Your morning is your transition between sleep and your day. It sets the tone for how you feel and act throughout the day. A chaotic morning can set you up for a chaotic day, while a well-planned morning routine can set you up for a good day.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of a good morning routine and how to plan and develop one for a productive and successful day.
The benefits of having a morning routine
How you begin your day has a big impact on the rest of your day. If you start your morning with stress or immediate gratification, it’ll be hard to get back on track later. You’ll find it difficult to concentrate, use willpower, or do things that require more effort later. A chaotic morning will set you up for a chaotic day.
On the other hand, a good morning routine can set you up for a good and productive day. Depending on your routine, some of the benefits can include:
- Less stress
- Better mood
- More energy
- Better concentration
- Higher productivity
- Feeling better physically
- Better sleep
- Starting the day with a small win
What is the best morning routine?
When we start something new, we try to find the optimal way to do it. But when it comes to routines, no solution fits all. There is no perfect way to start your day. The best morning routine for you is the one that is tailored to you, your goals, and your current life structure.
However, there are a few elements every morning routine should include. Let’s explore 2 of those here. Later in this article, we’ll look at the different habits you can include in your routine.
1. Don’t stay in bed
Staying in bed or snoozing in the morning might be tempting but can be a serious hindrance to a good morning routine. It’ll make you more tired throughout the day, make it hard to stay disciplined, and cause the rest of your morning to be stressed.
2. Have enough time
Most people try to get as much sleep as possible in the morning. And while it’s important to get enough sleep, not getting up early enough can cause your morning to be stressful. If you get up early enough, you’ll have time for a quiet, stress-free morning. This easy start to the day will make you more resilient to stress later and feel calmer as it’s time to wind down in the evening.
How to plan a morning routine
Before you can have a morning routine, you need to plan it. To do that, you’ll need to know what you expect to gain from it, how long it should be, and which habits to include. Let’s explore those areas to create the perfect morning routine.
1. What is your intention for the routine?
Knowing why you want to do something and what you expect to gain from it will make it easier to do something the right way. When you’re clear about your intentions, your conscious and subconscious mind will work together to reach a specific outcome. This will make your morning routine more effective, and you more likely to stick to it.
Doing something just because you think you should, but without knowing why, rarely provides any results. Take a moment to consider why you want a morning routine and what you expect to gain from it. Is it because you want to feel less stressed, become more productive, or something third? Knowing why and what only takes a moment but makes a huge difference.
Related: How to find the right habits
2. How long should the perfect morning routine be?
Your morning routine can take anywhere from 30 min to several hours. What determines the length is a balance between two things.
- What you need from it
- How early you want to get up compared to when you need to be ready
You might want to exercise in the morning. But if you aren’t prepared to sacrifice sleep or other behaviors from your current routine, it won’t be sustainable. Especially not if it doesn’t cover what you need from your routine.
Take a look at the two points above and determine what habits you want to include in your routine and how much time you’re willing to dedicate to it. Find a compromise between the two, and you know how much time you have. You might not get it right the first time. Experiment with different things and find what works for you.
Remember, there isn’t a perfect duration for your routine. Find something that’s possible for you but still meets your intentions, and you’ll be more likely to stick to it.
3. Which habits do you want to include?
Now that you know why you want it and how much time you have, it’s time to decide which habits you want to include. While the best habits in a morning routine depend on your situation and goals, there are a few that everybody could benefit from. Let’s have a look at 7 of those.
1. Start your day with a healthy meal
Starting your day with a healthy meal is a great way to set yourself up for a good day. It’ll leave you with more energy, and you’ll typically feel better physically and mentally throughout the day. It’ll also make you less likely to make bad food choices later.
There are different options here, but food, such as oats, fruit, and eggs are great options.
2. Avoid screen for the first hour
When you start your day with a quick dopamine fix from your phone, you’ll be more likely to crave immediate gratification throughout the day. Leave the phone for as long as possible to increase your productivity and mood throughout the day.
3. Don’t stay in bed
Staying in bed for too long and snoozing can make you more tired than if you got up straight away. Even if it allows you to get 5 more minutes of sleep. When you snooze, you’ll struggle to navigate between sleep and awake. It might lead to feeling sluggish throughout the day and can derail the rest of your morning routine.
4. Drink water
One of the most common reasons for being tired in the morning is dehydration. Start your day with some water, and consider adding electrolytes. It’ll make you feel more awake and alert, which can increase your productivity and mood.
5. Practice mindfulness
Starting your day with a short meditation is a great way to get a gentle start to a new day. It’ll make you feel calm, focused, and refreshed. These feelings will often stick throughout the day if you start with mindfulness.
6. Make your bed
You probably heard this advice a million times before, but it’s because it works. Starting your day with something as simple as making your bed can increase discipline and concentration and start you off with a small win.
7. Get up at the same time every day
Getting up at the same time every day is the easiest way to make your morning routine sustainable in the long run. Your body will begin to adapt after you’ve gotten up at a specific time for a while. This means that around that time, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed at the end of a sleep cycle. This feeling will stick throughout the day and can even improve your sleep.
Related: The 9 best habits for self-improvement
How to develop a morning routine
Now that you have decided why, how long, and which habits you need in your morning routine, it’s time to start working on your morning routine.
The first you’ll want to do is to find your trigger habit. A habit that you do every morning, that you can build the rest of your routine on top of. For most, this will be turning off the alarm.
Once you’ve completed the trigger habit, you’ll begin by working on the second behavior in your routine. This could be drinking some water or making your bed. If you struggle at first, you can focus on adding one new behavior at a time. Slowly develop the full routine, and soon, you have your new morning routine.
Remember, sometimes the things you plan aren’t effective in real life. It’s okay to change your routine if you learn that something doesn’t serve you. There’s nothing wrong with that. Remember, you’re doing it for yourself, not for anyone else.
Related: The simple approach to building a routine
Final thoughts
How you start your day can influence the rest of your day. If you start your day well, the rest of your day is more likely to be good.
When you plan your morning routine, you have to consider why you need it, how much time it should take, and which habits you would like to add.
When you develop your routine, begin by slowly adding one new behavior until the routine is fully developed. Don’t be scared to make changes if you notice things you can improve.
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