The Power of Morning Routines: Kickstart Your Day the Right Way
Lately, a lot of memes and reels have been circulating on social media about how jaded it feels to begin a day, particularly on Monday. “Tomorrow is Monday” should be the three scariest words for all the office-goers. But the dullness of starting a day is not just for someone who steps out to work; even the work-from-home employees, homemakers, freelancers, and most of all, in general, show a lack of interest in getting off the bed to start the day.
When dove deep into the reason behind the lack of interest to start the day, it is found that the primary cause of the rise in this subject is ‘BOREDOM’. More than 60% of American adults say they experience boredom at least once a week.
You feel trapped!
Encountering a repeated pattern of life without any change or improvement causes zero excitement to start a day, and you’ll end up getting bored even to indulge in the basic routine. Anticipating the same events occurring every next day and having little to no stimulus to respond makes one feel numb and trapped in a humdrum. You need to come out of that monotony to bring the mood of euphoria into your life.
Read on to find out 15 ways to start your day off on the right foot [TOC]
Why is a morning routine essential?
Twelve different ways to plan a zestful morning routine to suit your preferences.
Why is a morning routine essential?
To combat boredom, you need to know the significance of a morning routine. When you say morning routine, it should begin with waking up early, which will provide you with ample time to complete multiple tasks throughout the day. So, by kickstarting a day early, you can maximise your productivity and make the most of your time. Moreover, you don’t have to rush on one thing to close the other. There is a chance that you may find yourself left with some buffer where you can have some me-time, even during the weekdays.
On top of that, a morning routine is more about following disciplined and healthy daily habits that change a person as a whole. To consistently follow a fixed routine, your routine should not be fixed; you need to have well-planned daily habits that excite you and jump-start your day.
Perks of morning routines
Having a morning routine benefits in setting a positive tone for the day, boosting productivity, and improving mental and physical well-being. A consistent morning routine can:
Increase energy and alertness
Enhance focus and clarity
Improve mental health and mood
Boost creativity and motivation
Establish a sense of control and purpose
Set healthy habits and boundaries
Create space for self-care and personal growth
Twelve different ways to plan a zestful morning routine to suit your preferences
Wake up early
It’s understandable how that sounds beyond the bounce of possibility for all the sleepyheads out there. Yet, research shows that waking up early can improve concentration, alertness, and cognitive performance.
Three easy tricks you can use to wake up early:
Have an early morning plan:
The anxiety of the to-dos planned overdue may not let one sleep ahead of time. So, add some daily habits to your morning routine that you would never want to miss or alter. For example, Hitting the gym to transform your body, once you see the visible result, you probably have to keep renewing your gym membership. Likewise, you can plan your mornings according to your comfort.
Stick a hit-or-miss table:
Take a piece of paper and create a table of two divisions, one with the hits of being an early riser and the other with things you miss out on by waking up late. Make sure you stick that paper somewhere visible when you open your eyes in the morning. If your table is compelling enough, you cannot lie back in bed after glancing at it.
Sleep early:
This could be one of the old methods to rise early, but with this trick, you cannot fail because, be it 7 hours or 8 hours, your body is adapted to a fixed sleep time. If you doze off early, you may not naturally wake up at the desired time in the morning, but you can surely get up with the help of an alarm. Keep the benefits of having a healthy morning routine in mind and plan your day accordingly to hit the sack early.
Hydrate first thing in the morning
The first thing our body craves in the morning is refreshing sips of coffee. But when analysing if they truly refresh your body or not, the answer is a clear no. Research says that coffee clogs up the effects of adenosine, a brain chemical that promotes relaxation and sleepiness, potentially leaving you feeling tired throughout the day. So, the first thing that goes into your body should revitalise your energy. It’s okay to drink your favourite drink at some point in the day, but it's not ideal for your first beverage. Instead, after freshening up, cultivate one of the healthy morning habits by drinking at least 500 ml of warm or normal water to properly hydrate and energise your body.
Opt for healthy breakfast options
Like the first drink of the day, the first meal of the day should be right and nutritious, which is significant for keeping oneself active throughout the day. More than having unhealthy food, skipping breakfast is not acceptable. Moreover, if you are a weight watcher, here’s some good news: having a healthy and nutritious breakfast keeps your metabolism off and manages your weight while keeping you brisk all day.
So, what’s the best breakfast option to get the benefits all along? Let’s not complicate it when you rush in the morning; simply include protein and fibre-rich food that levels up your energy and wards off the tiredness until the next meal. Just don’t flood the empty stomach; keep it minimal yet nutritious.
Journaling prompts for self-reflection
The much-needed me-time that everyone should have as a daily habit is journaling prompts. Through journaling, you can express your thoughts and emotions privately, gaining clarity and insight into your life. It helps bridge the gap between what you lack and what to do to get what you want by self-listening and proactive planning. There are multiple ways to journal prompts, but the best time to indulge in this activity is in the morning.
For starters, check out the three exciting ways to journal prompts:
Daily inspiration:
Inspiration varies from person to person, so write down what inspires you according to your light. For example, a famous quote, an inspiring line from your favourite song, or something that you read on the go.
Write desires:
From teeny-tiny desires to big desires in life, journaling them keeps you at the forefront of your mind. By regularly revisiting your list of desires, you remind yourself of your goals and aspirations, which can motivate you to take actionable steps toward achieving them.
