Morning routines of influencers like Ashton Hall often go viral and become subjects of parody. However, beyond the specific details of any particular routine lies a fundamental truth: structured morning rituals have genuine value. The specifics matter less than the commitment to a consistent process. In my case, I've discovered that committing to a morning routine—particularly one that begins with physical movement—provides a foundation for everything that follows. One non-negotiable element I've instituted is that I only start work after I've gone to the gym. The gym is the first major task I undertake every day. This ensures that even if I have a lackluster day professionally, I have worked on something meaningful: my body.
My body is an accumulation of all the decisions I've made in the past. It is the instrument of my present. It is the vehicle I use to travel to the future. So I work on my body every day first thing in the morning, so at the very least I can say that I've worked on something today, and that I am building something for the future.
I am by no means in good shape—far from it—but my mind is becoming healthier. I am thinking more clearly. I am becoming more self-aware, more mindful of my thoughts and actions, more present in each moment. For much of my life, I've been walking through half-asleep, plugged into a matrix of conditioning and autopilot routines. I'm still partially in that state, but I'm beginning to wake up—to see the constructs around me and break free from unconscious programming. Each morning ritual is another step on my path toward true consciousness.
With this newfound clarity, I have decided that I must codify my morning routine. I must create a standard operating procedure to initiate the start of new mental programs. These new programs will enable new capabilities which are instrumental to developing the next generation of my mental software.
TOMOS2.0 Bootloader: My Morning Routine
- Rise at 7:00 AM
- Brush teeth
- Cleanse Face
- Oil pulling
- Meditate for 20 minutes
- Yerba Mate + Greek yogurt/bananas/blueberries
- Execute StreamOfConsciousness.exe mind dump (I am not sure if this will be on paper or electronic; TBD after experimentation. My theory is that by meditating before using the computer, I will be more able to control the machine.)
- Stretching routine (under 10 minutes—not long, but daily consistency will yield results eventually)
- Gym/Active Recovery
- Two consecutive days of full gym workouts
- One rest day where I walk to the gym instead of driving, followed by 20-30 minutes in the sauna
- Repeat this 2-on, 1-rest cycle continuously
- 4 eggs + spinach + cheese
- Shower
After all of these activities are completed, then I can commence my work. This approach may seem like a luxury, but it is one that I will use to my advantage. My success is not determined by the quantity of hours that I work, but rather the quality. Three incredible hours of deep work are better than ten hours of garbage.
The Philosophy Behind It All
Sharpen your mind, strengthen your body, and fulfill your spirit. These tools together—the mind, the body, and the spirit—can produce incredible amounts of output when they are properly tuned. But to tune these three tools requires consciousness.
The computer must load the operating system; a computer without an operating system is absolutely worthless. It needs a system, an environment in which to execute. The human mind is very similar.
The routine specified above is the bootloader for my operating system. For me to properly load my mind, I must execute this standard operating procedure—the bootloader to my mind.
The Soundtrack to My Consciousness
One element I'm actively developing is how to strategically use music—or the absence of it—to enhance different states of mind throughout my day. Music isn't just background noise; it's a neurological tool that can shape my mental state with precision.
In the earliest parts of my morning—during meditation and my stream of consciousness writing—I deliberately choose silence. This allows me to hear my own thoughts clearly, to connect with myself without external influence. Just me, myself, and I.
When I transition to the gym, I intentionally shift to music that awakens my spirit and physical power. I need tracks that build my swagger, elevate my confidence, and fuel my body's movement. This is where I temporarily surrender to rhythm and let it amplify my physical capabilities. The right gym playlist isn't just motivation—it's performance enhancement.
After the gym, I return to silence during breakfast and showering. This creates a buffer zone, allowing my mind to reset and process the physical exertion without new stimuli competing for attention.
I'm especially strict about maintaining this digital silence during meals. No music, no phone, no videos—nothing to distract from the act of nourishment itself. I've found it critical to practice this form of mindful eating, where my only consumption is the food before me. This isn't just about appreciating flavors; it's about recognizing that simultaneous digital consumption fragments attention and disconnects me from one of life's fundamental pleasures. The one exception I make is for conversation with others—sharing a meal and ideas with another person creates a different kind of nourishment that enhances rather than detracts from the experience.
For deep work sessions, I'm exploring how specific types of electronic music can induce flow states. I'm still investigating which genres work best—whether it's minimal techno, ambient, lo-fi beats, or something else entirely. Different tasks may require different sonic textures. I'm developing a taxonomy of focus music that I'll refine and document in the future, matching specific sound environments to particular cognitive tasks.
I believe becoming the DJ of my mind—knowing exactly what soundtrack (or silence) each mental state requires—will unlock new levels of performance. This is sonic architecture for consciousness, and I'm just beginning to understand its potential.
These are my reflections on how I am developing my sense of self.