Last Updated: Sept 12, 2018
You already have a morning routine, whether you realize it or not. And most of the times, it’s a bad one.
The things we repeatedly do are the foundation of success. And starting every day in a productive, positive and healthy manner is a sure way to achieving our goals.
With each morning we have the chance to make the following day count, to kickstart it and to actually get something done, especially if it’s related to our passion project.
Here is how a great morning routine looks like:
What to Include in Your Morning Routine for a Productive Day
1. It all starts from the night before.
Because you can’t get up early every day if you don’t start going to bed earlier too.
It will be uncomfortable in the beginning as these are some of your most ingrained habits. It takes some time, but the benefits are amazing.
Read also: Copy Former NFL Player Chris Gronkowski’s Morning Routine for an Effective Day
2. Get up early.
It’s easy to set the alarm for the early hours, but it’s not that easy to actually get up.
Here are some tips on how to manage to leave the comfort of your bed:
- put your alarm on the other side of the room so that you’ll have to get up and go to it;
- never say “just 2 more minutes”, or wait for the next alarm. Get up right away and start doing something – go to the bathroom to brush your teeth, have a glass of water or get dressed. After doing it, it’s much less likely to go back to bed;
- plan what to do after you get up from the night before, also have your clothes ready beside your bed so that it’s harder for you to say no to the early morning.
Find out more tips on how to get out of bed earlier here.
Get up early enough so that you’ll have time to do your morning rituals slowly. The point of the whole thing is to have a great morning, not to be in a hurry, have time for yourself and get stuff done.
After all, you’re doing it for yourself. And, eventually, it will affect every other area of your life.
3. Action plan.
Now it’s time to take the actual steps a great morning routine consists of. They are in no particular order; rearrange them so that they can be the way you like them.
- Meditation
A quick one will do.
Just trying to stay still for a few minutes, emptying your mind and focusing on your breathing, can make you a more relaxed person and help you deal with stress and anxiety.
It’s even better if you start making the meditation session longer and include positive affirmations.
- A glass of water
It may be cold water – to make the body start burning calories to warm it again, or hot water with lemon – to cleanse the organism. Both are a great choice.
- Healthy breakfast
The best choice for me is 30g. of protein within 30 minutes of waking up (a technique I learned from Tim Ferriss). But whether it’s cereal, fruits or else, it’s up to you.
- Plan your day
Make a list and decide which your most important tasks are.
- Check email
One of the best productivity decisions you can take is to check email twice a day: first thing in the morning and before you go to bed.
Many have the habit of doing it every ten minutes, and it distracts them from their actual work. Now is the time to check it and empty your inbox.
- Write/read
This is the quiet time you have for yourself. Enjoy it, find inspiration, create.
- Work out
Either have your gym session as a part of your morning routine (if fitness is your sport), go jogging or for a walk. Or at least do a 20-minute workout at home.
4. Start working on your 3 most important tasks.
Throughout the morning routine, nothing else should come in the way. Which means no TV, phone, people or daily worries should be on your mind.
I assume others will still be sleeping at that time. As for the rest, it’s up to you to eliminate distractions.
At the end (late morning), you should feel energetic, motivated, encouraged because you’ve already got a lot done, and will have set the tone for a productive day.
Your morning routine reveals your approach to your days and your life in general. So make it a good one!
