When you hear the words “‘morning routine”, you might think of a time-consuming daily regimen filled with more steps than you can possibly remember.
The truth is, most people would have a hard time sticking to that! A good morning routine can be as simple as one, two, or three worthwhile practices that help set your intentions and allow you to feel like you’re in control of the day.
Keep in mind that we’re all different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some of us might be early risers, keen to take on a few tasks before the day starts. Others might cherish that extra 10 minutes in bed.
The best morning routine is the one that suits you, so it’s essential to take note of what feels right (and wrong) when trying different things.
With that in mind, here are some morning routine ideas that will get your day off to a great start:
Creating a Morning Routine That Will Last
One of the hardest things about putting a morning routine into place is working out how to actually make it stick. We often go into it with unrealistic expectations – or we’re simply not setting ourselves up for success.
Sometimes a simple mindset change is needed, so before you implement your morning routine, keep the following in mind:
Don’t Try To Overachieve
Don’t be too ambitious. It’s much better to start small with even just one thing, and then (if you want), work your way up to include more.
Don’t be afraid to try a few morning routine ideas out and ditch whatever doesn’t work for you. Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up if you can’t stick to the routine.
Don’t Rely On Memory
If you’re hoping you’ll just remember to do your morning routine, you might be setting yourself up to fail.
Set yourself a reminder – whether it’s a timer, a habit tracking app, or even a post-it note (just stick it somewhere you can’t miss!). This is especially important when you’re starting out and the habit is still forming.
Look For Things That Put You Off To a Bad Start
Pay attention to things that might detract from your morning routine, and avoid them.
This might be an alarm with an annoying tone, picking up your phone straight away, waking up with too much or too little natural light, or not getting enough sleep.
Habits To Include In Your Morning Routine
Once you have the right mindset in place, here are some habits to consider including in your morning routine:
Avoid Your Smartphone
It can be so tempting to check our emails or start scrolling social media first thing in the morning, but this inevitably fills our minds with mental clutter, stress and negative thoughts.
Instead, try to resist engaging with your phone for the first hour of the day, and instead ground yourself in the present moment.
Drink a Glass of Water
After so many hours without hydration, one of the best things we can do for our bodies first thing in the morning is drink a big glass of water.
If you want to take this practice to the next level, squeeze some fresh lemon into warm water. This offers a myriad of benefits, including aiding digestion and giving you a boost of Vitamin C.
Have Some Tea
After you’ve had that big glass of water, you might be tempted to move straight on to coffee. Instead, starting with a tea (and even ditching coffee entirely) is a much gentler way to ease into the day.
From chai and matcha to green teas like sencha or gorgeous geisha, and even a classic English Breakfast – there are so many great teas to choose from that can give you an equally great boost for the day.
Journal or Read
Journaling doesn’t have to take an hour – even a five-minute session can make a world of difference. Set a timer and finish it off by writing down two things you’re grateful for.
An alternative is to read for 10 minutes – you’ll be surprised how quickly you get through books with this simple daily practice.
Meditate
Once again, even just five minutes of meditation can make a world of difference to our happiness, health and overall wellbeing.
If you’re not comfortable with self-led daily meditation practice, there are plenty of apps that offer guided meditation.
Get Moving
A bit of movement first thing in the morning is a great way to boost energy levels and positivity, and even decrease stress.
This might be some at-home yoga, a walk outside, or a gym workout. Whether it’s five minutes or an hour, choose movement you enjoy and can stick with long-term.
Practice Some Self Care
Putting some time and energy into your personal hygiene and grooming can leave you feeling confident for the day ahead.
What that looks like for you might be as simple as trying a simple hair style or a new face serum. Or, spend a little more time planning the perfect outfit and look to power through your day.
Write a To-Do List
If you’re someone who wakes up feeling anxious, a great morning practice is to write out a to-do list or plan for the day, which will help you feel on top of everything you need to achieve.
When you cross things off the list, you’ll also feel an incredibly satisfying sense of achievement.
Of course, this is just a starting point – don’t be afraid to come up with morning routine ideas of your own. Whichever practices you choose to include, remember there are no rules.
Your morning routine should be something that works for you, and most importantly, leaves you ready to seize the day.