The Ultimate Morning Routine

The way you spend your morning determines how the rest of your day goes.

If you want to be successful in life, you have to learn to live intentionally.

So ask yourself, “what’s my reason for getting up in the morning?”

I’m telling you now, the way you spend your morning will ultimately be the deciding factor for your successes!

Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day — Mark Twain

I struggled for an extended time, trying to determine the ultimate way to spend my mornings. How can I set my mindset for the day, reinforce my intentions, and focus on the things that matter most?

Start off with some Gratitude.

If you really want to master your morning, start your day off with some gratitude.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

I like to write down a list of ten things to be grateful for and try and think of new things each day. Doing so reinforces a positive mindset, helping you realize that you have all that you need.

I feel amazing when I wake up each morning because I know that those closest to me are alive, I am healthy, and my world has not ended.

Building this sense of gratitude takes time.

Treat it like a skill, and reinforce this skill every morning by having a gratitude journal.

Plan out your day in advance

Even though my mornings are generally the same, I always make sure to write down my routine shortly before bed; this reinforces the determination to wake up and do the things that matter most.

Take five minutes every afternoon to write down your schedule for the following morning and your top three priorities for the day.

Never begin the day until it’s finished on paper. — Jim Rohn

Drink Some Water.

The human body consists of over 60% water, so it’s imperative to stay hydrated.

Did you know that your body loses over a pound of water each night due to sweat?

Crazy, I know.

So drink some water first thing in the morning. This will relieve some tension in the muscles, help you think clearly, and increase blood flow.

Get the Blood Flowing.

Just like it’s important to drink some water in the morning, I also recommend doing some easy stretches.

Every morning I do ten squats, ten push ups, and ten toe-touches. Doing so gets my blood flowing, helps wake me up, and points out any stiffness in my body.

Yoga is another great way to get the blood flowing.

Do some Meditation.

Meditation is my number one contributor for maintaining a focused mindset. Master your morning by taking some time to yourself.

You can either use a guided meditation app, CD, or just wing it. I personally enjoy the HeadSpace app, which provides tons of content to help you learn the art of meditation. I highly recommend using it if it’s available to you.

Twenty minutes is the recommended time frame to receive any serious benefits, but start with five minutes a day and work your way up.

Take a Cold Shower.

I am obsessed with cold showers. Taking a cold shower has an infinite amount of benefits; it decreases inflammation in the body, helps with muscle cramps, increases your oxygen intake, and is often used as a mindfulness practice.

Cold showers are also good for the hair, skin, and internal organs.

I like to wash myself with hot water, but then I crank it to cold for the last few minutes. My body basically goes into shock and I’m forced to focus on my breath.

It keeps me focused, wakes me up, but also builds some self-discipline.

Eat a Healthy Meal.

Health is wealth

Start off the day by eating something healthy.

I like to start my day off with some whole oats (which is high in nutritional value) and some fruit. Eating breakfast also boosts metabolism and helps with diet regulation.

Try eating mindfully, which is the process of being present with your food. It sounds cheesy, but it’s actually pretty beneficial.

Focus on the color of your foods, the texture, the taste, and the scent.

Be present when you take a bite.

This helps build focus and keeps you present in the moment, which is where all good things happen.

Knock Out Your Top Priorities First Thing in the Morning

Back to your goals, what’s on your to-do list? What can you do today (or tomorrow) to improve your finances, career, relationships, etc?

My number one priority is to write at least an hour a day, so that’s what I do every morning.

What’s your number one priority?

Do it in the morning, so the rest of the day feels like a breeze.

People are not lazy, they simply have impotent goals. That is goals that do not inspire them. — Tony Robbins

I highly recommend reading The ONE Thing by Gary Keller.

Even if you don’t have any huge goals right now, you should always be a student of life and strive to do your best.

Click here and subscribe for access to exclusive content focused on self-improvement and personal productivity.