How to Get the Most Out of Your Mornings
Create a simple but effective morning routine.
Mornings can be hard, but they don’t have to be.
Whether you don’t currently have a morning routine and are looking to create one, want to switch yours up, or just getting started, this article is for you.
Regardless of what season you’re in, having a morning routine that reflects your current reality can help you set yourself up for better days.
Let’s ensure you have a morning routine that is intentional and brings you joy.
I used to be very strict with my morning routine. I was doing all the things you read you should be doing. I was waking up at 5 am, meditating, journaling, reading, and moving my body. I still enjoy all those things, but I realized earlier this year that I need more sleep, so I don’t wake up at 5 am anymore. There are also seasons in my life when journaling is a necessary practice. Other times I’m not feeling meditation.
It’s okay to be flexible.
Creating a morning routine that works for you.
When it comes to morning routines, there are so many different ways to get the day started. You can have a set one or go with the flow each morning.
Regardless of what works best for you, it’s good to have something in place. This way, it’s easier to make it a priority while allowing yourself to be flexible.
If you don’t have a go-to morning routine, it’s easy to end up with no routine at all. Having a morning routine that you enjoy and look forward to while being flexible will make it easier to commit to your practice in the longer term.
What your daily routine consists of is not that important. What’s important is that the routine exists. Cobble together your own routine, stick to it most days, break from it once in a while for fun, and modify it as necessary. -Austin Kleon
The biggest benefit of having a morning routine.
No matter what your morning routine looks like, ensuring you start the day on your terms is crucial, and that is before the demands of others start creeping in.
You know the mornings when you wake up late; you feel rushed? Those days usually end up going the way they started. You feel like you’re reacting all day instead of being proactive and feeling in control of your day.
By having a morning routine, even only 15 minutes (before everybody else wakes up), you’ll notice a big difference in your mindset as you go about your day.
Anything you can do to get ahead of the day will go a long way.
Harvard Biologist Christoph Randler discovered that early risers are more proactive. They’re also more likely to anticipate problems and minimize them efficiently, which leads to more success especially in the business world. — Inc.
Morning routine ideas to consider.
Some ideas to incorporate or to add to your toolbox of things you can do on the days you feel it would be helpful :
- Starting the morning with positive and grateful thoughts. It can be as simple as thinking grateful thoughts when you first wake up, when you’re making your coffee, or brushing your teeth.
- Reading. It is a big priority of mine, and it may look different to you. Do you love reading, and you want to make it more of a priority? In this case, ensure you have your book in a place where you’ll be able to pick it up and read a few pages. I always have my kindle close by, making it accessible when I have a moment to read a few pages. I also love audiobooks; it’s a great way to ‘read’ more books when walking the dogs, cleaning, or cooking.
- Listening to a podcast episode. Find podcasts that are inspiring, share an inspiring message or relate to something you’ve wanted to learn about more. Make sure you’re subscribed to those podcasts so that when you want to listen to an episode, you have options from which you can choose.
- Watching a youtube video. In the same vein as listening to a podcast episode, I like to watch videos after my shower when I’m getting ready for the day. Like podcasts, I have youtube channels that I find inspiring and motivational. By subscribing to my favourite go-to channels, there are always episodes to choose from when I want to watch inspiring videos.
- Go for a walk or move your body. Exercising looks different to everyone, and it may also depend on your location and the season you’re in. I love going on walks and being in nature, and I find it easier and more motivating to go in the summertime as part of my morning routine. But in colder months, I love incorporating yoga into my morning routine.
- Journaling or Meditating. You might want to do both or one or the other, and you might also need to experiment with both to see what calls to you the most. I love both, but I find I gravitate towards journaling if I need to write things out or meditation if I need help being more present.
- Avoid your phone in the morning. There is nothing groundbreaking about this one — we all know of the benefits of not starting your days with your phone. If it’s something you have yet to focus on, consider it. It will help create space to be with yourself and notice what your mind needs.
- Have a big glass of water. Another one that isn’t groundbreaking, but tell me, how much water are you intaking every day?
When we start small and reward progress, we end up achieving more than when we set big, lofty, and often impossible goals. And as a bonus, the act of positively reinforcing our successes allows us to reap more enjoyment and satisfaction out of the process. -Greg McKeown
Final Thoughts.
We all have a different morning routine; some people might not even have one, while others may live by it religiously.
Regardless of where you fit in, there is always room to add or change things with your mornings to help you get ahead with your days with less effort.
The biggest benefit of having a morning routine is being more proactive instead of reactive for the following hours. When you create space first thing in the morning, you have permission to care for yourself without feeling overwhelmed.
There are so many different morning routine ideas to consider. Remember that it’s not about having an overwhelming process when creating a new routine for yourself. Rather, look at ways you can make adding something new easy and simple, and it will make it easier to do it every day.
Remember that you’re allowed to be flexible, and your morning routine doesn’t need to look the same every day.
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