning.

The truth is, for nearly every area of life you want to master, someone has already written a book about it. The challenge is, many people don't make time to read them.

In general, it says that ordinary people read for entertainment. Extraordinary people read to learn

S

Finally, the last 'S' stands for SCRIBING, or simply, writing. Hal humorously admits he chose 'Scribing' because no other suitable letter for 'writing' fit neatly into the S.A.V.E.R.S. acronym!

Writing enables you to gather your thoughts, leading to a deeper understanding and more focused thinking. It boosts creativity and fosters clear communication with your inner self. Whether it's your goals, ideas, daily lessons, or expressions of gratitude, use this time for mental clarity and emotional release.

To give you a starting point, you can ask yourself:

• “What am I grateful for today?”
• “What did I learn yesterday?”
• “What's my focus today?”

Many successful individuals leverage journaling for clarity, creativity, and personal growth. Did you know Oprah Winfrey has kept journals for decades, documenting her journey, thoughts, and experiences? She even uses gratitude journaling to appreciate her incredibly busy life. Journaling is like talking to your future self. It enhances self-awareness, improves decision-making, and helps with stress management. As one of my all-time favorite thinkers, Steve Jobs, famously said, 'You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.' I truly believe jotting things down empowers you to discover patterns and insights when you reflect on them later.

Order doesn’t matter! It’s worth mentioning that order of these six tips doesn’t matter. You can adjust them as you wish.

In essence, 'The Miracle Morning' offers a powerful truth: how we start our day fundamentally dictates how we live our lives. It's a simple, yet profound concept. Don't just exist; start living the life you're meant for, one intentional morning at a time.

You'll find a wealth of resources to support your journey, including vibrant communities, supportive groups, sample journaling questions, and helpful habit trackers, all available on The Miracle Morning's official website: miraclemorning.com

Disclaimer: This post was originally published on July 5, 2025, on Substack. You can read the original version here. I plan to cross-post future Substack entries here as well. More about me can be found here.