Most people know the morning is one of the most important parts of their day, and it sets the tone for everything else that happens during your day. If you’re not feeling refreshed and energized in the mornings, it will be hard to maintain a productive work and home life.
You’ll probably end up feeling a mid-afternoon slump too fast. But how do we make sure that we’re ready to take on the day as soon as our alarm goes off? Here are eight habits to practice to have a successful morning routine:
Get up just a bit earlier than everyone else.
This one is a tough one and takes practice. Even if it’s just 20 minutes earlier, this will allow you to frame your day for success, and it gives you a moment to sit quietly and plan out your day.
If you struggle to get up earlier in the morning, a successful night routine will set your morning up for success. That means going to bed just a little bit earlier and turning off TikTok.
Indulge in your first cup of coffee or tea before anything else.
That first cup of coffee is the best. The coffee is hot and fresh. The house is quiet. You have a moment of peace and serenity before your day takes off running. One cup maybe takes a few minutes. Enjoy it!
Write out your most important tasks of the day.
The handy-dandy, daily to-do list. Brainstorm what the most important tasks of the day are. While some people prefer to keep their list in their heads, writing it out is a great way to be more effective and efficient with your time. Grab your daily planner, and plan.
Also, include in your to-do lists:
- What you are grateful for today. Something simple like that quiet cup if coffee.
- Appointments or meetings with times
- Notes
- Meals
- Water intake
- Health and fitness goals
In your to-do list, write the more critical tasks that need to get done and little goals you want to accomplish for the day. Take your list with you, in your purse, in your car, or hang it on the refrigerator.
Do not overestimate what you can accomplish for the day. Tackle the most critical tasks first, so you are not overwhelmed by more minor tasks. You can download my free (and cute) daily planner.
Journal or daily gratitude check.
One of the most proven ways to improve mental health and overall well-being is through journaling. It’s a scientifically backed way on how to be happy in daily life.
Journaling is such an under-utilized mental health tool. Just five minutes a day can change your life.
You can write about anything, your daily experiences or goals or even things going on in your life. Writing things out helps clear up some space for new thoughts and ideas inside your head and clears any clutter.
You can even add journaling to a morning routine for kids. Learning gratitude and journaling is a great habit to instill in your children from a young age, and it only takes a few minutes, and your children learn an excellent lifetime habit.
You can write about anything. Your daily experiences or goals to things going on in your life – as long as writing them down helps clear up some space for new thoughts and ideas inside your head. This clears away any clutter, so you’re not overwhelmed by everything else happening around you.
At the same time, taking just a couple of minutes each morning to practice gratitude will help achieve personal happiness. After all, practicing gratitude means thinking more often about what we already have rather than focusing only on material goods.
Thought-Provoking Journal Prompts for a Happier, Healthy You
Eat an antioxidant, well-balanced meal.
Eating a balanced and nutritious breakfast that includes antioxidants, protein, and high fiber will help you stay satisfied all morning long.
Eating well ensures your brain and body get the energy it needs to perform at its best throughout the day. In addition, it keeps blood sugar levels stable without crashing or cravings later in the day (which often happens when we skip meals).
Here are some ideas for healthy breakfasts:
- two eggs with whole-grain toast with almond butter
- oatmeal
- yogurt parfaits
- antioxident rich berries like blackberries raspberries and strawberries
- bananas with peanut butter
- an English muffin with peanut butter and jam
- antioxidant-rich smoothies and protein shakes!
Hydrate
Drink sixteen ounces as part of your morning routine. This is a great way to rehydrate your body!
Dehydration often happens overnight when we sleep – especially if you tend to breathe through your mouth while sleeping or have the heat on in the winter months.
Drinking water first thing in the morning kick starts your metabolism, gets your internal systems working, and replenishes your body from having no water for 6-8 hours overnight, and, in turn, increases your energy throughout the day.
Read or listen to inspiring and motivational books.
If you have the time, reading inspirational books during coffee is a great way to set your day (and life) up for success.
If you don’t have time in the morning, listening to motivational books while doing your morning skincare routine or getting ready for the day is a powerful way to keep you motivated, inspired, and moving forward.
11 Motivational Books Everyone Should Read
Connect with your kids or partner.
As much as we love our morning routines, they can be so rushed that there is not enough time to connect with the people who matter most in your life.
Make sure you take a few minutes at breakfast (or even during their bedtime routine) to chat about how everyone’s day went or what they are looking forward to during the day. The connection doesn’t have to last long – just make it undivided and genuine.
Add exercise to your morning routine.
Even if it’s a brisk walk with your dog or partner, getting your body going in the morning helps. Some people add yoga to their morning routine; some like to take a walk outdoors or actually hit the gym before their day starts.
Stretching for a few minutes or dusting off that treadmill you are using as a coat rack in the corner of your room will get your blood flowing and increase your energy.
Create a Sucessful Morning Routine
Creating a morning routine will set your day up for success. If you create a successful morning routine that includes the brain and body-friendly exercise elements, eating breakfast that fuels you throughout the day, or even doing something creative for 10 minutes before work…you can set yourself up to have a more productive day.
Implementing these habits into your mornings may seem daunting at first, but after some practice, they will become more manageable, and eventually, they’ll just become part of your daily routine.
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