Perhaps, you’ve wondered what the ideal morning routine is to create a day full of productivity and harmony. We all know that having a mindful morning routine sets us up for success all day long. Maybe this concept eludes you. Well, look no further! We want to help! Here are 7 morning routine ideas to start your day off right.
Why is a morning routine so important?
Having a morning routine isn’t about who can accomplish more important tasks in less time. It’s about starting the day with chosen activities that bring confidence, peace, and harmony.
The habits that improve your life are built over years and are typically not that flashy, but their results speak for themselves. Check out the following benefits of implementing your favorite morning routine ideas:
- Getting an organized structure for your life.
- Facilitating the practice of healthy habits.
- Improving your mental health.
- Boosting your energy for the day.
- Developing better relationships by being connected to yourself.
7 morning routine ideas to be productive and calm
To master a habit, the most important thing is to focus on repetition, not perfection. For that reason, we recommend that you patiently add these practices to your daily habits.
1. Get a good night’s rest
Getting a good night’s rest is crucial for the next day’s productivity. However, true rest is not something that comes by chance. Getting a full 8 hours of sleep definitely requires planning and establishing a routine. So, do this before bed and experience a productive day:
- Wind down at the end of the day with a quiet activity like reading or meditating.
- Step away from electronic devices and turn them off.
- Drink a rest-promoting herbal tea before bed.
- Take a warm bath to relax your body.
- Practice deep breathing to lower your heart rate and reduce stress.
2. Avoid hitting snooze your alarm
Did you know that 1 in 3 adults snooze their alarm at least 3 times before starting the day? However, one of the most effective morning routine ideas is precisely not to fight with your alarm. The reason is that this makes you feel more tired during the day and sleep badly at night.
Why is this? It is simple: when you sleep, you experience different sleep processes:
- The light sleep cycle comes first. This is when the body temperature and the heart rate drop, which helps reduce stress. Next comes deep sleep. Here, the body works to regenerate and strengthen tissues and muscles.
- After this comes REM sleep. During this time, the brain is very active. This phase is restorative and essential for feeling alert the next day. Usually, it lasts 90 minutes and is repeated all night. So, every time you wake up to turn off the alarm, the REM cycle is cut off, which can leave you feeling lethargic and confused.
3. One of the morning routine ideas that should probably be mandatory: drink a glass of water
Starting the day drinking water will help you combat dehydration after a night’s rest. In turn, hydration will have positive effects on your concentration and will help improve your productivity. Basically, there’s no downside, tip your water glass up and greet the day!
4. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea
That moment of self-enjoyment before starting the workday is golden. Drinking tea or coffee will help create a wake-up routine and keep you on schedule. Doing this is also ideal for having a mindfulness or meditation time and being in touch with your inner self.
5. Enjoy a healthy breakfast
Breakfast is the meal that literally breaks the fasting period after a long night’s rest, as the name suggests. This is one of those morning routine ideas that requires planning. A healthy breakfast replenish your glucose supply, which increases your energy and ability to concentrate. It doesn’t have to be rocket science though – overnight oats, hardboiled eggs, yogurt and fruit, and banana and nut butter on toast are all easy, quick options for boosting your body’s energy stores.
6. Exercise
The connection between exercise and mood is super strong! Did you know that after 5 minutes of moderate exercise it’s possible to improve your mood? Exercise can boost serotonin levels, which alleviates symptoms of depression, prevents relapses of depression, and can help regulate your hormones in general. With that in mind, consider these ideas for integrating exercise into your morning routine:
- Go for a walk in nature or jog in the fresh air.
- Walk your dog; this will elevate your productivity while filling you with bliss.
- Go for a bike ride or do yoga at home.
7. Quality time by yourself, one of the best morning routine ideas
Alone time, especially before starting the day, can boost your creativity and confidence. In addition, it helps you regulate your emotions to face conflict situations and recharge your energy. The beginning of the day sets the tone for your week, your month, and even your year. Thanks for considering these morning routine ideas to promote your well-being and productivity throughout the day. It seems simplistic, but starting the day by avoiding social media, taking time for yourself and journaling or another mindfulness-boosting activity will guarantee a solid start to your day. Dare to improve your life!
Bibliography
- BetterHealth. (n.d.). Breakfast.
- Centro de Vida Saludable. (s.f.). Cómo adquirir y mantener hábitos saludables.
- Marini Higgs, M. (2019). Why You Should Find Time to Be Alone With Yourself. The New York Times.
- Nunez, K. (2019). 13 Benefits of Working Out in the Morning. Healthline
- Pacheco, D. (2023). Bedtime Routines for Adults. Sleep Foundation.
- Taylor, M. (2022). The Negative Impact of Hitting the Snooze Button. Amerisleep.
