Making a Morning Routine

There is seemingly endless information on the importance of having a morning routine and what should be included in it. It can be a bit overwhelming to wake up to a list of 18 things you have to get done before you even start your days to-do list. The idea we want to explore behind having a morning routine is to create a daily habit that will help you have a more enjoyable and fulfilled day and life. What your morning routine looks like should be different than someone else’s because you have different goals and values. It might change depending on the day and you may find you have to adjust things to better suit your lifestyle. The aim is to create a daily practice that helps you take care of your mental and physical health, and sets you up for a successful day, whatever that looks like for you. We aren’t going to tell you what your morning routine should look like, let this post provide you with some inspiration and direction on how to create a morning routine that suits you.

As you begin to think about creating a morning routine, consider what you already do. Take a few minutes to right down what your realistic morning looks like. Perhaps you have a few different scenarios to record. This will help you get an idea of how much time you are currently devoting to your morning routine and help you understand what is working (good habits) and what is not working (hitting snooze six times). Once you have done this, brainstorm what your goals are for a morning routine. What would you like your morning routine to do for you? Do you want to get more done, so you have more free time in the afternoon? Do you want to fit in your workout before work? Do you want time to read your favorite book or watch your favorite show? Do you need time to prep healthy meals for the day? Do you want to devote time to spiritual or self-care practices? Decide what is most important to you and be mindful of why you want to improve your morning routine. Choose something that you think will have the greatest impact.

We will include some ideas of habits for your morning routine later in this post. It might be most beneficial to start by creating a good foundation. A good foundation usually begins with good sleep, physical activity, healthy eating, and an organized environment. Keep these things in mind as you plan your morning routine. Be mindful of the importance of good sleep. While many sources encourage an early start to your day, if your lifestyle demands keep you up until 12 a.m. it is not realistic to start your day at 5 in the morning. Try to prioritize getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night. With all this in mind choose one or two habits you would like to start to implement into your morning routine.

There is lots of valuable research and information on habit formation. Starting something new is always challenging and while your intentions are good most of us are even better at convincing ourselves just to stay in bed once the alarm goes off. Try to set yourself up for success. Use self-awareness as you plan your new morning routine. Consider what has and has not worked in the past. Try to implement strategies that you know will work best for you. Consider if you are the type of person who likes to have a workout plan ready before you get to the gym or if you prefer to just figure it out on the spot. Self-awareness will help you build a routine that you will succeed at. Schedule your new habits into your morning. If you want to spend twenty minutes reading in the morning put it into your calendar for the day. Be prepared to wake up 20 minutes early. Consider if you would like to read before or after your morning coffee? Clearly scheduling your new habit into your morning will make you more likely to follow through. Try creating some accountability for your actions. Make plans to meet a friend at the gym or ask a co-worker to check-in on your progress toward your goal. Figure out something that works best for you but try to find some way to keep yourself accountable. Pairing a new habit with an existing habit is another helpful way to follow through. If you want to eat a healthy breakfast and always make yourself a cup of coffee in the morning. Try preparing your breakfast while the coffee is brewing, or only drink your coffee once you have prepared a healthy meal. Lastly in trying to help with new habit formation try making your new routine as convenient as possible. It can be helpful to consider what has stopped you in the past and then plan accordingly. For example, if you never workout in the morning because it takes too much time, plan short, high-intensity workouts for the morning. Having everything that you need ready to grab and go first things in the morning. Do anything you can to make your morning routine more convenient for you. This way you are more likely to get it done!

Start with small, short-term goals for your morning routine. Try to make it easy in the beginning and build up over time. You might begin with a simple three step morning routine. Make time to monitor your progress. Check in once at least every week, make note of how many days you met your goal for your morning routine. Look at what obstacles came up and how you can be better prepared in the future. Pay attention to what worked and what didn’t work. Checking in consistently will help you stay on track and keep you mindful of the new habits you are trying to build.

Here are some ideas of what you can include in your morning routine. Do something to move your body. Whether it’s doing yoga, going for a walk or a jog, or getting into the gym, incorporating movement in your morning is a great way to start your day. Try practicing meditation and mindfulness. We have discussed the many benefits of mindfulness. The quiet time of your morning might be the perfect time to start building a meditation practice. Spend some time on reflection or practice gratitude. Try doing some journaling or simply think about what is happening in your life ad what you are grateful for. Read some pages in a book you have been meaning to get to. Try doing some work. Whether your catching up on your to-do list or getting ahead, you can use your energy in the morning to get some quality work done. Maybe the morning is a chance for you to spend quality time with your loved ones. Everyone has full schedules, try taking a few extra minutes to sit down and enjoy breakfast together to start your day. There are endless ideas of healthy habits you can incorporate into your morning routine. Choose something that feels the most beneficial to you. If after awhile something just isn’t working for you, change it up. Your morning routine is meant to help you have your best day so choose habits that work for you!