Why You Should Have a Morning Routine
Hey there, I’m Calie and I write about personal development, self-care, and how to implement healthy habits and routines over at my site, MBS with Calie.
I’ve always been interested in finding ways to improve my life and one thing that has helped me immensely is having a morning routine. I created my own a few months ago and it’s helped me be more productive and start my day in such a positive way. I am a strong believer in the saying “Own your morning, own your day”.
Today I am going to share why you should have a morning routine and how it will up-level your life!
By the end of this post, you will know:
- The benefits of implementing a morning routine
- What makes a great morning routine
- What steps to follow to create your own morning routine
- Tips to make your new routine stand the test of time
- Empowering habits you can add to your morning routine
So let’s get started!
7 am, your alarm clock goes off and you fumble around to hit the snooze button. 30 minutes later, it goes off again, your eyes slowly blink open, and you’re completely groggy.
You reach for your phone, check Facebook, Instagram, and your emails. You haven’t even gotten out of bed yet and you’re stressing out about that meeting taking place today at 3 pm.
You scramble to get out of bed, take a quick shower, grab a piece of toast and you’re flying out the door to get to work by 8 am.
Does this sound familiar? If it does, then you know how unproductive and stressful this is! Your day has barely started and you’re already frazzled and anxious.
But don’t worry, there is a solution – creating a morning routine!
I’m sure you’ve heard that the way you start your day sets the tone for how the rest of your day unfolds.
Many of the most successful people in the world have a morning routine and they attribute their success in part to their routine: For example, Tony Robbins starts his day with breathing exercises, gratitude, and prayers. Tim Ferris starts his day by making his bed and meditating.
So, you can either start your day with intention or start your day with distractions.
Benefits of Having a Morning Routine
Reduces stress
Starting your day with intention reduces stress levels as you are focusing your energy on what you want to do instead of being in a state of reaction.
Increases wellbeing
Taking time first thing in the morning to take care of you is a wonderful way to start your day. You’ll feel more relaxed and ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.
Increases productivity
When you have a set morning routine, you know what you need to get done when you wake-up. You’re less likely to get distracted and you go with the flow instead of letting things happen to you.
Develops healthy habits that will carry over in your day
When you Implement one good habit, you increase the likelihood of adding more good habits. The sense of accomplishment you feel when you finish a task carries over to your whole day.
Increases mental clarity
Being mindful of how you spend the first few hours of your day brings a sense of focus and mental clarity. Working on your goals, spending time on your needs, and wants is essential to start off the day in a positive and productive way.
Helps avoid mental fatigue
Think about all of the tiny decisions you have to make first thing in the morning: what am I going to wear, what should I have for breakfast, should I watch the news? We have a limited amount of mental energy and all of these decisions lead to mental fatigue. Thinking ahead of time frees up mental space that you can use for more important things – your goals for the day, the tasks you want to get done…
Boosts your energy
When you start your day with some exercise, you instantly boost your energy levels. Morning exercise cleanses your cortisol levels, increases your dopamine and serotonin levels, and elevates your metabolism. The perfect combination to get your body in the right zone!
What makes a good morning routine?
One that works for you! One that brings you closer to your goals and that fits your lifestyle.
There is no one size fits all morning routine, no perfect schedule that everyone should stick to. Don’t try to copy what others are doing. Instead, use their morning routines as examples and choose what makes sense for you.
Simple steps to create your own morning routine
So you’re convinced that having a morning routine is something you want to try but where do you go from here?
Here are simple steps you can follow to create the perfect morning routine for you:
- Think about your why
What are your reasons for wanting to have a morning routine? Do you want to be more productive, feel calmer, have more time to do things you love? What are your goals?
- List ideas
What are the activities and tasks you would like to add to your morning routine? Do a quick brainstorm and write everything down. Include the fundamentals (brushing your teeth, showering, eating breakfast…).
- Estimate how long each activity/task takes
For each activity you’d like to add to your morning routine, estimate how long it takes. It doesn’t have to be exact at this point.
- Prioritize and order your ideal morning tasks
For each activity, determine what is a must-have and what is a nice to have? Don’t try to add too many activities but really focus on the ones that bring you closer to the goals that you determined in step 1. Then, put them in an order that makes sense to you. For example, you might want to take a shower as soon as you wake up and then have breakfast or the other way around.
- Determine your ideal wake-up time
When do you need to be out of the house? Start from there and work your way back by subtracting the time it takes for each activity. Now you know when you need to wake-up! How does this make you feel? Does it seem feasible? If not, go back to your list and see what you can take out to make it more manageable for you. It’s better to start with a routine that you’ll be more likely to stick with instead of trying to get up at a time that isn’t going to work for you.
Tips to make your new habit stick
Set yourself up for success the night before
As mentioned before, taking the guesswork out of the equation is key. Plan your morning routine the night before. For example, if exercise is part of your morning outline, set your workout close the night before by your bed. Do what it takes to make your morning as smooth and easy as possible.
Go to bed early
If you have to wake up earlier than usual, you have to go to bed earlier as well! Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep is important. Otherwise, you’ll feel tired and drained before you get out of bad, which won’t lead to a very successful morning.
Test and tweak it
You know your why, you have your list of activities, and you know when you have to wake-up. Now it’s time to test it out! Did you plan enough time for each task? Is the order right for you? Try it out for at least a week before making any changes. It takes time for a routine to become a habit! Be consistent, especially in the beginning.
Empowering Habits to Add to Your Morning Routine
Here are some habits you can pick from to add to your morning routine:
No social media for at least 1 hour after waking up
I know it’s tempting to pull out your phone or tablet and check out your social media feeds as soon as you wake up. However, by doing this, you are in a state of reaction instead of intention, especially since you can’t control what you’re going to read.
Make your bed
When you make your bed first thing in the morning, you accomplish the first task of your day and this encourages you to tackle the next task and the next and the next. Plus, it makes your room look tidier as an added bonus!
Drink a large glass of water
Drinking water first thing in the morning hydrates your body, boosts your brainpower, and makes you feel fresher, more energetic, and healthier. You can make this a little more exciting by adding lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for added health benefits!
Read
If you love reading, I recommend reading in the morning. It’s such a different feeling than reading at night. You’re much more alert and retain the information so much better. You can read a book, an article, a blog post…
Exercise
Exercising first thing in the morning is amazing for your health and well-being. As mentioned earlier, it cleanses your cortisol levels, increases your dopamine and serotonin levels, and elevates your metabolism. You can go for a run, do some jumping jacks, or anything else that gets your heart pumping!
Listen to podcasts or audiobooks
Why not listen to podcasts or audiobooks while you wait for your water to boil or your coffee to brew? There are so many awesome podcasts out there, I’m sure you’ll find one that gets you motivated!
Want to know more about empowering daily rituals to try and how to implement them, check out How to start an empowering daily ritual!
There you have it, the benefits of having a morning routine, and the steps to create your own! Have fun with it, test out different things, and see what feels right for you. Remember, there is no magic routine everyone should follow.
Now it’s your turn to create your own morning routine and reap the benefits!
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What does your morning routine look like? Let me know in the comments!
