Summary

The article outlines a personal morning routine designed to maximize productivity and well-being, emphasizing simplicity, discipline, and enjoyment.

Abstract

The author describes a disciplined morning routine that begins with making the bed and immediately completing small tasks. The routine includes hydration, skincare, grooming, and a hot shower, with an emphasis on activities that bring joy and comfort rather than discomfort, such as avoiding cold showers. Dressing in simple, color-coordinated clothing minimizes decision fatigue. The author enjoys the scent of Dior fragrances, black coffee at a specific temperature for a morning boost, and meditation during coffee brewing. The use of an Apple Watch aids in maintaining a work schedule, and the article concludes with an invitation for readers to support the author via Ko-fi or Patreon, and to join Medium for unlimited article access.

Opinions

The author believes in the productivity benefits of a disciplined morning routine, including making the bed and performing tasks that take less than two minutes immediately.
They advocate for personal comfort and happiness in the morning, such as choosing a hot shower over a cold one if it is more enjoyable.
The author values simplicity in wardrobe choices to reduce decision-making stress.
Skincare, particularly moisturizing, is considered important for personal upkeep.
The author has a preference for Dior fragrances and black coffee without sugar or milk, and they find these preferences lead to compliments and an energy boost.
Meditation during coffee brewing is suggested as a way to clear the mind and prepare for the day.
The use of technology, like an Apple Watch, is seen as beneficial for keeping track of the day's schedule.
The author acknowledges the importance of sleep and rest for a successful morning routine and overall energy levels.
There is an openness to receiving support from readers, indicating a sense of community and shared value in the content provided.

Insanely Productive Morning Routine

A simple routine to start your day

I am a firm believer in a disciplined morning routine. The first thing I do is make my bed before I even consider doing anything else.

I picked up a small habit from a book that suggests if a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it right away rather than putting it off. As I mentioned in my previous article, I function absolutely well when I sleep a maximum of 6–7 hours per day.

Every morning is a beautiful morning.

— Terri Guillemets

As soon as I wake up, I drink a tall glass of water before going to the bathroom to wash my face with Cetaphil’s Extra Gentle Daily Scrub and trim as usual. After trimming my beard, I use an electric toothbrush with a 2-minute timer to brush my teeth. After finishing the brush, I jump under the shower and take a regular, hot shower.

I tried taking cold showers in the past, but it didn’t work well for me for a long time. I want to start my mornings with happiness, and I can’t do that if I’m forcing my body to do something that I am not enjoying. So I put that cold shower technique off for a long time.

After a steamy and relaxing shower, I choose a t-shirt or, if I have professional meetings where I must wear a dress shirt or coat, it depends on the work routine — most of the time, it’s simply a plain t-shirt and jeans. I enjoy working in my jeans.

I read somewhere that having the minimum necessary colorful clothes is the best way to minimize mental strain while deciding what to wear. Most of the time, I merely pick a t-shirt based on simple plain colors.

One thing to note is that I keep my face moisturized by using any good moisturizer. Because my skin dries out quickly, I prefer to apply moisturizer as soon as I get out of the shower.

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive — to breadth, to think, to enjoy, to love.

— Marcus Aurelius

The perfume part, I believe, is really personal, and everyone has their own preferences. Dior is my particular favorite, as it is lovely and delightful. By the way, wearing Dior (Amazon Affiliate Link) got me a lot of compliments. I’d recommend using a decent fragrance in your morning ritual so that your brain can get in the mood.

Black coffee, without sugar and milk, is my favorite. Yes, I want my coffee at 90 degrees Celsius, and I’m picky because it gives me a boost in the morning. I take more than 3 cups of coffee every day, but I need to cut back my caffeine intake. It’s not a good idea to drink too much coffee. In the end, it stimulates your brain to get an extra kick.

I’m trying to give up coffee, but it’s going to be really difficult, especially in the mornings when the smell of coffee wakes me up. I’m also experimenting with decaf, but I’m not having much luck with it.

Pro Tip: While brewing coffee, I meditate for 3–4 minutes, which helps me clear my mind for the day.

Why I’m never tired

Friends always ask me how you got so much energy?

sufyanmaan.medium.com

I go to my workplace next door from my bedroom when I put on my Apple watch to greet the day. Like most of us, I usually work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. My Apple watch keeps me on track with the meeting schedule because it integrates smoothly with the online calendar.

Starting your day with a healthy morning routine can help you feel more productive. The most important part of enjoying your morning is setting a schedule to go to bed at a particular time to get enough rest; therefore, when you wake up, you will have enough energy to embrace the mornings.

If you enjoy my stories and want to support me, consider ‘buying’ me a cup of coffee at Ko-fi for $3. Alternatively, if you’d like to contribute to me on monthly basis, you can do so at either Ko-fi or Patreon.

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