6 Morning Routine Ideas
The way you start your morning is a good indicator of how the rest of your day will go. Following a routine and creating simple, healthy, and productive habits can make a big difference—even if you aren’t a morning person. The following are our top six tips to help you make every morning a great one.
1. Make your bed.
Making your bed is a task that requires little effort and will take no more than 90 seconds to complete. Simply tucking in your sheets, pulling up the comforter, and organizing your pillows will help you feel accomplished, lower your stress level, and encourage you to be more productive. Plus, there’s nothing like getting into an already-made bed when you come home.
2. Hydrate.
Instead of reaching for the typical cup of coffee or orange juice right away, opt for a tall glass of water. Drinking H2O before your other morning beverages will increase energy levels, aid in digestion, and clear toxins from the body. To make it easier and help you remember, fill up a glass and set it on your nightstand the night before.
3. Avoid electronics.
When you snooze the alarm on your phone, your initial instinct may be to check your notifications or scroll through social media. Moving forward, make it a goal not to pick up your phone for the first 30 minutes you’re awake. Seeing a list of notifications first thing in the morning can lead to more stress, unnecessary distraction, and feelings of being unproductive. Trust us, the notifications can wait!
4. Write a gratitude list.
Morning gratitude lists are pretty trendy, but they really have proven to be effective—and they’re easy to do. When you wake up, grab a pad of paper and a pen, and jot down a few things you’re grateful for. Doing this will give you some perspective and get positive thoughts flowing before tackling your daily activities. It doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming; listing “I woke up today” or “I have a bed to sleep in,” is a great place to begin.
5. Eat breakfast.
There’s a reason that experts say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Taking a few extra minutes in the morning to eat something healthy, like a bowl of fresh fruit or a balanced protein bar, will benefit both your mind and body and get your day off on the right foot. Bonus points if you eat your food at the table instead of in the car or on-the-go!
6. Exercise.
Your good morning habits should include getting your sweat on in the early hours. Not only will you beat the heat and the crowds at the gym, but kicking off your day with some physical fitness will also boost your mood, increase energy levels, and even improve your quality of sleep.