Mornings are really a defining moment in one’s day.
The first few hours of the day can make all the difference between having an amazingly productive day and spending the day on the couch.
Having a morning routine is the easiest way to ensure you start the day on the right foot. This post will give you 15 good morning routine habits for productivity.
If you struggle to reach your goals and get things done, improving your morning routine is the way to go!
Implementing good habits can drastically improve your productivity and motivation for the rest of the day.
Are you ready to find out the habits you should implement to create your perfect morning routine? If so, let’s begin!
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Here’s How To Be More Productive In The Morning
1. Wake up Early
The first step to having a productive morning is to wake up early.
This gives you a chance to start the day on your own terms and get a head start on the day’s tasks.
I am part of the 5 am club, which has done wonders for my productivity.
Waking up early will give you more time to work on your personal goals before heading to work. To wake up early, you will also have to go to bed early to ensure you sleep at least 7 hours per night.
Sleep is very important to your productivity. Making it a priority will help you achieve your goals faster.
If you are not a morning person and struggle to wake up early, consider buying a sunrise alarm clock. This type of alarm clock will help you wake up slowly and naturally.
Plus, they are also great reading lamps. The warm light will prepare you for sleep while reading your favorite book.
2. Don’t Hit Snooze!
This tip is probably mentioned in every morning routine post you will find on the internet, and there’s a reason. Hitting the snooze button is perhaps the worst thing you can do to start your day, and … It is also bad for your mood!
Waking up triggers several biological processes. When you are surprised by your alarm clock and wake up, your body produces adrenaline.
When you hit Snooze and fall back asleep, you will go through the same biological shock again when the alarm shocks you awake after a few minutes.
This isn’t good for your mood, as you might wake up feeling groggy.
So, if you want to have a good and productive morning, do not hit snooze and get out of bed as soon as your alarm clock rings.
A simple way to implement this habit is to put your alarm clock across your bedroom.
It will force you to get out of bed to turn it off, which is a very effective way to stop hitting the snooze button.
3. Open the Blinds and Windows
Letting in natural light and fresh air is a great way to wake up and start the day. The fresh air is refreshing and will help you wake up.
If you have a garden or a terrasse, go outside for 2 minutes in the morning while your coffee machine prepares your favorite drink. I assure you that getting some fresh air will help you feel good.
It is a natural way to increase your energy and improve your mood. Spending some time outside will make you feel good.
Did you know that reconnecting with nature has been found to be a great way to decrease anxiety?
Spending a few minutes every day outside will positively impact your health.
This is definitely a morning habit to consider.
4. Make Your Bed
This may seem like a small thing, but making your bed in the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day.
It’s a simple way to start the day with a sense of accomplishment. Plus, it means you won’t have to deal with making your bed later in the day.
I personally wait a few minutes before making my bed. I like to open the windows to let the fresh air in, make coffee, have breakfast, and then make my bed.
Waiting a few minutes before doing it will allow the sheets to breathe.
5. Have a Healthy Breakfast
Everyone may not agree on this point. I know that many people don’t like to eat breakfast. It is fine if this is your case, and it doesn’t stop you from having energy in the morning.
However, many people don’t eat breakfast because they can’t eat within minutes of waking up. It is my case, but then I get hungry about an hour after waking up.
The easiest thing to do is to get up earlier to avoid devouring an unhealthy breakfast on public transport or at work.
If you are not hungry when you get out of bed, drink a glass of water and do some of the other activities on this list until you start feeling hungry. You will then have time to have a healthy breakfast at home.
Drinking a glass of water is also a simple way to kickstart your metabolism in the morning and get hydrated.
Plus, waking up earlier will allow you to complete the tasks on this list! So starting tomorrow, set your alarm at least an hour before you leave the house.
You’ll see that these 60 minutes can change everything.
6. Clean and Tidy Your Home
There’s nothing worse than coming home tired after work and having to clean up or wash the dishes before you can cook.
Every morning, take 10 or 15 minutes to make your bed, switch on the dishwasher, rearrange the cushions on your couch, take out the garbage, or do a load of laundry.
Adding this habit to your morning routine will also help you save a lot of time during the weekend.
Taking a few minutes to clean in the morning and at the end of the day will help keep your house clean and tidy.
You will no longer have to spend hours cleaning during the weekend, which will free you up a lot of time.
7. Take Care of Your Appearance
This may sound superficial, but taking the time to look your best in the morning can really affect how you feel about yourself for the rest of the day.
You only need a few minutes for the essentials. Have a quick shower, wash and moisturize your face, brush your teeth, and do your hair.
If you don’t feel like wearing makeup, it is fine.
Do what makes you feel comfortable and ready to run the world.
Make sure you look put together by preparing your clothes, accessories, and shoes in advance.
It is perfectly fine if you wake up early in the morning and have time to try different outfits.
