How to Create the Perfect Morning Routine
Do you ever feel like you have to drag yourself out of bed to start your day, only to realize that you don’t feel motivated, energized, or excited about the day?
Not laying out a plan of attack for your morning can contribute to feeling run-down and drained before even starting the day. That being said, it’s no secret that morning routines are a fantastic way to set the tone for the day and jumpstart some of your health or wellness goals. Whether you’re a morning person or not, crafting any sort of morning routine can help you set aside a specific time to work on yourself mentally and emotionally.
I want to be clear about one thing before moving on: no one can tell you exactly what the perfect morning routine is for YOU. There are hundreds upon hundreds of articles, blogs, and videos laying out what the “perfect” morning routine is, but the truth is, different things work for different people. It’s true that many high-achieving individuals have developed strong morning routines that have helped them to become successful, but if we break them down, each one of their morning routines looks different because each person is different.
So the secret to creating a perfect morning routine isn’t about copying what someone else is doing or following steps that don’t really seem to work for you. It’s about crafting one that is centered around what is important to you (not the person who wrote that post). What I’m going to layout here is a list of “ingredients” that you can pick from to create your own “recipe” for your morning routine that’s suited perfectly to you! My best advice is to choose four or five things from this list and start incorporating them into your morning every day. If you stick around to the end, there will be a free downloadable morning routine worksheet you can grab! And remember, not all of these may be for you, but I encourage you to experiment and see what sets you up for success.
20 Morning Routine Ingredients
Spend 5-10 minutes moving your body
This could mean bodyweight exercises, some yoga, or light stretching. When we first wake up from a good night’s sleep, our bodies are often stiff from sleeping in the same position all night, so spending a few minutes getting the kinks out of your body can be a fantastic way to start your morning. It also gets the blood flowing and wakes up your brain.
Make your bed
This is a great habit to form for two reasons. First off, from a practical standpoint, you will start (and end) your day with a clean and tidy bedroom, and who doesn’t want that? Secondly, it gives us a way to start our day off with a small win or accomplishment from a mental standpoint. When we are able to start off our days with small wins, those small wins end up modeling the success that we want to see throughout the rest of the day. Making your bed each morning is an easy way to start the day with a small win.
Make a smoothie
If you’re someone who often struggles with getting enough fruits, vegetables, or greens into their diet, starting off your morning with a smoothie can be a really easy way to pack a lot of nutrients into the start of your day! Smoothies are a great way to give yourself energy (and a health boost) first thing in the morning. They are also indisputably delicious and only take a few minutes to make!
Open a window
There’s nothing like bringing fresh oxygen into your home. Our homes can often feel stuffy and stale, especially overnight when there isn’t as much motion happening to help circulate any air. Opening some windows allows the oxygen to cleanse your home and gives you more fresh air and some new energy.
Identify your top three priorities for the day
I love a to-do list just as much as the next person, but I think we often get bogged down by the sheer number of tasks that we need to accomplish. The truth of the matter is, there are usually only a few things on our schedule that we need to accomplish. Identifying and writing down the top three priorities for the day can be a powerful element of your morning routine because it can give you direction and focus on what is important to accomplish that day.
Drink a tall glass of water
SO many of us go through our days without ever consuming the proper amount of water that we need to function properly. Water is so fundamentally important to the overall operation of our bodies, so drinking a tall glass of water each morning can be a fantastic way to jumpstart your hydration and make sure you’re not getting into the day’s work before giving your body what it needs to survive and function properly!
Read a chapter of a book
Raise your hand if you’ve set a New Year’s Resolution to read more? Now keep your hand up if you’ve ever actually followed through? So many people aim to read more often, and so few of us ever actually do it. But by scheduling it into your morning routine, you can actually make your goal a reality. Reading is also a fantastic way to feed your mind and learn about something new! It might take more time than some of the other habits on this list, but it is going to feel great at the end of the year when you’ll have met or exceeded your reading goal (and learned something new, experienced a new story, or been entertained in a mindful way).
Go for a walk
This is one of my favorite ones because it sort of hits the trifecta by combining a couple of the elements we’ve already talked about, moving and fresh air, with actually being outdoors. Spending time outside is a fantastic way to begin your day with some appreciation and gratitude. Maybe it’s just me, but I have a very hard time being in nature without being thankful for the incredible world that we’ve been given. It doesn’t need to be a long walk, but even just 10 or 15 minutes can be a great way to get your body moving and spend some time outdoors, soaking in the fresh air and natural beauty.
