My Simple, Productive Morning Routine
Today I’m sharing my simplified morning routine. Not only does this set the tone for the day, but repeating this on a daily basis keeps my anxiety at bay and is an exercise in discipline, follow-through, and becoming my best self. My morning routine is extremely quick, as it’s important to me that I can replicate it regardless of where I am, how tired I am, or on days when I’m short on time. The purpose of my morning routine is to make me feel grounded and set up for a successful day, not to feel like I have to jump through 15 hoops before my day even technically begins. Before I share my routine, I dive into a few tips for how you can build your own morning routine, as well as advice for staying consistent.
how to create a consistent morning routine
Keep it simple. You want this to be so simple it becomes autopilot; having too long of a list decreases the chances that you’ll be able to replicate it day in and day out.
Know that a longer routine requires an earlier wake-up time. Rushing through your morning or feeling like the time is getting away from you won’t make feel you excited about keeping your routine going. Plan for a few extra minutes while you’re still developing your routine. As time goes on, things will become more efficient and run smoother.
Prep as much as you can the night before. Even if you’re an early bird, getting everything ready ahead of time allows for a smoother morning. It also decreases any noise that might wake up your roommates, which is always appreciated. I’ll share more below, but I always lay out my outfit and prep a glass of lemon water the night before.
Have an “extra” list you can add on when you have more time, such as on the weekends. You may not have time for your entire ideal routine each day, but you can find a compromise by doing some of those extra things on the weekend. You may not have time to work out in the mornings without sacrificing the sleep you need to work at my highest potential, but workouts could become part of your weekend morning routine.
Give yourself a few weeks to get into a groove. Practice makes perfect, and it makes sense you won’t hit every step while you’re still building the habit.
Be adaptable. If something isn’t working, or if your routine feels strenuous, be flexible and willing to move something to your “extra” list or for a future season of your life. I’d love to meditate each morning, but I don’t have time right now.
my morning routine
Wake up by 6. I used to be the biggest night owl, but as I’ve fixed my sleep schedule and gotten onto a routine, I am now up by 6:30 naturally. My alarm is set for 6:30 in case I need the extra sleep; I love how my Hatch alarm clock wakes you up slowly, which sets a calming tone to the day (and is absolutely worth the money).
Listen to a guided meditation. This is a newer step, but I’ve already noticed a difference since incorporating it. Meditation can seem daunting and is something I always struggled with, but once I let go of unrealistic expectations, I found a way to make it work for me. I like to listen to a guided meditation, which directs my mind towards one topic, rather than trying to quiet my mind altogether. This one is one of my favorites, and it’s about 5 minutes long.
Write down 10 things I’m grateful for. A gratitude practice is preached by so many successful people, and it seems overhyped until you adapt one yourself. When I first started out, I eased into this habit by thinking of 3 things, then writing them down, and have slowly upped it to 10 things (and I try to make 8 of them new every day, rather than re-writing the same list over and over again). To take it a step further you can also think of a reason why I’m grateful for that person, experience, or thing.
Read for 5-15 minutes (or a short chapter) of a non-fiction book. I’ll get too sucked in if I read fiction, but I don’t want to scroll through my phone, so I spend a few minutes reading a self-improvement book as it improves my mindset for the day. I try to think about what I learned throughout the rest of my routine, and whatever I’m reading typically adds a short motivational boost, too.
Make my bed. Clutter-free room, clutter-free mind.
Drink a full glass of lemon water and brush my teeth. Judge me all you want, but I used to drink soda in the morning, so I know it’s a tough adjustment to grab water over something caffeinated, but the health benefits are truly worth it.
Complete my morning skincare routine. This really signals to my brain that the day is starting, especially since I don’t have a work commute. You can view my full morning skincare routine here.
Get dressed. I work from home, so this is really nothing special; my “uniform” typically consists of leggings and a plain black hoodie.
Go outside and get a few minutes of fresh air. My morning routine ends with some time outside, usually with my dogs, where I mentally run through the day - that visualization helps my day run a lot smoother.
I don’t have breakfast as part of my routine because my big glass of water leaves me satiated for the first hour of my day or so. After I come back inside, I’ll typically jump into work, checking emails and getting a few simple tasks done. Breakfast follows during my first break, around 10am or so.