But if you struggle to find what to wear in the morning, you might want to consider preparing your clothes the night before.
This simple habit will free up time for other productive habits in your morning.
8. Meditate
Meditation has been a game-changer for me.
It has considerably improved my mental health. I start my day with a 10-minute meditation, and it really sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Meditating will help you unwind, increase your focus, and calm your anxiety. If you often feel stressed and overwhelmed, you must try meditation.
To do so, you can use apps such as Calm and Headspace. These apps are perfect both for people trying meditation for the first time and experienced users.
They provide guided meditations and actionable tips on dealing with overwhelming emotions and staying grounded.
9. Start Journaling
Journaling is a powerful exercise to get things out of your head and improve focus.
It also allows you to express your doubts, reflect on your daily life, set intentions, and much more.
Journaling will help you overcome overwhelming emotions and decrease stress.
Not to mention it is also a great way to deepen your self-discovery.
If you need help to start journaling, this post on the 15 benefits of journaling and how to get started will help you.
10. Read
Reading has many benefits. First of all, reading is a great way to improve your education. But did you know that reading also has proven benefits on your health?
Indeed, research suggests that reading for 30 minutes per day positively impacts general well-being.
Reading for pleasure has been found to improve confidence and self-esteem. We know how important these are to pursuing goals, so that’s definitely another good reason to read daily.
Finally, reading for 30 minutes per day has been proven to decrease blood pressure and relieve stress.
Reading a book while drinking my morning coffee is definitely one of my favorite morning routine habits.
11. Stretch
Stretching in the morning is a great way to start your day.
Stretching in the morning can improve flexibility and range of motion and reduce stiffness and pain.
It can also increase energy levels and circulation.
All of these things combined can lead to a more productive day.
This is a great habit to implement throughout the day. Whenever you feel distracted or sleepy, take a couple of minutes to stand up and stretch.
It is also a great habit to implement before a long meeting. While you stretch, breathe deeply. These 2 habits combined will increase your focus.
12. Write Your To-Do List
No matter what habits you decide to add to your morning routine, writing your to-do list has to be part of it.
If you want to have an intentional day, you need to set goals and priorities for the day ahead.
Take a couple of minutes to write your to-do list every morning or review it if you have already written it the night before.
Setting your intentions in the morning before leaving the house is a simple way to ensure you get things done.
You can even break your to-do list down into smaller steps so that you can easily see your progress as you go.
Related read: 15 productivity tips to help you master time management
13. Exercise
Exercise in the morning is a great way to move your body and mind. It can help increase your energy levels and improve your focus for the day ahead.
It also helps relieve muscle tension, leading to better posture and less pain throughout the day.
If you’re not used to exercising in the morning, start with just a few minutes of light exercise and gradually increase the time as you become more comfortable.
Exercising in the morning usually also leads to healthier choices during the day.
Your morning routine sets the tone for your whole day. If being healthier is part of your goal, exercising in the morning will improve your chances of achieving it.
It can be hard to work out after a hard day at work. Doing it first thing in the morning will help you ensure you stick to your plans and work out no matter what.
Plus, exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.
So, even if you don’t feel like working out first thing in the morning, know that it will make you feel better as the day progresses.
That’s definitely a great reason to give this morning habit a try.
14. Express Gratitude
This is another great way to overcome overwhelming emotions.
Expressing gratitude will help you see the positive side of things, stay grounded, and improve your self-awareness.
It is one of the simplest but most effective ways to set the tone for a good day.
When you wake up in the morning, take a few moments to think about everything you’re grateful for.
This could be anything from your health and happiness to your family and friends.
This is a habit you can combine with journaling. Take a few minutes to write down 5 things you are grateful for every day.
Focusing on the positive things in your life will help you start the day with a positive attitude.
15. Listen to Music or a Podcast
This morning habit is one of my favorites.
I love to listen to upbeat music as soon as I leave the house. It gets me motivated to go through the day and get things done.
It is also a great way to avoid noise on public transport. I don’t know about you, but I think the lockdown has made me a bit antisocial.
And What’s the best way to cut yourself off from the world, motivate yourself, and focus for the day? Music, podcasts, or a good TED talk, of course!
Final Thoughts
Implementing a good morning routine will help you be more productive and goal-driven.
Morning is usually a defining moment in one’s day. It is really hard to be productive when you wake up late and have to leave the house in a rush.
Ensuring you have a productive morning routine will help you get a lot of things done throughout the day.
If you want to become a morning person to achieve your goals, you need to implement your own miracle morning routine. Starting your day with intention will help you live life to the fullest and reach success fast.
To implement a new routine and stay consistent, you will have to improve your productivity and time management skills.
The Comments
Steffanie
Thank you for sharing this article. I found it very helpful as it serves as an anchor to daily living and a grounded lifestyle. Such an inspirational life view.