Listen to a podcast
Early in the morning, our brains may not be fully awake and functioning at maximum capacity. But listening to a podcast can be a great way to slowly get your brain working and learn something new each day. It is also easy to listen to a podcast while cleaning, folding laundry, or another task you might need to do.
Take care of your skin
The actions that you take today can have a long-term impact on what your skin is going to look and feel like long-term. Our skin is the largest organ in the body, and why shouldn’t we care for it the same way that we care for our other organs by eating healthy and drinking enough water? It can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be, but taking a few minutes to care for your skin can be a great addition to any morning routine.
Write down five things you’re grateful for
This is a powerful habit that can dramatically impact how you feel throughout the rest of the day. When we spend time reflecting on what we’re grateful for, it lifts our entire mood and gives us a brighter energy going into the day.
Let light in
If you ever struggle with waking up, this might be a good option for you! As soon as your alarm goes off, try letting some daylight into your room. Your body sees the light and responds to it, waking you up faster and bringing some energy to your morning.
Meditate
If you often find yourself distracted or constantly chasing thoughts throughout the day, practicing meditation daily can be a great way for you to get centered and focused before your day really begins. On top of that, it can also help you to set intentions and relax so that you can go into your day a bit more calm and level-headed.
Make a cup of coffee or tea
I think sometimes these two get a bad rap, but I love things that are warm and cozy, so for me, coffee and tea fall into this category. There are a lot of good nutrients and antioxidants in these beverages, and consuming them in a healthy manner can be a great addition to a morning routine. Just make sure you aren’t going overboard with sugar and other sweeteners!
Take a shower
Whether you go for the traditional warm shower or the extremely energizing cold shower, a shower can be a great ingredient to a morning routine because it can make you feel clean and refreshed. Most people fall into the category of being a morning shower person or a night shower person, but when I made the switch from taking night showers to showering in the morning, I felt much cleaner, more energized, and ready to be productive throughout the day!
Do a brain dump of everything you want to accomplish that day
I know we already discussed making a list of your top three priorities, but it can also be helpful to do a brain dump and list out everything that you want to accomplish in a given day. This practice can help you get everything out on paper (and out of your brain!), organize that information, and make a plan on how to best and most effectively tackle the tasks for the day.
Lay out your clothes the night before
This is a morning routine element that you’re actually doing the night before in preparation for the morning, but it still counts. This can be a really helpful way of giving yourself one less decision that you need to make in the morning. If the choice of what to wear has already been made for you the night before, you won’t have to spend 10 or 15 minutes going back and forth about what you’re going to wear.
Make someone you love feel special
This is a small, quick ingredient of any morning routine, but it can have a huge impact on someone else’s day. Saying I love you to someone you live with, sending a text to someone you miss, or even calling someone briefly are all great ways of expressing your life and appreciation for the people who add so much value, love, and joy to your life.
Get fully dressed (even if you work from home)
I’m a big believer that getting dressed is much more than a physical action. When we get dressed, we mentally prepare ourselves for the day, and our brains know it’s time to be productive and get things done. So even if you are working from home (or trying to have a productive Saturday), make a habit of getting dressed for the day as part of your morning routine.
Spend time on a hobby
Whether you want to spend a few minutes working on a puzzle, caring for plants, or writing a poem, working on a hobby in the morning can bring a little spark of joy into your life. We all have different hobbies, so pick a simple but fun one that you can incorporate into your morning routine!
That wraps up my list of 20 different “ingredients” that you can pick from to make the recipe for your perfect morning routine! As I said earlier, don’t try to do every one of these. Think about what four or five elements you want to incorporate into your morning routine so that you can create one that works for you and serves your mental, physical, and emotional goals! Learn what works for you and know that you can tweak and refine as you go along to fit your personal needs and lifestyle. Make sure to get your free Morning Routine Worksheet HERE!
If you’re looking for more morning routine inspiration, make sure you’re following me on Instagram! I usually share parts of my morning routine, especially my daily tea and book selection.
Let me know your favorite element of your morning routine and what you want to begin including in your morning routine moving forward!
