A morning routine is essentially a set of actions you take every day upon waking. For many, this includes a frenzied start after hitting snooze once or twice, and a chaotic race out the door, with barely enough time for a cup of coffee. If this is you, consider all the benefits you may be missing…how often do you consume a nutritious breakfast? Are you able to set intentions for your day? What about exercise? By establishing a solid morning routine, you can give yourself the time and space to set a positive tone for the day ahead. Imagine the peace that comes with sipping your coffee and only sipping your coffee? No multi-tasking—just high-quality, intentional moments each morning, before the chaos of the world carries you away. A solid morning routine can change the course of your life, from just getting by, to flourishing.
Why a Morning Routine is So Important?
As with most good habits, it comes down to creating more dopamine in the brain. Without sufficient levels of dopamine, we are prone to a whole slew of negative symptoms. Depression, lack of motivation, cravings, or compulsions—just to name a few. And the worst part is that these negative symptoms feed off each other, snowballing into an unmanageable existence. A morning routine is like preventative medicine. By starting your day with small wins and accomplishments, your brain goes into motivation mode. The satisfaction from checking things off your list breeds the desire for more. This creates healthy habits, and healthy habits are how you accomplish your goals.
How to Create a Morning Routine
It’s important to build a routine that works for you. Not everyone can wake up at 4 am and go for a run! If you create a plan that is too unrealistic for your lifestyle, you’ll burn out easily. Don’t model your morning routine on anyone else’s—this is about you.
What’s Important to You?
When creating your morning routine, consider all the things you’d like to accomplish during the day, if only you had a few more hours. List everything out, however small. Then rank each item in order of importance. Do you want to exercise for a full hour? Or would you rather exercise for twenty minutes and then take a forty-minute bubble bath? Is it more important to you to read a fiction book or to work on a new skill? There is no wrong answer—it’s about what feels right for you. Which of these listed activities will promote your growth the most?
Allocate Time
Now that you have your top priorities, decide how long you’d like to spend on each task. Again—be realistic with yourself. You know how long you need to get dressed for the day. Don’t give yourself ten minutes when you know it usually takes you at least thirty. Allotting time for each task will help you determine the appropriate wake-up time.
Consistency
Once you’ve got a wake-up time and a morning to-do list, the only thing left to do is to stick to it. Consistency is the key here. You are trying to build healthy habits, and habits cannot be formed unless they are repeated. As hard as it may be, do not hit the snooze! Respect yourself enough to rise and start the day as you intended. It may take some time to work out the kinks in your routine, but eventually, this could become the best part of your day.
Important Pillars
Although a morning routine should be your own, there are a few aspects that everyone should include.
Exercise is vital for your overall health, and the morning is the perfect time to make it happen. As the day progresses, it becomes easier to move exercise to the backburner. Move your body early and check it off your list.
Affirmations should be given some dedicated time each morning. It’s important to get your mind right each day before moving through the world. Take a moment to check in with your thoughts and set an intention for the day. How can you encourage yourself today? What can you say to yourself to prep your mind for ultimate success?
A healthy breakfast should be non-negotiable. Your body needs fuel if it is to perform optimally. Just as the words that come out of your mouth matter, the foods that you put into it do as well. Plus, knowing there’s delicious food waiting for you can make it easier to climb out of bed!
Your Morning Routine
Beginning each day with a healthy morning routine can improve your life in so many ways. Ultimately, it makes you feel like you are in control of your life. These positive feelings build upon one another, molding you into a more energized and more intentional person. How many times have you said, “I could do it if only I had more hours in the day…”? The hours are there for you each morning, you simply must claim them.
