How To Start The Day Right: The Morning Routine Habits You Need

Morning routines can be a difficult one to start, especially if you are not a typical morning person. You might think, “My schedule is way too busy to start a morning routine.” But in fact, you might need it more because of that very reason.

The way you start your day defines the rest of your day and a morning routine gets you on track from the moment you wake up.

A great morning routine will give you a productive morning and can help the rest of your day be more productive and less stressful. The key is to keep it simple and always do what works best for you so that you can continue the routine for however long it works for you.

Below you will find a few tips and suggestions in no particular order that you can start adding to your morning routine or anytime in the early hours, like taking a few deep breaths or eating a healthy breakfast. The trick to creating a good morning routine is to test what works for you in the amount of time that you have.

There is no one routine that works for everyone, so play around with different habits and times you are making those habits. Your goal is to just have a consistent morning routine for that ultimate work-life balance. That's where the true benefits of a morning routine come into play.

For instance, “I am grateful that I slept well last night, I'm grateful for my physical health, or even I'm grateful for my coffee or whatever your morning beverage of choice is.” Just try not to repeat yourself. You’ll be surprised at how many you can come up with after you’ve been doing it a while. 

Another type of journal we recommend is the Brag Book. Similar to the gratitude journal, the brag book is more about you individually. List 3 things about yourself. The little things about you that make you who you are. Build that self-esteem.

The Courage Journal is another type of journal that is great to try. It’s a list of all the times that you were afraid but did it anyway. The win was the courage it took to get past the fear, whether it was big or small. It’s also great to take a moment and look back at it because these accomplishments are easy to forget. 

Sometimes it’s just beneficial to write down whatever is in your head or whatever you are thinking about at the time. If you’re having excessive thoughts where you’re finding it difficult to concentrate on the everyday task, write down everything that’s in your head so that you can get it out.

No filter, no rhyme or reason...just get it out. Once it’s all written out, it’s usually easier to concentrate on other things.

Wake up earlier than usual and enjoy the peace

You want to make sure that you have enough time to enjoy your morning routine and not feel rushed. If you have children, make sure to wake up 30-45 minutes before you wake them up so you can focus on making yourself a top priority and enjoy the quiet or a healthy breakfast before the hustle and bustle of the morning.

Also, try guided meditation because it’s easier to navigate. There are so many apps that you can try or even many videos on YouTube.

There are so many amazing benefits to meditation, but to list a few, it can lower stress, help you connect better, improve your focus, provides a more positive outlook, and reduces brain chatter. So why not give it a try?  Certain nothing to lose and so much to gain!

Say positive affirmations and love yourself

Last but not least, start your day off right with some positive affirmations! Affirmations help combat negative perceptions of yourself and promote self-confidence. When said early in the morning, positive affirmations help you feel more positive about yourself during your day.

Examples of commonly used affirmations that you could try every day to feel good are: I am strong. I am smart. I am a considerate person. Just try to make them as personal as you can. No matter what your affirmations are, be sure to say these affirmations loudly or write them in your journal daily for the benefit.

The main key to an effective morning routine is to enjoy it! If, after about two weeks, you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, switch it up and try a different healthy routine or some new healthy habits. If you’re having a difficult time fitting in all the things you would like to do in your daily morning routine before the hustle and bustle of the day starts, pick your top three and start there first thing. Then you can slowly integrate other tasks into your routine every morning until you get the perfect morning routine just for you.

Remember, everyone is different, so what is beneficial for other people might not be as beneficial for you. The end goal is to feel better and be more productive, so whatever morning ritual you do will help.

The amazing benefits of a morning routine helps set the day and your future. There's nothing like starting your day off on the right foot with something like a workout or meditation routine. A morning routine can help you do just that. Not only will you feel better and be more productive with these new morning habits, but you'll also be setting your future self up for success.

So, what are you waiting for? Create a morning routine today!