Want to make the most out of every day? Start the moment you wake up! Get inspired by these morning routine ideas for a productive and healthy day. These morning habits and morning rituals can make lasting positive changes in your life!
My Morning Routine
My personal morning routine consists of five things: exercise, shower, coffee, some planning and work. Some days, when I don’t exercise and the weather is nice I’d go out to see the sunrise. On the way back I’d have some music or a podcast on. But I like to be quiet for the first 30 minutes of my day and just think. This has been the core of my morning routine for many years and it makes me super happy, productive and fulfilled. I don’t keep it the same same every single day, but I try to stick to those 5 things.
How To Create A Good Morning Routine
What you’ll see below is a collection of great morning rituals that you can include in your everyday life. Remember that these are just suggestions. Pick the ones you’d actually want to do most days of the week and will get you excited to get out of bed and start your day. That’s the biggest secret to a good morning routine: excitement.
I am excited about all five of my morning routine habits: I love how strong I feel when I exercise, I love savoring my morning coffee without interruptions, I love the shower after a good 30-minute workout, I love feeling organized and productive and I look forward to working on my dream every single day. I’ve tried journaling, I’ve tried reading a book, even meditating…I did not love those. They didn’t impact my life, the things that truly felt good did.
So, if you’re a bit stuck, start with one to two morning habits that will benefit your life and feel exciting to you. If you try something and don’t like it, you don’t need to keep doing it. Adjust! Over time you’ll find the habits that truly are for you, they will compound and this will lead to a better life and life satisfaction.
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15 Morning Routine Ideas To Try
1. Exercise
I honestly feel like exercise should be a non-negotiable for everyone in the morning. It helps you wake up right away, puts you in a better mood and just prepares you for the day. You feel ready to concur anything. Also, you’ve exercised already! This yoga routine by YOGATX has been my favorite lately, it’s great to start the day when I’m not doing a more intense workout.
2. Journaling
This can be writing down anything going through your mind. You could write morning pages, a gratitude journal or a dream journal – where you keep track of all your dreams. Journaling in the morning will help clear your mind, process emotions and make space for creativity. You can use any journal you want for this morning habit, some people swear by the five minute journal.
3. A walk outside
If you’re not into exercise yet, get out and walk for 10-20 minutes. You can do it alone, take your dog, your partner or your family, however you want to do it. Either way spending time outside first thing in the morning will help you wake up, refresh and start your day in a more positive way.
4. Planning
Write down and prioritize your to do list for the day, create a realistic schedule. That’s key: do not overschedule yourself. Which brings me to 5.
5. Write down your top 3 goals for the day
You can also do 5 if you do smaller things, but make sure to have a focus for the day and to keep those goals in front of you. Have them in your planner or write each goal on post-it and stick them somewhere where you’ll see them (probably your computer).
6. Pick a word for the day
Some people pick a word for the entire year, but you can start small and pick a word for the day. Maybe it’s an intention, a feeling you want to keep throughout the day, or your focus for the day. Pick a positive word and carry it throughout the day with the decisions you make, the way you work, the way you react, the way you communicate, the way you live.
7. Work on a new business idea
If you have a business idea or a side hustle that you want to grow, the morning is the perfect time to do it. Start small. If 20-30 minutes is all the time you have, use that time for the task that will have the biggest impact and ROI. In this case it’s really helpful to have already set your goals and broken them down into actionable steps.
8. Everyday Beauty Routine
Create an everyday beauty routine – a collection of things you do that make you feel more confident in the way you carry and present yourself during the day. It might seem superficial to some people, but I know for the majority of us – when you look better, you do better. Keep it simple – 30 minutes to shower, get dressed and put on some makeup while listening to music or a podcast might be enough.
9. Morning Affirmations
Doing your affirmations as one of the first things in the morning will help you focus on the positive and keep you motivated.
10. Listen To Music
Music is good for your soul! And, it’s good for your immune system. Listening to the right music can immediately put you in a better mood and motivate you to take action. Don’t listen to sad or angry music. Listen to something fun, something that you really love.
11. Meditate
Meditating in the morning will help you start the day with a clear mind. Some benefits of meditation include being more present, reduced stress and anxiety levels and enhanced self-awareness.
12. Sit outside with your morning coffee or tea and do nothing
That’s right. Just sit and do nothing. Savor that time, you’re gifting it to yourself. Sometimes this is also part of my morning routine and it truly feels like I’m on vacation.
13. Brainstorm new ideas
The morning is a great time to come up with new ideas. New ideas for what? Well, new ideas for anything – your everyday life, your adventures, your home, your business – anything. Take a pen and paper, shut out all distractions and write.
14. Do some work on your hobby
If you never find time for your hobbies, make them a priority in the morning. Practicing something you truly enjoy and getting better at it is the perfect way to start your day.
15. Listen to a podcast or an Audiobook
If you’re finding it hard to find motivation, listen to an audiobook or a motivational podcast while you’re on your way to work, making breakfast or on your walk. It’s one of my favorite things to do when I need to hear more positive messages in my life. I lose my motivation and focus whenever I follow the news for a few days, or spend too much time on social media. That’s when I find it really hard to find my way back and to see hope that anything will ever be good and that life is good. That’s when those messages help me refocus and bring me back.