Impromptu motivation:
Every day, when you stroll around the world, one thing or another catches your attention. This might be an observation during a walk, an interaction with someone, or even a fleeting thought. Write down these moments of impromptu motivation in your journal that encourage you to stay consistent in pursuing what moves you.
Have a morning jam session
Whether the slow, soothing music or upbeat energy booster, music has some power to elevate your mood in the morning. Go by the artist, trend, type of music, karaoke, or shuffle play; how your playlist has been created is not a matter. Incorporate a quick jam session in your morning routine, while getting ready, during a workout, while cooking or even when you are in a bath; just get your spirits lifted with that one favourite beat and set the positive tone for the day.
Remember, the purpose of morning music is just to lift your mood; make sure not to get over-involved in it and leave the other important work behind.
Establish a skincare regimen
When you glow on the outside, you glow on the inside! So, a quick skincare in your morning routine is essential to make your day brighter than ever. Your skincare regimen may involve home remedies or pharmaceutical products; find what works for you and keep it limited.
A decent skincare in the morning can protect your skin from pollution, sunburn, acne, and other skin diseases. To save time, go with a simple CTM routine, but definitely don’t miss out on sunscreen with SPF protection.
Practice reading
Filling yourself with the latest updates on the world can relieve you from the morning grumpiness as you get yourself acclaimed with new insights. So pick a newspaper or magazine and give it a read just for 15 - 20 minutes every day.
Not a mere reader? There are many apps and web tools that publish 10 to 15-second short reads with news customised for people who don’t find reading enjoyable but wish to stay up-to-date for self-improvement or who can’t spare time for reading.
Time block for efficient use of time
Time-block your day as per your plans. Things may not occur as planned, but having control of your day may help you finish the work with little to no hindrance, and you can ensure the quality of the job done with confidence. By practising this daily habit, you’ll never rush to finish a task; instead, you’ll be able to surge your productivity more than before.
Check the time-blocking table below to get an idea of planning your day:
Feel free to customise the table to how your day would look like:
Do a quick financial check-in
Having track of where all your money ran off and what other spending you have for the rest of the month gives you an idea of how healthy you are in terms of managing your fiscal fitness. With this, you can plan the things to cut off and necessary things to include for the month. Make this a daily habit so you don’t have to be flatbroken at the end of the month.
Do this simple system to have a quick check-in every morning:
Reset your financial goals based on your needs
Sketch out a budget for the day
Plan how you can save that little penny for later use
The points mentioned above are only for a day’s financial check-in; the system gets elaborated when doing it for a month.
Connect with nature, even briefly
Worldwide, an average human spends 6 hours 40 minutes on the screen; apart from gaming, work, Netflix, and other entertainment purposes, some spend in the name of improvising the cognitive benefits. But do you know what indeed benefits your cognitive development, the process of connecting yourself with nature? Exposure to nature positively influences the development of grey and white matter in the brain, fostering a direct correlation with cognitive abilities, working memory, and attention. There are multiple ways to interact with nature, such as yoga, meditation, a quick walk in the green area around, or even gardening can be considered.
Review your schedule and to-do list
You might have drafted your to-do list at the start of the week, so reviewing what’s up for the day will keep you on top of the tasks in your schedule. Moreover, we may tend to forget some insignificant tasks when we have too much on our plate to remember. Who knows? Those insignificant tasks might have a greater impact over time, for example, skipping breakfast or sipping too little water. So, maintain a to-do list for everything you have for the day and spare some time to review it every morning. Having your schedules at hand will also help you improve the quantity and quality of your productivity.
Tidy up your living area
The cleaner your surroundings, the clearer your mind! Gazing at the clean space after tidying up gives a different kind of bliss in your morning routine. Plus, you don't have to set aside dedicated time for cleaning. Simply starting with making your bed sets the tone for seamless tidying throughout the morning. A dishevelled space alleviates stress: Disorder and chaos can add to feelings of anxiety and unease. Whereas a well-ordered environment diminishes interruptions, allowing for better concentration on tasks. It establishes a favourable atmosphere: Starting your day in a neat space fosters tranquillity and optimism.
Takeaways:
Including all the above-mentioned activities in your morning routine could be too much for anyone to follow. Review everything and add what works for you in your timeline. Creating an effective morning routine requires a balance of productivity, self-care, and personal preferences. Adjustments can always be made based on individual preferences and schedules, but the key is establishing consistency and prioritising activities that contribute to your overall growth and well-being.
FAQs
How long should a morning routine last?
A morning routine can last anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on your goals and priorities. 90 minutes or more is an ideal routine for those who want to prioritise self-care, creativity, or self-discipline. The key is to create a sustainable routine that works for you and your lifestyle.
How can I make my morning routine faster?
Try these tips to make your morning routine faster,
Simplify: Prioritize essential activities and cut unnecessary ones.
Streamline: Combine tasks, like brushing your teeth while washing your face.
Prep ahead: Lay out clothes, prep breakfast, or pack bags the night before.
Limit decisions: Choose a standard outfit or meal to avoid decision fatigue.
Use shortcuts: Try quick meditation, 5-minute workouts, or speedy journaling.
Use technology: Utilize apps, timers, and reminders to stay on track.
How do I write my morning routine?
Write your morning routine by identifying your goals, listing activities, prioritising, allocating time, and creating a schedule. Be specific, concise, and flexible. Example: 6:00 AM - Wake up, 6:10 AM - Yoga, 6:40 AM - Shower, 7:00 AM - Breakfast, 7:30 AM - Meditation, 7:40 AM - Plan day.
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