We may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post at no additional cost to you.
Having a morning routine can be an essential part of setting your day up for success. You’ve probably heard the phrase if you win the morning you win the day. But how do you create the best morning routine for your lifestyle? It’s important to remember that what may work for one person won’t necessarily work for everyone. It will depend of factors such as whether you have kids, if you are a night owl or even what season you are in. The following 10+ practical steps will help you create a morning routine that is specifically tailored to your needs. So lets dive right in!
The best morning routines actually begin the night before
While getting 8 hours of sleep is considered the magic number by many, the optimal amount varies from person to person. What’s most important is the quality of the sleep you’re getting. By quality we mean a solid amount of sleep that is restorative and leaves you feeling ready to tackle the day. If you’ve snoozed for 8 hours but are still waking up tired, it might be time to audit your night time routine.
To ensure your sleep is of a high quality you want to try to head to bed at the same time each night. This will help signal to your body that its time for rest. It also increases your chances of getting enough sleep so you can start your day feeling refreshed. Avoiding synthetic blue light form smartphones and devices in the hour before bed can also be helpful. If notifications keep grabbing your attention, try using Do Not Disturb mode after a certain time. Reading a book or listening to a guided sleep meditation are great alternative ways to wind down.
Eliminate morning decision fatigue
Morning decisions are the worst. You wake up, stagger to the kitchen, and try to decide what to have for breakfast. Does cereal count as a breakfast food? What about oatmeal? Do you have any eggs? What are you in the mood for, sweet or savory? This is exhausting! Your energy and willpower will be sapped before the day has started. You can reduce decision fatigue by making a little effort the night before. If you intend to exercise in the morning, then lay those clothes out. Choose your work outfit in advance. Prepare breakfast and lunch in advance if you can, for yourself and any other family members you are responsible for. Make sure the essential things you need to get out the door like handbag, keys and sunglasses are all in an easy to find spot. By making this decisions ahead of time, you’ll find you sail through the morning with ease!
Pick a morning wake-up time and stick with it
The key to a good morning routine is consistency. Some people think that snoozing your alarm is a good idea because it helps you wake up more gradually. It may seem like a good idea at first, but in fact, it will make you less likely to wake up. You start to associate your alarm with the snooze button, and it might get really hard for you to get out of bed without the help of an alarm. By getting up at the same time every day, your body will be able to regulate its natural wake-up rhythm, which will result in you feeling more rested throughout the day. .
Once your body clock adjusts to waking up at the same time every morning, you’ll be less likely to hit that snooze button or sleep through your alarm. The more you practice waking up at the same time every day, the easier it will be for your body’s natural rhythms. Pick a wake-up time that works best for you and stick with it!
Make your bed
While it may seem like a small thing, making your bed can be an extremely powerful ritual. Its often the first task of the day and that sets the tone for the rest of the day. It signals your brain that you are ready to start the day and once you’ve completed the first task, you’ll be encouraged to tackle the next. Tim Ferriss says that If you see an external distraction, you end up creating an internally distracted state, which is definitely true for me. This one small thing is within your control. No matter how badly the day may go, you will leave the house feeling a sense of calm and accomplishment. You’ll also thank yourself at the end of the day when you climb into a nicely made bed rather than dealing with a rumpled mess. Make your bed people!
Re-hydrate
For many of us, we start our day with a cup of coffee or tea. Unfortunately, these drinks are diuretics and make us feel dehydrated even if we drank enough water during the night. The only way to avoid this is by drinking more plain water in the morning. We usually think about drinking water as a means of hydration and nothing else. But, if we pay more attention to what we drink in the morning, we can make better hydration decisions.
Lemon is a great way to add flavour and a healthy dose of vitamin C in your water. This drink will help you kick-start your metabolism and keep your skin looking nice and clear. Lemon juice in warm water which helps regulate blood sugar levels and boost immunity. However, you might want to consider how much sugar you would like to consume before breakfast. Sugar can affect your glucose levels and energy levels for the rest of the day.
You also might want to consider the wine or beer you have at dinner. While it can be a way to relax and unwind at the end of the day, studies show that even small amounts of alcohol can have a detrimental effect on sleep quality. If you really want to improve your sleep, try not to drink in the evenings or maybe try going alcohol free for 30 days and see how you feel?
Shift towards a positive mindset
The morning routine of successful people usually includes positive thinking. They are grateful for the opportunity to start the day with a new opportunity. They are grateful for their health. They are grateful for their loved ones. Positive outlooks increase the feeling of hope in oneself which is number one key ingredient in success. By starting the day on a positive note, we put ourselves in a better frame of mind to tackle obstacles during the day. We also have more motivation to stick to our goals because we feel like we deserve it.
