EARLY MORNINGS are commonly considered as the magical time for self-improvement. As an embodiment of this universal notion, Miracle Morning challenges have been trending for some time as a useful way to keep accountable when building a habit. However, following this advice is easier said than done, especially now when we are slowly getting accustomed to “not” being able to wake up five minutes before a virtual class. Despite testimonies claiming that these challenges are a game-changer, there is a need for critical examination on how practicing such rituals can create “miracles.”

A new trend for self-improvement

   Named after Hal Elrod’s famous book The Miracle Morning, the goal of Miracle Morning challenges is to engage in productive activities before delving into daily responsibilities. Although the idea of effective time management in the morning is a fairly old concept, the Miracle Morning challenge’s popularity surged immensely during the pandemic in response to people’s need to feel productive in an environment where there is a lack of external pressure to adhere to a given schedule. By sharing a morning routine within the online community, participants are able to keep each other accountable in the process of developing a new habit.

   Among its various derivative forms, the most popular is Kim Mi-kyung’s Miracle Morning 514 Challenge, “514” meaning that participants are encouraged to wake up at 5:00 a.m. for fourteen days. In the promotional video, Kim asserted that maintaining this lifestyle would guarantee a significant upgrade in the quality of life. Participants responded to the challenge through blogs and social media posts, including customized written pledges announcing goals they would like to achieve during the two weeks of early-bird life.

Staying accountable, yet feeling miserable

   Despite its widespread popularity, the challenge entails conflicting messages. In The Miracle Morning, Elrod suggests six activities of mindfulness such as silence, affirmations, visualization, and exercise to help individuals focus entirely on themselves and reflect in solitude. However, in reality, the community effort element of the challenge prevents such detachment. For example, Kim Mi-kyung’s Miracle Morning 514 Challenge was a live stream. This means that the first thing to do after waking up in the morning is to prepare for social interaction, meaning that the intention of keeping each other accountable ends up compromising the essence of the challenge.

   Other variations of Miracle Morning challenges take accountability even more seriously. Habit building applications such as Challengers use gain or loss of money as leverage for the users’ to meet a certain goal. With people essentially held hostage by money, “miracle mornings” unnecessarily typify waking up early as an obligated task rather than an autonomous decision for positive change. Additionally, if the emphasis is placed on “when” one wakes up rather than “what” they do during these hours, the challenge could end up being another snooze button. Therefore, while Miracle Morning challenges are marketed as being a process of self-betterment, its very mechanism hinders the fruition of the miracle it promises.

A personalized miracle

   While there is evidence that waking up early “makes a man happy, healthy, and wise[1],” it is debatable whether the early morning is the single most productive time of the day. Some might find the later hours most suitable to gather their thoughts and be submerged in a state of concentration. According to Dr. Ian Kroes, founder of Peninsula Doctor, people who maximize their use of the evening hours “hit their peak strength at 9 p.m. (. . .) because their central nervous system and spinal cord excitability are each peaking at the same time” causing a burst of energy to use in creative tasks[2]. This means the Miracle Morning challenge cannot guarantee universal productivity because everyone has their distinct biological rhythms and personal goals.

   It is important to remember that no matter how many fail-safe devices we set up to break into a new habit, the most important aspect of self-improvement is the “self.” Instead of distracting ourselves with the virtual company of others, it would be a better idea to build a personalized routine suited to our own unique needs. As inspiring as the Miracle Morning challenges might be, it is not always the definitive path. Personal growth can be found anywhere, in establishing our own Miracle Morning, Afternoon, or Evening.

[1] Benjamin Franklin

[2] Peninsula Doctor