Designing the perfect morning routine: The start to a Productive Day

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Photo: Tim Foster – Unsplash

Good morning to great day!

Ever notice how the start of your day can dictate how the rest of your day is going to be or at least how you respond to everything from there on out? Having a well structured morning routine can help put you in a better mood, set you up to be more productive throughout the day and to reach your goals.

If you’re looking to have better focus, higher energy, or just start on a positive note, designing an effective morning routine is just what the doctor ordered!

How important are morning routines?

Having a consistent morning routine can have several positive effects:

  • Productivity Improvement: Starting your day with a predefined plan will help you stay on task and not wonder what you should be doing.
  • Mental Health Boost: A positive morning routine can help by reducing stress and anxiety, and help you relax even when life gets busy.
  • Extra Energy: Being and doing active things in the morning will jumpstart your body for the day. A body in motion…
  • Healthy Habits: A morning routine can encourage healthy behaviors such as exercise, healthy eating, and mindfulness.
  • Healthy Habits: When it comes to a morning routine, starting with healthy habits can help you to make healthy choices throughout the rest of the day.

Steps to Create an AWESOME Morning Routine

1. Wake Up Early

Waking up early gives you more time to prepare for the task of the day. Give yourself roughly an hour or however much time is required to complete your morning activities. You’ll feel better and more at ease than those that wake up in a rush to get to work.

2. Hydrate

Starting your day with a glass of water is ideal. It helps to wake you up and rehydrates your body as I’m guessing you probably don’t drink water in your sleep. This kickstarts your metabolism as a bonus! Zest it up with a lemon slice if you like to live a little.

3. Let’s get physical!

No, really. Getting some form of physical activity in the morning can significantly boost your energy levels which in turn improves mood. This could be things like a full workout, some yoga, or a short session of stretching, or even a combination of these. Find what works well for you.

4. Breakfast is your fuel

A healthy breakfast can fuel your brain and body, which can domino into more healthy choices throughout the day. Make sure to include a balance of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. HINT: leftover pizza from last night’s party probably doesn’t count.

5. Mind the Mindfulness habit

Make time for things like meditation, deep breathing, or even journaling. Doing these activities will help you reduce stress and gain focus. Just 5-10 minutes a day can do wonders.

6. Plan Your Day

Take a few minutes to review your schedule and prioritize your day. This helps keep you focused on task and organized. Help from a planner or digital tool (as long as it doesn’t derail you with social media, etc.) to write down notes, appointments, or whatever you need.

7. Personal Development

Set aside some time for personal development. Things like reading, learning a new skill, or listening to a podcast are great for this. Always sharpen your greatest tool, your brain.

8. Dress for Success

Being confident and/or comfortable can help put your mindset and self worth in positive direction. Even if you work from home, getting dressed can put you in an active/ professional mindset.

Morning Routine Sample

Here’s an example of a morning routine to give you an idea of how to structure your own:

  • 6:00 AM: Wake up and drink a glass of water
  • 6:10 AM: 10-minute stretching or light exercise
  • 6:20 AM: 10 minutes of meditation or journaling
  • 6:30 AM: Healthy breakfast
  • 6:50 AM: Review daily schedule and set priorities
  • 7:00 AM: Read a book or listen to a podcast
  • 7:30 AM: Shower and get dressed
  • 8:00 AM: Start your workday

Tips for Maintaining Your Morning Routine

  • Start Small: Begin with just a couple of the items suggested above and work your way up as you start to form these habits.
  • Be Consistent: Aim to wake up at the same time every day, including on the weekends, to establish a regular rhythm.
  • Prepare the Night Before: Lay out your clothes, prepare your breakfast ingredients, and review your schedule the night before to make your mornings smoother.
  • Listen to Your Body: Adjust your routine as needed to ensure it’s working for you. If something isn’t benefiting you, don’t be afraid to change it.
  • Stay Flexible: Life happens, and sometimes your routine might need to shift. Be adaptable and don’t stress if things don’t go perfectly every day.

Final Thoughts

A finely tuned morning routine can start your days off on the right foot, leading to better choices when it comes to your health, mood, work, and even socializing.

Experiment with your routine to see what benefits you and what doesn’t. Something’s will be obvious and others will need more scrutiny but if you keep at it I know you can create the morning routine of your dreams!

I’ll challenge you to start a routine today, and once you’ve mastered it, why not share that awesome feeling with friends, family, or coworkers?

Share the good, and keep improving.

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