You could try reading something that feeds your mind, listen to an inspirational podcast, or watch an inspiring TED talk. Some of my favorite podcasts are The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes, Entrepreneur on Fire with John Lee Dumas and The Tim Ferriss Show. And some of my favorite TED talks are by Anna Deavere Smith, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Brené Brown.
Meditation
There is a lot of research out there that shows how much meditation can help improve our mental and physical wellbeing. It helps us to focus, manage stress and anxiety, sleep better, have a positive mindset and generally feel more balanced. I have been meditating for years now and it has helped me become a happier person that makes better decisions.
Morning meditation helps us to start the day off with positivity which can boost your productivity throughout the day. You need not be an expert at meditation to reap the benefits of this ritual. All you need is 10 – 15 minutes of quality time with yourself each morning. This gives you enough time to set up your mind for the rest of the day so that you are ready for whatever comes your way.
Set your intentions
Setting your intentions as part of your morning routine can help streamline the rest of your day. This doesn’t have to take much time at all and you could incorporate it into other parts of your morning routine. Try doing this as part of a meditation or if you prefer journaling or using a planner, write it down.
This will help you set your focus for the day and make sure you are setting your intentions on the right goals. It also helps to have clarity on what you are trying to accomplish by making sure they are realistic yet achievable.
Get moving
We all know that exercise has many benefits, but did you know that it can actually be a form of stress relief? Studies have shown physical activity as a form of therapy for those living with depression and anxiety. It also releases endorphins which promote calmness and well being. You don’t have to do anything crazy – just a walk around the block will do! The first thing you need to do is find time in the morning for your movement routine. You can’t exercise if you don’t have time for it, so prioritize it! Find what works best for you. If you love running early in the morning then do that, if not then do some tai-chi or yoga instead. It is important to be able to recognize that what works for someone else might not work best for you.
Ground yourself in nature
When you wake up in the morning, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to be in nature. Give yourself a chance to reconnect with the world and take a deep breath. We are so accustomed to being at work or school all day long that we tend to forget about nature. There are so many benefits to being outside, even just for a few minutes. Being in nature has been shown to help decrease stress levels and increase mental well-being. It’s scientifically proven that when you are in nature, it’s easy to feel calmer. Spending time with all kinds of plants and animals is also great for your mental health.
“A morning walk in the woods has a powerful effect on mood and energy.”
David Rock, author of Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus and Working Smarter All Day Long
Studies show that having an environment that encourages natural light and fresh air can substantially boost your mood. The natural light provides a signal to the brain that it is daytime. This can be especially beneficial for people who work night shifts or spend most of their time indoors. Fresh air helps you breathe better. When you breathe better your have a feeling of relaxation.
Adopt a routine gradually
One of the best ways to make a change is to set a goal and then start taking small, consistent steps in that direction. This approach encourages people to focus on what they can do now and gives them the opportunity to see progress sooner rather than later.
A successful morning routine is all about small steps. It might seem counterintuitive, but it’s better to take small steps when trying something new like waking up earlier or drinking more water. If you’re not used to it, these changes can be daunting and feel like too much at once.
Stay flexible
A morning routine is a very personal thing. It’s a way to start the day with a sense of accomplishment, and that can give you an energy boost for the rest of the day. We have to be flexible in our morning routines, because we have to deal with change all the time.
To make your morning routine as effective as possible, it’s best to be as flexible as possible and to do something every single day. This will help you get on with your day easier, even when things go wrong.
Final thoughts
Your morning routine is all about you so make it work best for you! There are some fundamentals that are essential for a productive and successful day. Getting enough quality sleep, being hydrated and having a clarity on what your day looks like are vital. But there are different ways to approach this. Get specific on what your morning roadblocks are and what’s not currently working in your day. Make the solutions to these problems your focus. For instance:
- If you like to start the day with positive vibes, make time for reading an inspiring chapter
- If you need to have a plan, then use a daily planner the night before or as part of your morning routine.
- If you like to feel your blood pumping, make you morning run or a hike non-negotiable
- If your need to get your thoughts in order then writing in a journal is your go-to essential
- If you can’t stop thinking, try meditation.
The main point here is that this looks different for everyone. It might take 15 minutes or it could take two hours. You do not need to do ALL of the things, just the things that are important for you.
DId anything in particular resonate with you? Try picking just one thing that you can start with and build from there.
Commit to it. Don’t put it off. Everyday is another opportunity to be amazing, so starting tomorrow make a commitment to yourself.
You’ll be more focused, productive, positive and thankful you did.
