The buzz about morning routines and their role in achieving success is everywhere. But let’s get real for a moment: have you truly embraced the magic of crafting your own morning ritual, or is the snooze button still your closest companion?
We’ve all heard the spiel about the importance of starting the day right, but here’s the twist: your morning routine might just be the ultimate key to unlocking your full potential.
“25,000 times you get to open your eyes, face the day, and decide what to do next. I don’t know about you, but I’ve let a lot of those mornings slip by…. Most unproductive or unhealthy behaviors are the result of slow, gradual choices that add up to bad habits. A wasted morning here. An unproductive morning there. The good news is that exceptional results are also the result of consistent daily choices.“
– YOU GET 25,000 MORNINGS AS AN ADULT: HERE ARE 8 WAYS TO NOT WASTE THEM | JAMES CLEAR
A morning routine is essential because it puts your day in your control and sets you up mentally and physically for how you’d like the rest of your day to go.
Creating one is pretty simple and generally comprises of a few key elements, including some form of positive self-talk, your daily hygiene practices, eating a healthy breakfast, and moving or exercising. It does not have to be hard or time-consuming to reap the benefits either.
And of course, as your life circumstances change, like having children, it’s no excuse for leaving your mornings to fate.
No matter where you are in life, one thing remains true, being intentional about your mornings is how you win your day and ultimately your life.
These are the 5 Key Components for Creating a Morning Routine for Success
When you’re ready to create your morning routine, incorporate the following five key components to make your morning routine work for you.
1. Set a Consistent Time To Wake Up and Begin Your Morning
Plan Your Wake & Sleep Times
Before you decide what goes into your morning routine, you first need to determine when you’re going to start.
Set your day up for success by choosing a time that works best for you to wake up each morning. Make sure that includes 7-8 hours of sleep!
If you have the luxury of waking on your own time, I would highly recommend you set that time to occur when the sun rises to allow natural light to wake you (about 6:30a in the spring).
Wake Up to Your First Alarm
The other important aspect is to, always wake up to your first alarm.
There is so much damn information out there telling you that there is absolutely ZERO benefit to pressing snooze and not getting up right away.
That includes your nasty habit of checking email or Twitter first thing! You are lying to yourself at best, sabotaging yourself at worst, continuing to do this.
So do yourself and potentially your partner a favor and for once and for all, kick your bad snooze habit.
2. Make the First Thoughts and Words to Yourself in the Morning Positive
I’ve found the most effective way to kick off each day is with a bit of positive self-talk. Self-talk might include affirmations or repeating mantras, expressing gratitude, meditation, setting intentions, and my personal favorite, verbally recommitting to goals and asking empowering questions.
Examples of empowering questions you can ask yourself are:
- “What area will I work to improve today?”
- “How do I want to feel today?”
- “What can I focus on that will bring me progress?”
- “What am I excited about in the day ahead?”
- “What am I greatful for today?”
Your brain is programmed to think negative thoughts immediately upon waking. Train it to work for you by asking questions that evoke positive responses.
Pro note: in addition to self-talk, I will take a moment to visualize myself achieving my goal(s), all the feels.
3. Practice Good Hygiene Habits
This one most of you will likely have down pat, or at least I hope! Brush your teeth, maybe splash some water on your face (because you are sleeping on a clean pillowcase and washed your face the night before!). Whatever you need to do, do your thing.
I like to spend this time listening to a podcast or motivational speaker to get my mind thinking in the right direction or just some soothing music to get me amped for the day.
4. Fuel Your Morning with Something Healthy
Diet is highly specialized, so I leave it up to you what and how much you’ll eat or drink, but I do believe it’s important to eat something—or maybe I just love to eat!
Breakfast with coffee or tea is something I look forward to celebrating every day.
On mornings before I workout, I consume about a half banana or Lara bar to get me through a 30-60 minute workout. Something easy to digest, so it doesn’t sit in my stomach.
Afterward, I eat something more like a protein-packed smoothie, or if timing allows, I eat a whole, healthy breakfast. Eggs, toast, and yogurt with fruit, yum!
5. Move to Wake Up Your Mind and Your Body
Note the intentional use of move versus exercise. It’s less important to slug yourself to the gym for weights and high-intensity cardio than to simply just move to wake your body and mind for the day.
And let’s be honest, you stopped doing high-intensity workouts once you stopped going to your post-collegiate lacrosse and soccer leagues. (But man, if still do, you go! Good for you!).
This is less about weight loss exercises and fitness and more about feeling your body, its movements, and appreciating the beauty in its ability to function.
Suggestions of movements are yoga poses, stretches, and walking. Bonus if you take your doggo with you for your walk and kill two birds with one stone! (What a terrible-sounding metaphor).
Still unsure what your morning routine will incorporate? Check out my single mom morning routine.
Or, take a cue from these successful leaders and try some of their methods for yourself.
Remember, time is so valuable. Your mornings included, so make them work for you.
Do not become discouraged if something isn’t right. Outline what you think will work best, try it out for a few days, and revisit what is working and what is not.
Eventually, you’ll find what sticks and be well on your way to a better version of yourself… first thing in the morning 🙂
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