Why have a routine?
It can be tough to get going in the morning, especially if you’re not a morning person. But if you want to increase your productivity, the place to start is with a morning routine. Practicing good habits each morning can make it easier to get things done and reduce the stressors of daily life.
Many successful business people follow a routine and attribute their success to its implementation.
Below are some tips for creating the perfect morning routine.
Wake up early
The key to a productive morning is a good sleep schedule. Going to bed early and waking up early can make you so productive.
Some successful people recommend waking up at 5 am to get a start on the day and have time for other activities before work. This can be a great idea unless you are a total night owl!
Listen to your body and wake up at the right time for you. 7 am is still a great time to start the day and fit in some exercise, meditation, or family time before work. Practice good sleep hygiene so you stick to a consistent routine. Try setting an alarm for the same time each morning so that it becomes a habit.
Hydrate
First thing in the morning, even before your coffee, try to drink at least one glass of water. After being asleep for many hours your body needs to be rehydrated.
Water can wake up your brain and body and prepare you for the day ahead, so it is vital to a productive morning.
People who experience low energy levels in the morning often do so because they are dehydrated, so be sure to start your day with some fresh H2O! It’ll help you stay focused throughout the morning and keep a clear head.
Eat a healthy breakfast
After you’ve had your glass of water, be sure to eat a substantial and healthy breakfast in the mornings. Your body needs the energy so you can be productive for the rest of the day.
It is the most important meal of the day!
Oats, fruits, and other slow energy release foods high in vitamins will help boost productivity throughout the day.
If you find you have a hectic morning, you might often skip breakfast as you think you don’t have enough time. Instead, try preparing your breakfast the evening before so you don’t spend time doing it in the morning. For example, you could make overnight oats, or have your portions all prepared in the fridge for when you wake up.
This is especially helpful if you’re not a morning person and you struggle to even get out of bed on time!
Exercise
A morning run is the best way to start their morning for some people. For others, this idea would be torture!
You don’t need to do a big workout in the morning to feel the positive effects of exercise. Even if you spend 10 minutes stretching, you could feel the benefits, so consider making this a part of your productive morning routine. Gentle exercise in the morning could boost productivity, memory, and concentration for the day’s rest.
You may experience back or core problems due to poor posture or stiffness if you work at a desk. Stretching can help alleviate this and loosen up your body, which will also help you wake up in the morning.
Be disciplined
It can be straightforward to procrastinate when you have important tasks that need to be completed. Then, suddenly, you feel inspired to clean the whole house or book a trip away!
Try to have the most productive day by disciplining yourself and sticking to your routine. If you can remain focused during the day, you will likely accomplish more, giving you a great sense of achievement and reward.
You might also find that you feel less stressed when you return home or finish your workday. Therefore, you will feel more able to relax in the evenings and enjoy your free time without your mind returning to work.
Avoid distractions
Another way to stay focused on your productive morning routine is to avoid distractions. For example, please turn off your phone, or set it only to alert you when you receive important messages or emails.
It is much too easy to turn to social media and hours later you’ve achieved nothing. We’ve all been there!
Make your morning more productive by waiting until you have accomplished something before checking your messages or social media.
Similarly, ensure you have an environment that is free of distraction. Whether you work from home or in an office, try to give yourself a quiet workspace to let your brain focus.
If your productive morning routine begins with exercise, breakfast, shower, reading the paper, etc., do everything before looking at your phone.
Plan the week
To be the most productive, you can try planning the week on a Sunday evening or Monday morning. First, think about what needs to be achieved in the week and write a daily or weekly to-do list. This could include everything from dentist appointments, to visiting Grandma, to preparing a presentation for work.
It can help you to ensure you get everything done without missing anything and could help you save time later in the week. By scheduling what needs to be done, you can reduce your stress levels and feel the reward of ticking items off your list.
Set yourself goals
Setting goals can also help you have a productive day. These goals can be work-related, or just things you hope to achieve. Once you know what you are aiming toward, you can break it into manageable tasks and add them to your weekly list.
This can also help you track your progress and promptly meet deadlines. Plus, each morning, you don’t need to consider what you should do, as it will already be clear from your plan.
