“Every morning is a new arrival.” – Rumi
The internet is filled with articles about the morning routines of successful people.
Have you ever tried doing those? Probably not.
You might have felt uncomfortable just with the thought of implementing the routine.
Why do you feel so? Because those routines that you see on the internet are not tailor-made for you.
You as a person are unique and different from others. What might work for me most probably will not work for you.
Everybody’s priorities and sleeping patterns are different. According to this, things included in morning routines also change from person to person.
The most common things seen on the internet for morning routine are reading, writing, journaling, exercise, and meditation. These are repeated almost all the time.
These aren’t the only things that you can do.
Here is a list of morning routine ideas that you can choose according to your priorities.
Some might seem small and insignificant but those can create a huge positive impact in your life.
Every item in this list has benefits. But you will not be able to do all of them.
Choose a few and enjoy doing them.
Making your bed helps to give you a sense of accomplishment. Doing this small task gives you the momentum to get going.
Do you have the habit of drinking coffee as soon as you wake up? A study by British Journal of Nutrition found that drinking coffee on empty stomach first in the morning can have an impact on people’s blood sugar control.
Make a conscious decision to drink water first thing in the morning.
Drinking water in the morning has many benefits such as increased energy and fewer headaches.
I have been drinking water first thing in the morning and it makes me feel awake and refreshed.
Soaking in the early morning sun before it’s too bright is one of the best things to do after waking up.
Sunbathing for as less as 15 minutes has many health benefits. The brief exposure to the morning sunlight will boost your mood and make you feel good too.
Skipping breakfast can have many negative effects on your health such as the increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Eating a healthy breakfast every morning is gonna help you in the long run.
Treating yourself to a healthy meal of your choice every morning is a great way to start the day.
Do you begin and end your day with a smartphone in your hand? Most of us are guilty of doing this, including me.
Checking your phone first thing in the morning has many negatives associated with it.
For your good health, it is wise to ditch your phone for at least 60 minutes after you wake up. Use the time in the mornings for yourself rather than allowing external stimulations to take control of your day.
Taking a shower in the morning can help you feel refreshed and awake. I don’t prefer showering in the morning. But I know friends who simply cannot start their day without taking a morning bath.
It’s totally up to you if you want to shower or not in the morning. You might feel it is necessary if you work out in the morning.
Not many have the luxury of time to do a full workout in the morning. That doesn’t mean you need to skip doing exercise.
Did you know that stretching is also a type of exercise? It is known as flexibility exercise.
Stretching regularly has many health benefits.
A quick 15 minutes stretching in the morning is something that you should consider adding to your morning routine.
If you enjoy doing a workout in the morning, then do add exercise to your morning routine. What if you enjoy it, but don’t have time to do a full-body workout?
Or simply are not interested in doing an hour-long workout. That doesn’t mean you need to skip doing exercise.
Even exercising for 15 minutes has its benefit.
Spending 5 minutes in the morning for affirmations is a great idea. Affirmations can help you to overcome fear and self-doubt.
Visualization is an effective method that will help you achieve your goals. Spending a few minutes every morning visualizing your goals and dreams will have a positive impact on your life.
Reading in general has a lot of benefits. It is a great idea to read a book in the morning rather than doom scrolling on social media or checking emails in the morning.
All of us have many important things to do each day. We see our long to-do list, become overwhelmed and put off the tasks that we are supposed to do.
Instead of focusing on all the tasks to be done, every day set one task that you will get done. This will be your daily highlight.
If you could get one important thing done every day, it will make you more productive.
Podcasts are a great source of information. It can help you to increase your knowledge and become a better person.
Try listening to a podcast on your way to work or during your morning workout.
Setting an intention for the day helps you to consciously choose actions that will help you achieve your goals.
This will help you to live a life where your actions align with your principles and values rather than mindlessly spending your day.
Starting your day in nature is just amazing. It helps to clear your mind and feel relaxed. Taking your pet for a morning walk can be beneficial to you as well as your dog.
If you are a plant mom, you might be already doing this. Next time when you are watering your plants, be intentional about it.
Enjoy the process, and listen to your favorite music or a podcast while watering.
Before you give in to the busyness of the day, spend some time with your loved ones.
Have your morning coffee or breakfast together. Or spend some time in your favorite spot in the house.
Are you passionate about starting a side hustle? It might be a YouTube channel, a blog, or a photography page on Instagram.
You will have to make time for doing this. Spend some time in the morning for your side hustle. Something or the other will come your way as the day goes by.
Blocking out a chunk of time in the morning is the best way to dedicate time to your side hustle.
Doing morning skincare means you are doing something for yourself. It is good both for your skin as well as your mental health. Also, it is just a great way to start your day.
Wake up and write 3 pages in your journal. That’s it. You can write anything, don’t filter your thoughts.
It might be difficult in the beginning. You might not feel like writing anything or can’t complete all three pages.
But go ahead and push yourself to finish what you started.
Writing in 3 pages takes time so you might want to wake up 30 minutes earlier.
Doing morning pages will help to start your day with a clear mind.
How many new year resolutions have you been able to follow? Do you remember the goals you had set for yourself – at the beginning of the year or month or week?
You need to remind yourself of the goals you have set for yourself. Again, and again.
Reminding yourself of the goals in the morning is beneficial because it will help you to set and take actions that are in alignment with the accomplishment of your goals.
Start your day by doing that one big project or task that you have to do but keep on procrastinating. It is easier said than done.
It takes time and effort to make this a habit. This is a great way to have a productive day ahead.
Eat that frog. Every morning.
Reading morning newsletters will help you to be up-to-date with current events. It will help you to be smarter and more informed.
Solving cross word puzzles will help you to become smarter, improve your mood, and strengthen your vocabulary and problem-solving capability.
Deep breathing has benefits such as boosting metabolism and relaxation. Isn’t it a good reason to add deep breathing to your morning routine?
Make your to-do list the night before. Review them in the morning.
This will help you to remind yourself of the things you have to get done. You will know in advance what to expect from your day and how to spend it.
Make a mental list of three things you are grateful for even before you get up from bed. This is one of the easiest yet most powerful ways to practice gratitude.
Taking out a few minutes every day for practicing gratitude has many positive benefits. Try it out.
It doesn’t have to be pages and pages. You can keep it simple.
Like a one-sentence journal. Or write 3 things you are grateful for each morning. Or 5-minute journaling.
Pick one which you are comfortable with and just start journaling.
Learn a new word to have a rich vocabulary or a random fact to make you smarter. It’s gonna take just a few minutes.
Developing a morning routine takes time, effort, patience, and consistency. You should take it slow.
You shouldn’t include so many things altogether in the beginning. It will never work.
Make small seemingly insignificant changes, to begin with.
Start implementing one idea from the list, to begin with. Start small and then progress. Make it a habit and then move on to the next.
How many things should you include in your morning routine? As much as you want. There is no magic number.
Don’t try to do everything together. It never works that way.
Hope you enjoyed this post on ideas for the morning routine.
