13 Best Morning Routine Steps For A Successful, Productive Day
A strong morning routine that you love and follow daily will change your life.
Seriously.
Getting your sh*t together in the morning will set you up for a productive day that you feel good about. Some steps of this morning routine come directly from science-backed evidence. Others are from years of experience tweaking a morning routine that works. If you’re trying to develop a morning routine and you’re not a morning person, start with a few steps and build on them. If you’re a seasoned pro at building a killer routine, give these steps a shot to amp up your morning routine and your daily productivity.
Wake Up Early
This is a tough one for a lot of people. Waking up super early isn’t required to have a successful morning routine, but it definitely amps up your day. A 5am wakeup time will allow you to be more productive in both your personal endeavors and work life. Practice getting into bed at an early hour (9-10pm), and get a good night sleep to help the early morning feel much easier.
Dress In Exercise Clothes Immediately
Ok, so this one technically starts the night before your morning routine, but it’s essential. Lay out your workout clothes before you go to sleep. This does a few things: 1) gets you set up to actually get your workout in and 2) cuts out wasted time of riffling through drawers early in the morning (especially if your partner is still asleep). This step just sets you up for success. Plus, with a cute outfit, you’ll be feeling more confident and ready to take on your workout and the day!
Turn On The Coffee Pot or Tea Kettle
There is some evidence that coffee shouldn’t be ingested within 90 minutes of waking because it affects natural rise in adenosine levels first thing in the morning, which can lead to a mid-afternoon caffeine crash. If you’re someone who struggles with sleep or energy levels, keep this in mind, and maybe hold off on your coffee until the last step of your morning routine.
If you don’t struggle with this and you love having coffee when you wake up (guilty!), grab that cup! I always set up my coffee the night before, which means just pressing a button in the morning. As someone who worships her morning coffee, my creamer is super important to me. I often make my own cashew milk at home, but I also really love this unsweetened creamer. It’s super yummy!
If you don’t struggle with this and you love having coffee when you wake up (guilty!), grab that cup! I always set up my coffee the night before, which means just pressing a button in the morning. As someone who worships her morning coffee, my creamer is super important to me. I often make my own cashew milk at home, but I also really love this unsweetened creamer. It’s super yummy!
Drink A Large Glass Of Water & Take Vitamins
Water is the elixir of life, and the more of it you drink, the better you feel. Starting your day with a tall glass of water sets you up for a hydrated day. I also take my vitamins first thing in the morning so I don’t forget. So many of us are low in essential vitamins, particularly vitamin D and B vitamins. Remember to figure out what your specific needs are. Taking supplements is a personal choice, but one I definitely find worthwhile.
Planner & Calendar Review
This is an essential step for a productive day. With coffee in hand, I grab my Productivity Method planner, which I’m utterly obsessed with! This method of prioritizing your to-do list and managing your schedule works absolute wonders. Decide what your 3-4 non-negotiables are for the day; open up your Google calendar, and write out your schedule for the day; jot down any quick ticks you may have to knock off. Now you know what has to be done today and when you’ll have time to do it. If you’re not familiar with time blocking, read up on this work method – it will literally change your life.
Exercise
A morning workout isn’t always the first thing we want to do in the morning, but it will help wake you up and set a positive tone for your day. You’ll get endorphins flowing, helping to boost your mood. Plus, feeling like you accomplished something challenging firs thing in the A.M. sets you on a positive path for a successful day. I try to squeeze in a couple of weight sessions a week, and I’m also an avid believer in the Melissa Wood Health method.
Meditate
After exercising, a little exhausted, is such a great time to steady the mind in meditation. I aim for at least 15 minutes a day, but if you’re just starting out, 5 minutes is enough to change your mood and day. Listen to a guided meditation if you don’t know where to begin.
Ice Cold Shower
Not a fan favorite, but I swear the amount of energy I have after doing this in the morning is next level. If you have an ice plunge, even better, but an ice cold shower will do. Try to stay uncomfortably cold (but not dangerous) water for 1-3 minutes, without wetting your head.
Morning Skincare Routine
Whatever you do, don’t forget your vitamin C serum (the Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Lactic is super effective) and sunblock in your morning skincare routine. Sunblock is essential for skin cancer prevention, but it also helps the skin stay young and healthy. Vitamin C is its bestie and sidekick, amping up its efficacy and bringing your glow to the next level. The La Roche-Posay tinted sunscreen has great coverage and won’t leave any white cast.
Get (Well) Dressed
This one’s obvious, if you’re heading into an office, but if you work from home, it’s also vital. When we all first started working remotely, it was kind of fun to stay in PJ’s all day long. But, living in our sleep clothes day in and out can have a serious effect on our productivity and sense of self. Getting dressed is absolutely necessary if you want to be your most productive. I love sweater sets, because they’re cozy but still look more put together than your ratty old pajama tee.
Get Some Sun
Once that sunblock is on, a few minutes of sun directly on the face will help your body immensely. Morning sun helps regulate your circadian rhythm and hormones. Sit on your patio for a few minutes, take your dog for a walk – whatever it may be, get some rays as soon as the sun is up!
Make A Healthy Breakfast (Smoothie)
The last thing to do before diving into work is to nourish, and I love to do that with a hearty smoothie packed with fruits, veggies, protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants. My Antioxidant Glow Smoothie is on the menu almost daily.
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