How to create a productive morning routine

 Creating a morning routine, is one of the simplest ways to improve your life.  Starting the day off the way YOU want to has a power that nothing else seems to.  It is easy to think- how can I fit one more thing into my day? But I am going to show you not just why it’s import but how to create a powerful morning routine that can be done in as little as 15 minutes. 

Why is a morning routine important?

The most common thing people do without a morning routine is…. scroll their phones. 

When we look at email, newsfeeds, social media first thing in the morning, these things happen:

• Our cortisol and adrenaline levels spike
• Stress levels increase
• The focus shifts from preparing for our day to other people’s opinions and problems 
•  Feelings of overwhelm 

And all of this before our day has even begun, and sometimes before we even get out of bed! 

What holds us back:

It may be surprising, but what keeps us from doing things that we want to do is not the circumstance itself but our thoughts about it and our mindset. This can come down to a growth or fixed mindset and then the thought processes that come with it. 

With a fixed mindset you believe that your abilities are fixed traits and therefore can’t be changed. A growth mindset is when we get easily discouraged from taking on a new task because of the fear of failure. 

Example: “I am not a morning person.”

With a growth mindset you believe that your abilities can be developed over time through effort and persistence. 

Example: “I am committed to creating a morning routine that supports my wellbeing.”

How to create a productive morning routine:

1. First evaluate
   • Ask yourself these questions regarding your current morning:
     • What does my current morning look like?
     • How do I feel in the morning?
   • Assess your typical energy levels and mental focus in the morning.
   • Reflect on your current use of technology in the morning. When do you first look at your phone or computer?
   • How does what you currently do in the morning affect your physical, mental and emotional health?
2. Start building
   • How to you want to feel in the morning, what feelings would help you have a better day?
   • What boundaries could I set around technology to help me have a more balanced set to my day.
   • What are some nourishing activities I could do in the morning?
     • examples: nutrient dense breakfast, movement or exercise, journaling, mindfulness, gratitude, devotional, and preparing for the day
   • Write out what your ideal morning routine would look like. Get rid of any barriers (time, access to supplies, etc). 
3. Implementing
   • Start small! If you have a list of things you want to do, pick 1 or 2 of those things and do those for a couple of weeks and then add more as you feel comfortable. 
   • Be clear. Write out what you will do, when you will do it and where you will do it.
     • I will set my alarm at 6:00am, get a cup of coffee and read my book for 10 minutes in the living room. 
   • Make what you want to do easy
     • prepare your space 
     • set your coffee maker to automatically make coffee
     • put your journal/devotional/book in the spot you will be using them
     • use a timer to stay on task
   • Evaluate
4. Use your thoughts to support your actions- “I am committed to creating a morning routine that supports my wellbeing.”
   • write it down 
   • repeat it
   • put it on a sticky note and put it on your bedside table

Ideas for morning routines:

• Enjoy a Beverage
  • Coffee 
  • Tea
  • Water
• Light a candle or diffusing essential oils (using all senses helps enhance and deepen your experience)
• Meditate
  • Use a guided meditation
  • Try the app Insight Timer
• Journal
  • My go-to journal in the morning is:
    • 1-3 specific things that I am grateful for that happened in the last 24 hours
    • 1-3 specific things that I did well in the last 24 hours
    • what would make my day easier
• Read a book for 10-15 minutes
  • Atomic habits
  • The Book of Awakening
  • Simple Abundance
  • The Miracle Morning
  • Mind hacking for rebels
  • Good Morning: I love you
• A Morning Playlist
  • This is what I listen to while I am journaling 

Thanks for stopping by! I would LOVE to hear about your morning routine & any tips for helping your morning go smoother! Another great way to bring more organization to your life is by weekly meal planning- see my post on How to Create a Weekly Meal Plan