Your morning habits play a big role in the rest of the day, and establishing a good morning routine can be the difference between a good day and a great one. Sure, we can’t totally control what happens in our lives, but a healthy routine first thing in the morning can help set the tone for the entire day; help us feel accomplished; and even if everything else goes sour, makes us better at handling the surprises.
A productive day starts with a healthy routine. Your morning routine doesn’t have to be the same as your partner’s or your best friend’s. You don’t even have to be a natural morning person. However, you should create a daily morning routine that promotes your happiness and mental health, and supports a healthy work-life balance.
Here’s how to craft an ideal morning routine, a peek into my own, and a ton of ideas for your morning ritual.
How to Create a Morning Routine You’ll Follow
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
A successful norming routine starts the night before, and any expert will tell you the importance of a good night’s sleep so you can wake up refreshed the next morning.
I’ve been using a Hatch smart clock for the last few years and absolutely love it. So much so, that I have one in LA and one in NYC where I live part-time! It’s helped me build a better nighttime routine thanks to programmable playlists to help me fall asleep, and in turn I wake up well rested.
Prep for Your Day the Night Before
Once you’ve set your bed time accordingly to get enough sleep (around 8 hours), find small things you can do in the evening to help you the next day.
When you’re cooking or cleaning up after dinner, take an extra moment to prep your coffee machine if you drink coffee. I like to lay out my workout clothes and what I want to wear the next day on my dresser, and if I think I’ll be too tired before bedtime I’ll do this right after work.
Wake Up Earlier
No, you don’t need to be part of the 5 AM club to have the best morning routine ever. If waking up this early means it’ll sacrifice other parts of your day, it ends up being counterproductive.
However, waking up just 10 -15 minutes earlier gives you some time for a deep breath, a more relaxing breakfast, or simply just some buffer time so you don’t feel as rushed in the morning.
Carve Out Time for Nourishment
Nourishment looks different for everyone. Maybe it’s meditation or a simple stretching routine. Maybe it’s taking a workout class. Maybe it’s spending a few extra minutes preparing a healthy breakfast. Allow yourself some extra time in the morning for something that makes you happy and energizes you for the day ahead.
Make Your Bed
A few summers ago I read the book Make Your Bed by retired U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven, and found powerful truth in this simple morning act. Based on the notion that completing a small task like this first thing in the morning provides an instant sense of accomplishment, it also serves as a building block and creates momentum to finish other small tasks during the rest of your day.
For me, a made bed makes a tidy room, and therefore a less cluttered mind.
Be Okay With Flexibility
Life happens. Sometimes you need to hit the snooze button. Sometimes work requires an earlier start time. Sometimes you were up all night with a sick kid or a headache. Stick to your morning routine as much as you can, but don’t be so hard on yourself if you need to adjust things.
It’s also worth noting that your perfect morning routine right now may not be the perfect one for your next month. If you feel like your morning routine is becoming more of a chore than something you look forward to, embrace flexibility and change it up to something that better serves you.
My Morning Routine
My weekday daily routine in the morning is drastically different from the weekends. On the weekends, I like to linger in bed for a bit, sometimes enjoy breakfast in it, then slowly ease into my day.
During the week I’m up early to work out and to take quiet time for myself before I start checking off my to-do list. (Since I live between two busy cities, Los Angeles and New York City, the latter is extremely important to me.)
My perfect morning routine consists of the following:
- Not hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock
- A glass of water right when I wake up (and taking my vitamins)
- Working out or walking on my Peloton treadmill
- Eating a protein-rich breakfast
- Enjoying a cup of tea
- Reviewing my day and prioritizing my to-do list
- Bonus points if I can stay off social media, but since it’s part of my job I have a bad habit grabbing my phone without even realizing it (I’m working on it!)
List of Morning Routine Ideas
Need some more ideas to help start your day on the right foot? Here’s a list of productive morning habits:
Reach for a Glass of Water First
Drinking water first thing in the morning helps rehydrate your body after sleep and helps to jumpstart your metabolism. It’s one of the simplest healthy morning habits with big benefits.
Stretch or Meditate
A few minutes of simple stretches stretching or a meditation session can ease tension, improve circulation, and calm your mind. This small ritual helps you transition into the day feeling centered and present.
Speak Positive Affirmations to Yourself
Positive affirmations help set a confident, encouraging tone for the day ahead. Even one intentional phrase can provide you with a positive mindset and boost self-belief.
Journal
Morning journaling is a great way to clear your thoughts and process emotions before the day gets busy. Whether it’s a brain dump or a few reflective sentences, it can bring instant mental clarity.
Read
Consider reading as part of your morning routine. Reading even just a few pages stimulates your mind without the overwhelm of screen time. It’s a peaceful way to ease into your day while learning or finding inspiration.
Practice Gratitude
Taking a moment to acknowledge what you’re grateful for every morning can help reframe your perspective and encourages a more positive start to the day. Whether this is a quick mental exercise or you write in in a gratitude journal, it’s an easy way for an instant good mood!
Open the Blinds (or Curtains)
Letting natural light in signals to your body that it’s time to wake up. Morning sunlight helps regulate your circadian rhythm, signaling to your internal clock that it’s time to wake up.
Spend Time Outside
Similarly, stepping outside in the morning, even briefly, can boosts energy levels. Fresh air and natural light are proven ways to reduce stress, leaving you feeling focused and grounded. Don’t forget to take a deep breath or two to get your oxygen flowing!
Move Your Body
Any kind of physical activity in the morning, whether it’s a workout or a short walk, increases blood flow and endorphins. It’s a great way to feel accomplished early in the day and quite literally gets your body and your mind moving.
Stay Off Social Media
Avoiding social media first thing in the morning helps protect your mental space. Although mindless scrolling can feel relaxing, your brain is in a constant state of information overload or comparison. And quickly, a few minutes of scrolling can lead to several minutes, completely disrupting an otherwise mindful morning routine,
Cuddle With Your Pet
If you have a pet, spend some time each morning giving them love and attention. It’s not just for them, it’s for you, too! Doing so can reduce stress and boost oxytocin levels, and it’s a comforting, joy-filled way to start the morning.
Splash Cold Water on Your Face
Or take a cold shower. A jolt of cold water will instantly make you more alert, and cold water helps wake up your senses and reduce puffiness. (Part of the reason why I love ice rolling my face in the morning!)
Play Soft Music
Gentle music in the morning creates a calm, pleasant atmosphere and can make routine tasks feel more enjoyable and less rushed. When in doubt, a quick Spotify search with the keywords ‘Nancy Meyers’ will always yield feel-good playlists.
Listen to a Podcast
If you don’t want music, try listening to a podcast. Look for podcasts that inspire you or are educational. The best ones are the ones that set a positive tone for the day and make you feel like you want to get out there and be the best version of yourself. I’m a big fan of How I Built This With Guy Raz and have also listened to a few episodes of Aspire with Emma Grede.
Review Your Day’s Priorities
Take a minute to review your to-do list and prioritize your important tasks. I like taking a look at my day so that once it begins, I know where I’m focusing my energy, and that the most important items get done first.
I’ve been using Day Designer day planners for nearly ten years and they’re great planners to help organize and plan your days.
