Getting COMFY summary

The sudden buzz of your alarm clock can wake you with a jolt of adrenaline, leaving you more anxious than alert. And with a long day of work, school, or childcare ahead, your schedule may only get more stressful from there. That’s why getting COMFY starts with C, for calm. 

When it comes to waking, calmness is key. We’re often told that the best way to prepare for any big event – be it a job interview or a first date – is to relax. So, it’s important to have a portion of your morning routine dedicated to a practice that leaves you feeling calm and collected. 

When we’re asleep, it’s not just our eyes that are closed; we’re completely closed off to ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. A well-rounded morning routine should take a moment to reestablish these essential connections. For this reason, the second letter in getting COMFY is O, for openness. 

Being open to others is crucial for getting the most out of life. Gross learned this lesson when he struck up a conversation with his Uber driver. The man turned out to be Ronnie Rice, a Chicago music legend. Over the course of the ride, Gross asked Rice hundreds of questions and in return heard tons of stories about what it was like playing rock and roll in the 1970s. 

It may sound obvious, but you can’t get out of bed without putting your feet on the ground. While this small action is easy, the third part of getting COMFY, M, calls for adding more movement to your morning routine. Your calming yoga routine is a great start, but there are even more ways to get your heart pumping. 

So what type of physical activity can start your morning on the right foot? As a NASM-certified personal trainer, Gross likes either striking out on a short run or hitting the gym for a few sets of weightlifting. These exercises are great for your body, and getting all your blood flowing boosts your brain activity as well. While you work out, try taking advantage of the extra mental clarity by listening to a stimulating podcast or letting your mind wander.

Waking every day to the serious demands of work or school can make life feel like a bad joke. Step four of getting COMFY, is F for funny. So, lighten up your morning with a laugh! After all, adding a dash of humor to your routine will help you crack a smile even at the crack of dawn.

Gross discovered the power of humor when he began volunteering as a care partner for Alzheimer's patients at Mather Pavilion in Evanston, Illinois. Assisting the patients was stressful, but he learned that looking for levity can make any situation more manageable. For instance, one patient always mistook Gross for Clark Gable. When this happened, she’d ask for an autograph, making even the most difficult day easier.

What really gets you out of bed in the morning? Not your blaring alarm clock or the growl of your stomach – this is about your deeper motivations. For Y, the final step of getting COMFY, it’s all about finding and nurturing your true passions.

Your true passion can be almost anything. For Gross’s parents, it was taking care of their children. He remembers how every morning, each of his parents would take a few minutes to tend to him and his brother. For his dad, this meant giving a heartfelt goodbye before work; for his mom, it meant serving up a freshly-cooked breakfast. For both of them, this small ritual was the most important part of starting the day.