Morning Routine: Tips, Tricks, and Ideas

The Best Morning Routine Starts the Night Before

To start your day right, you need to get enough sleep. Everyone knows about those magical eight hours that will guarantee an energetic start to the day. Below, we give you some easy-to-follow steps to create a sustainable morning routine that’ll kickstart your day and keep you energised.

Your Morning Routine Checklist

1. No snooze button. This is a big no-no if you want to hit the ground running in the morning. Repeatedly slamming the snooze button is only going to make you more tired because it can disturb your circadian rhythms – this will make you drowsy and cranky, and that’s no way to start the day. Instead, throw in a few of those back-cracking stretches, and you’ll be ready to go.
2. Make the bed. Scratch the ‘but I’ll lie back in it’ philosophy and invest one minute into making your bed to get a sense of accomplishment as soon as you wake up. A simple action like this can banish the desire to procrastinate for the rest of the day.
3. Get some fresh air and sunlight. Open the windows and take in a breath of fresh air and sunshine to alert your senses to the fact that the new day has started, and so should you.
4. Brush your teeth and splash some water on your face. Apart from being another simple task, personal hygiene is at the center of many countries’ traditions. By brushing your teeth, you wash out the toxins from your body (not to mention the morning breath). Don’t wait for the after-breakfast scrub – give yourself the self-care you deserve.
5. Say good morning to the world. Whether you say it to your kids, partner, pets, plants, or simply the world, you will emanate positivity by showing appreciation to your companions. Don’t be discouraged if you live alone; it is perfectly fine to wish yourself the best of mornings, too!

Keeping a Healthy Morning Routine

Now that you’re safely and certainly out of bed, here are a few more ideas on how to make the most of your first waking hour:

1. Drink a cup of herbal tea. If your first instinct is to reach for a steaming cup of coffee, try to control yourself. When you wake up and finish the first part of your morning routine, your cortisol levels will be higher, and another caffeinated hit with the same hormone can set you up for a stressful morning. Save your coffee for after breakfast and go for a nice tea blend instead.
2. Write a plan for the day. There is something satisfying about having a tangible to-do list in front of you when you start the day. It gives you a sense of what needs to be done and how much time it will take. You can mark things according to your priorities and plan your time. Don’t forget to cross them off once they’re done!
3. Practice positive affirmations. What better way to start the day than to express gratitude for all the good things you have (and give a hint to the universe that you are ready to receive more). Positive affirmations can alter your cognitive patterning and direct your attention towards the positive aspects of life.
4. Squeeze in a quick workout. If a series of jumping jacks or a morning jog don’t wake you up, then nothing will. Fitness doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t need to take hours (and it certainly shouldn’t make you cry!). Aim to get your blood flowing. If you are new to exercise, I suggest checking out fitnessblender.com, which offers a lovely assortment of workouts for all fitness levels – from yoga and stretches to hardcore strength and high-intensity training.
5. Make a healthy breakfast. We’ve all heard about intermittent fasting, but a healthy breakfast really does make a difference. Eating enough in the morning will ensure stable blood pressure, better control of your hunger, and less mindless snacking throughout the day. Additionally, a healthy dose of protein will give you a necessary energy boost right off the bat!
6. Stay away from your phone for a while. Solve a puzzle, read your book, or leaf through the news. Don’t just reach out for an endless stream of social media apps, emails, and direct messages. If the first thing you see in the morning is an angry email from your boss or a bad grade, it will set the tone for the rest of your day. Stimulate your brain intellectually instead so that you are equipped to deal with anything life throws your way later.

Insider Info – Morning Routines of Successful People

Let me preface by saying that success is subjective – for someone, it’s a million pounds in your bank account; for others, it’s a finished painting. I’ll let you choose your own idea of success and spice up your day with a few examples of morning routines of successful people.

• Steve Jobs’s productive morning routine. Whatever success means to you, you can’t deny the list of accomplishments of this tech genius. Steve Jobs liked to start his mornings early, around 6am, and get the first batch of work done at home before going to his office. He made daily plans and assessed his long-term goals regularly. And I think we can all say it worked out great for him.
• Borrow some morning routine ideas from Haruki Murakami. Murakami, one of the most famous bestselling authors from Japan, has a rigid routine when he’s working on a new book. He gets up at 4am and works until midday to the beats of jazz. Afterwards, he jogs for 10km or goes swimming. His love for routine and running is described in What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.
• Jennifer Aniston is big on self-care. As revealed in her interview with Well+Good, Jennifer starts her morning with a meticulous skin-care routine, meditation, breakfast, and a workout. She takes time to become her best self, and as far as I am concerned, she is kicking some serious backside!
• Peace and quiet get Anthony Bonato’s mathematical equations flowing. As a full-time professor of mathematics, Bonato prefers to reach his most stellar breakthroughs with a cup of coffee while everyone else is sleeping and his place is quiet.

Making Your Routine Work for You

Different people have different needs, and, ultimately, you are the one who knows best what works for you. Creating a consistent morning routine is an excellent way to avoid procrastination and negativity from the moment that first alarm beeps. Don’t be afraid to try different things, and be gentle with yourself if you miss a morning or two. Remember these lifehacks to ensure you have good mornings:

• Don’t hit snooze.
• Make your bed.
• Get some fresh air and sunshine.
• Brush your teeth and clean your face.
• Say hello to the world, salute the sun, and kickstart your day on a positive note.

See you after breakfast with a cup of positivity!