Here you will learn why having a customized morning routine is so important and 5 elements you need to include + a sample morning routine.
Mornings can be hard. It’s early, you have a lot of things to do, but you’re tired and just want to hit the “snooze” button one more time. But then you’re late and start rushing into your day completely frantic and overwhelmed.
Not everyone is a natural morning person, however, everyone CAN have a morning routine that fits their needs and lifestyle to make their morning and day better.
When it comes to morning routines, there is no “one size fits all”. What works for someone else might not work for you. Waking up at 6am to hit the gym is only good if it fits your life. Learn how to create your own customized morning routine that will increase your mood, productivity and happiness.
Why is a good morning routine so important?
Creating a morning routine is essential in having a successful life. It plans the day and sets a positive and productive tone. What you do in the morning affects your whole day. It affects how you feel, how productive you are, your energy levels, mood and attitude.
A morning routine affects you both physically and psychologically. You are physically getting out of bed and taking the necessary steps to prepare your body for the day, however, it also sets your mind up to start the day and helps your mental health.
Human’s are creatures of habit and we feel much more comfortable when we have a plan and routine. Feeling more comfortable also means less stress and better organization. This also boosts your confidence and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Creating a morning routine is in fact really easy. You just have to understand what makes you feel really good in the morning and do that consistently. Here, I have laid out 5 elements your morning routine should have so you can customize it to fit your own life.
5 elements to add to your customized morning routine:
1. Pick an ideal time to wake up
Picking an ideal time to wake up and sticking to it ensures that you don’t hit that snooze button and get yourself out of bed at an appropriate time.
A study with over 1,000 people found that people with a strict wake-up time reported being more content in every area of there lives. The key to this is consistency. Consistency is how your body forms habits. If you wake up at the same time each day, eventually your body will get once to that and it will become easier and more natural to get up.
After a while you may not even need an alarm clock.
When it comes your morning routine, you can pick whatever time works best for you! Although waking up earlier typically leads to more productivity and allows more time for you to focus on your goals, you can be just as successful waking up at 9:00AM compared to 6:00AM.
Pick a time you feel comfortable will that also allows time to complete the rest of your morning routine.
2. Move your body
A study from the University of North Carolina, along with many other studies, found that exercise is a great way to boost cortisol to feel more awake in the morning.
Exercises is no doubt one of the best ways to feel more energetic and motivated in the morning. Along with increasing cortisol, it also increases your serotonin, making you happier in the morning as well.
When it comes to customizing your morning routine, nobody said you had to go to the gym or run 3 miles…unless that’s what you want to do. And in that case, go for it!
Exercising come in many forms including swimming, walking, yoga, cycling, Pilates, a simple 10 minute at-home HIIT workout, etc. Whatever way to like to move your body is the best way to do it.
3. Eat a nutritious breakfast
Food is your primary source of energy.
Calories = Energy
Therefore, eating a nutritious breakfast boosts your energy and fuels your body for a good morning and great start to your day.
You can check out my Healthy Breakfast Pinterest Board for all your breakfast inspo needs. Or try these delicious Homemade Greek Yogurt Bagels!
4. Do something that focuses your mind
This is where you can create a completely customized morning routine because everyone has a different way of focusing their mind.
This means, doing something that gets your brain spinning or wakes up your mind. It is something that prepares you for the day and organizes your thoughts.
Some examples include:
- Caffeine
- Journaling
- Making a to-do list
- Stretching
- Meditation
- Listening to a podcast
- Decluttering your workspace
- Cleaning your house
- Making your bed
5. Dress for Success
Change out of your pajamas. Your pajamas and loungewear make you feel like you are lounging around. This is obviously not what you want when you’re trying to have a productive day.
This is especially important if you work from home or need to do things around the house. Changing out of your pajamas and into an outfit for the day helps you stay productive. Dressing as if you are going to see people gives are a reminder that you should take pride in yourself and want to be productive.
**Bonas: Create a list of the most important tasks for the day and do those first.
Sample Morning Routines (my ideal morning routine):
2-hour routine:
- 7:00AM – Wake-up
- 7:15AM – Body Movement/Exercise
- 8:00AM – Shower, drink tea, get ready for the day, listen to a podcast
- 8:30AM – Eat breakfast (my favorite breakfast: Breakfast sandwich with Greek yogurt bagel)
- 8:45AM – Journal/make to-do list for the day
- 9:00AM – Ready for the day!
30-minute routine:
- 7:30AM – Wake-up
- 7:35AM – 10-minute body movement (either a quick walk, stretching, yoga)
- 7:45AM – Wash face and get dressed
- 7:50AM – Make breakfast
- 8:00AM – Ready for the day!
Not every morning is going to be exact like this and some morning might look different than others. However, it is important that you map out your ideal morning routine and try to follow it whenever you can.
Key Take-Aways
- Understand what makes you feel good and ready for the day.
- Customize your own morning routine that fits your schedule.
- Be as consistent as you can.
“Your energy in the morning is a clean slate, and you get a chance each day to build it up the way you want” –
“Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning, and you’ll start to see a big difference in your life.” – Yoko Ono
References:
Hackensack Meridian Health – Why Routines are Important for Mental Health
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