You could make it a part of your morning routine to complete one goal-related task before starting the rest of the day.
Eat the frog first thing in the morning
“If the first thing you do in the morning is to eat the frog, then you can continue your day with the satisfaction of knowing that this is probably the worst thing that will happen to you all day”. This quote by Mark Twain explains why eating the frog is a great way to start the day.
If you have your list of things to do, pick out something challenging and start your day with this. When your brain is refreshed and clear, completing the most challenging task first thing (the frog) will help you feel productive and motivated. Plus, then you will find everything else feels much easier to achieve!
Start the night before
Make your morning as productive as possible by getting things ready the night before. This will cut down on stress and let you focus on your productive morning routine.
Making decisions in the morning can have a detrimental effect on your day’s productivity. Many successful people reduce the number of decisions they need to make by wearing simple outfits, prepping meals, and planning their week before it begins. For example, Steve Jobs famously wore the same outfit each day so had more time for important tasks.
Another way to reduce stress in the mornings and allow for productivity is to write a list at the end of each day. It can help to round off the day by writing down anything that still needs to get done while it is all fresh in your mind. This can make it easier to organize your thoughts and alleviate stress in the evenings.
Plus, then in the morning, you know what you need to get started on, and you won’t procrastinate as much!
Journal
Something you could add to your morning routine is ten minutes of journal writing. Some people find this helps lift their mood and clear their minds.
You could write down three things you are grateful for. This can contribute to a brighter mood and a more positive outlook and can help to remind you of the little things we sometimes take for granted.
Writing for just ten minutes can help clear your mind of worries, or bothersome thoughts. Putting down your thoughts on paper can allow time for reflection, followed by letting things go. It can help make your mornings more productive as you won’t be dwelling on other things when you want to focus.
Read
Reading in the morning or before bed can help to increase productivity. Whether you like to read a book or the newspaper, any reading can improve intelligence and allow for broader thinking.
Try adding this to your morning routine; perhaps read while you have your breakfast every morning. It can help to focus and calm the mind ready for a productive morning.
Make it bright
Waking up to natural light is the best way to have a productive day. Light tells your body to stop producing melatonin, which helps us sleep and can help wake us up properly.
Our bodies work on a circadian rhythm, or sleep-wake cycle, related to light and dark. So if you can get enough sleep at night while it is dark, you will wake up to the sunshine feeling refreshed.
Even night owls can begin to enjoy their mornings by welcoming the sunlight. So make it a part of your morning routine to open up the curtains as soon as you wake up.
If you work at night or cannot get a lot of natural light, try to make your room as bright as possible when you get up. Your brain will wake up entirely with this light and you will notice an increase in productivity.
Reduce stress
Life can be stressful and there are often many things to think about whether it is work, family, or even just what to have for dinner. There are many ways to unwind and relax your mind.
Meditation
Meditation can be a great activity to add to your morning routine to aid productivity. Spending just 10 minutes focusing on breathing and calming your mind can change your life.
If you can practice this every day, it will become a habit and you will notice you feel calmer. Having a clearer mind can help with focus and productivity.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness refers to the practice of being present in the moment. It can help us not dwell on the past or worry about the future but focus on the here and now.
Practicing mindfulness can lead to a reduction of stress and anxiety, which can improve your productivity. Try to incorporate this into your daily life to create a smoother path to success.
Walking
Starting the day by going for a 20 or 30-minute walk can also help to reduce stress and improve productivity. In addition, getting moving out in the fresh air can help the oxygen flow to the brain and increase energy levels throughout the day.
A brisk walk can loosen up your muscles and reduce stiffness from the night in bed. This is great if you then need to sit at a desk to work for many hours every day.
Walking is a good time to reflect and process your thoughts. This will then allow you to focus your mind on the tasks at hand.
Start your morning routine!
Both morning people and night owls can benefit from morning routines. Use these tips to boost your productivity and feel more positive each day.
Start by ensuring you get enough sleep and start each day with a burst of sunlight. Then, create your routine and begin to see positive changes almost instantly!