Gryffindor is about Daring to Dream.

Yes, Gryffindors are bold Quidditch players and noble warriors, but we’re talking tiny tasks today, because they require a subtle kind of courage: be brave enough to demand what you want, and chase after it.

There are tons of useful articles on mastering your morning routine for productivity. This lesson is sort of about that, but also about starting your day lavishly, with something that makes you so happy it sets the tone for the hours to come.

In an ideal world, what would your morning look like?

Make sure you read that carefully: ideal. Leave reality behind. What do you want to do first thing in the morning?

All of the following are acceptable:

• go for a walk through the rolling pastures.
• get a professional massage, like a celebrity.
• devour a full cooked breakfast in bed.
• indulge in a continental breakfast spread in your Blair Waldorf-worthy silk dressing gown.
• be dressed by the birdies, like Cinderella.

Scale it back

Now make a tiny step towards one of your lush and luxurious dreams.

• make time for a morning walk.
• add massage oil to your bedside table.
• prep your breakfast the night before so you can spend the extra time in bed.
• wear a silk dressing gown.
• invest in a bird feeder, so at least the birdies will come visit you in the morning.

Gather Real-Life Inspiration

Part of my morning routine is reading a chapter from Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. Although this book recounts the schedules of hardworking artists, my greatest takeaways are their humanizing qualities:

“My concern at times is nothing more than establishing a series of practical considerations that will enable me to work. For years I said if I could only find a comfortable chair I would rival Mozart” – Morton Feldman

“Three hours a day will produce as much as a man ought to write.” – Anthony Trollope

“After lunch, [Gustav] Mahler would drag [his wife] Alma on a three- or four-hour-long walk along the shore, stopping occasionally to jot down ideas in his notebook, beating time in the air with his pencil.”

For a quick look, see this infographic of creative routines.

Likewise, my favourite feature in Harper’s Bazaar is their “In 24 Hours” series. Here are typical days for Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, Donatella Versace, and Victoria Beckham.

What is your ideal morning? Scribble down as many ideas that come to mind.

Scale it back – how can you make a small step towards those dreams?

Share your progress in the comments!