Your morning determines your mood for the day. If you keep hitting snooze, eventually waking up late, and rushing to get out the door, you’re setting yourself up for a chaotic day. Wouldn’t you rather start your day off the right way? You don’t want to skip breakfast again, do you?
The good news is that you can easily “rise and shine” by building a morning routine with the following 15 good habits.
1. Get Ready Before Going to Bed
One of the best morning routines to implement actually takes place the night before. Before going to bed, set yourself up for the morning. Find your car keys, reset the coffee machine, make your lunch, and pick out your clothes. You will be thankful you did!
2. Plan Your Next Day
Take it one step further and plan your day the night before, too. This can help you sleep better, as your mind won’t be racing with all the things you need to remember. All you have to do in the morning is review your calendar or to-do list to get an overview of your schedule.
With a clear plan, you can rest assured that you are focusing on the important things and aren’t forgetting anything.
3. Get Enough Sleep
Like many others, I’m not a very fun person to be around if I haven’t gotten enough sleep. Not getting enough quality rest leaves you feeling sluggish and irritable, and you’re more likely to forget things or make silly mistakes.
People stay up too late, often doing something unimportant, like scrolling through their phones or watching TV. There is nothing wrong with these leisurely activities, but don’t neglect your health because of them. Poor sleep increases the risk of certain health problems, negatively impacts mental health, and slows cognitive performance.
Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t hard, but you do need to find what works for you. Personally, I use a weighted blanket, therapeutic pillow, and white noise. Not staring at my phone also helps, but I usually fail at breaking this habit.
4. Don’t Hit the Snooze Button
“Just ten more minutes” is an adventurous game to play in the morning. Did you hit snooze or turn off the alarm? I guess you’ll find out one way or another!
Rather than risk it, don’t use your snooze button at all. Set your alarm for the time you actually need to get up and then get up at that time. This small victory is a positive jumpstart to your day because you’ll have enough time to do everything you need to do before leaving the house.
5. Don’t Immediately Look at Your Phone
I’ve started leaving my cell phone on sleep mode until I’m up, out of bed, and starting my day. I know as soon as those notifications pop up, I’m looking at every single one before doing anything else.
Quickly checking these notifications never ends up being quick. And do you really need to see your work emails while still in your pajamas? What an unappealing thing to wake up to. At least give yourself time to pour a coffee before you dive into the online world.
6. Find Something Happy
The world can be a scary place – at least, that’s what the media wants us to think. Reading or hearing about a bunch of bad news is no way to start your day. Find something happier! It could be any number of things like books, apps, journaling, or listening to your favorite playlist. And if all else fails: funny cat videos.
There are a lot of good reasons to avoid the news altogether, but if you can’t, don’t make it the first thing you do every day. Check the weather and the traffic report; the news can wait.
7. Stretch
Waking up with aches and pains due to an unfortunate sleeping position is one of the joys of adulthood. If you don’t want to be sore all day, add stretches and other muscle relaxation exercises to your morning routine.
It doesn’t have to take long – just a few minutes will do wonders. It also doesn’t have to be strenuous – gentle movements are best. While you stretch, mentally prepare for the day ahead; think about what your day entails and what you need to accomplish.
8. Meditate
It may seem weird to suggest meditation, a calming activity, immediately after sleeping, but your mind is already relaxed when you wake up. Meditating builds up this relaxation, setting a positive tone for the day ahead.
Combine it with your morning stretching, focus on your breathing, and let your mind wander to create a powerful routine.
9. Exercise
Exercises like yoga or going to the gym in the morning are ideal ways to start your day. But as much as we’d like to convince ourselves that we’re those kinds of people, most of us aren’t. So don’t even bother setting a goal you’ll never achieve. Instead, set aside some time in the morning to do something light.
Jogging on the spot or doing a few minutes of jumping jacks will get your blood moving and make it easier to stay productive all day.
10. Wake Up Your Brain
A good morning routine involves waking up your body and your brain. You could do both simultaneously by getting up early to go for a walk or a morning jog. But if you can’t leave the house, read a book, play some brain games, or work on a hobby.
Either way, regular physical and mental activity is, of course, good for you. Over time, these small habits add up, creating a healthier you.
11. Tidy Up
I’m not suggesting you wake up early just to do chores, but small, simple tasks like wiping surfaces and putting things away can create a welcoming environment to come home to. You don’t want to walk through the front door after a long, stressful day at work into another stressful mess, do you?
12. Drink a Glass Of Water
Before reaching for that coffee, pour yourself a glass of water. This simple but effective habit has incredible benefits for your overall well-being. Hydrating your body first thing in the morning starts your metabolism, flushes out toxins, and promotes healthy digestion. Drinking water also boosts your brainpower.
If you find yourself struggling with morning grogginess, drink more water! Staying hydrated throughout the day replenishes your energy levels and keeps that sluggish feeling at bay.
13. Have a Nutritious Breakfast
You knew this tip was coming. Energy is essential for starting the day, and a healthy breakfast is the best way to get it.
I often skip breakfast, even though I know I shouldn’t. I feel better when I eat. One tip that’s helped me is, once again, preparing the night before. Overnight oats are one of my go-to’s, but I’m also a big fan of smoothies. I also try to keep fruit in the house, which is quick and easy.
Having a pre-planned breakfast waiting for you makes you more likely to choose a nutritious option instead of grabbing something full of sugar or not eating at all.
Don’t eat too much, though; a big meal early in the morning will upset your stomach all day.
14. Avoid Sugar
My favorite breakfast foods are all high in sugar: muffins, cereals, and French toast. They are delicious but not great to eat first thing in the morning.
Fresh fruit, nuts, almond milk, and Greek yogurt are healthy options that also satisfy sweet tooth cravings. You can add variety with healthy toppings, so you won’t be eating the same boring thing. More importantly, they provide essential nutrients and don’t cause the energy crashes that sweets can cause.
15. Wash Your Face With Cold Water
If you can tolerate it, cold showers are apparently quite beneficial for your health. They release endorphins and improve metabolism and circulation, to name a few.
For those of you who would rather not, washing or even just splashing your face with cold water is also good for you. It’ll wake you up, reduce puffiness, and make your skin look smoother. What a great way to start your day!
Start Your Day Off Right
You have many responsibilities to handle each day, and you also have a lot of potential. Don’t let a hectic and disorderly morning overwhelm or derail you before your day even begins.
Start your day off right. With these small habits, you can be ready to face challenges head-on.
When you have a great morning, you have a great day!
Improve Your Time Management
To really make the most of your morning routine, you need better time management skills. Use these easy time management tips to help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control of your day.
Be More Productive at Work
No matter what industry you work in, employers want to hire productive employees. Learning how to be more productive at work isn’t too difficult, and you can really reap the benefits from it – like getting raises and promotions. All by optimizing your day!
Amanda Kay, the founder of My Life, I Guess, provides valuable career advice and support for anyone striving to make a living and, more importantly, make a life. Whether it's navigating job searches, learning new skills, overcoming unemployment, or dealing with debt, My Life, I Guess has been a go-to resource for career guidance and financial stability since 2013. Amanda's expertise and relatable approach have been featured in trusted publications such as MSN, Credit.com, Yahoo! Finance, the Ladders and Fairygodboss.