Level up your day by using these morning routine ideas that will help you start off your days on the right foot. Maximize your morning routines!
Morning routine ideas
Are you looking for ways to make your morning routine more pleasant?
Now that our kids are homeschooling, it's changed the whole dynamic in our house. Instead of rushing around in the morning to get ready, we slowly ease into the day.
Okay, I slowly ease into the day. I pretty much have to push everyone else to get moving so we can start our read aloud for school.
But, with this easing up in our routine, I've been researching different ways to make my mornings better.
I've made a few changes here and there, and I hope I can keep them once our morning routines return to “normal,” if that ever happens.
Ways to Upgrade Your Morning Routine
- Don't start the day by looking at social media/the news on your phone in bed. This is a surefire way to start your day with a lot of stress.
- Invest in a lovely alarm clock. Kick your smartphone and your iPad out of your bedroom, so you aren't tempted to scroll in the middle of the night, or first thing in the morning.
- Bring a glass of water with you to bed at night. When you wake up in the morning, drink the water and start out your day by rehydrating.
- Do a pajama overhaul. Declutter the pajamas that are too hot or uncomfortable, and make sure your favorites are easy to find. Invest in some new pajamas if you don't have enough comfortable things to wear to bed.
- Begin your day by reflecting on what you're grateful for, and what your intentions are today. You can use something like the 5-minute journal to start off the day on the right foot.
- Wake up earlier than everyone else (unless you have little kids or babies who wake up early already) so you can have time to yourself. Do something for you during this time.
- Do a few sun salutations to stretch out after you get out of bed. Go here to learn how to do a sun salutation.
- If you can, take a walk around the block before breakfast to get your blood flowing and wake yourself up.
- Set up your coffee/tea kettle the night before so all you have to do is press start when you go into your kitchen in the morning. If you have a programmable coffee maker, use the programming function and enjoy a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning.
- Keep a blank notebook by your bed so you can write down anything you want to remember that keeps you up at night. Review the list first thing in the morning and plan to take action on those items. Read: How to Do a Brain Dump So Your Mind Can Rest
- Start out your day by reading a good book or devotional that will set the tone for the day.
- Put everything you need to bring with you the next day by your front door the night before so when you're ready to leave the house, everything you need is right there.
- If you drive your kids to school, put their backpacks, coats, and other items needed into the car the night before so you aren't searching for them in the morning.
- Pre-make breakfasts for the week so you don't have to spend a lot of time cooking and cleaning in the mornings.
- Use your mornings to work on a personal project. For example, most of the content on this website was written in the wee hours of the morning while the rest of my family slept (hence the typos).
- Feeling conflicted or grappling with a huge decision? Write out your thoughts and ideas on morning pages.
- Make your bed. Do it as soon as you wake up, and you can enjoy having already done something productive.
- Listen to uplifting music. Search Spotify to find wake up playlists like this one, or make your own.
- Water your plants.
- Walk the dog. Pay attention to your cat (if she'll allow it).
- Weigh yourself. People who do this daily tend to maintain a healthy weight. Skip this if you think it will have a negative impact on you.
- Drink warm water with lemon. Some people swear by this!
- Clean your kitchen while your coffee brews.
- Take your vitamins, supplements or medication.
- If you chronically forget to take your medicine, put your medicine bottle in your coffee mug the night before so you'll see it before you drink your first cup of coffee. Instant reminder!
- Take time to admire the sunrise. Listen to the rain. Notice what nature is up to this morning.
- Listen to a fun podcast while you're waking up. If you like to draw or color, do that while listening.
- Read an inspirational quote. Do this consistently by keeping a book of quotes by your bedside, or somewhere you can easily read it each morning. The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday is perfect for this!
- Review your goals. Rachel Hollis recommends writing out your big goals every day as if you've already achieved them. It worked for her!
- Review your calendar for the day so you know what's on the agenda. Look at what's scheduled for the next few days to see if you need to do anything to get prepared.
- Start a load of laundry. Find out how to make doing laundry part of your daily routine so you don't have to think about it.
- Write. Want to write the next great novel? Start a blog? Just love the process of putting words on the page? First thing in the morning is a good time to write interrupted. And you can go through the rest of your day knowing that you already accomplished something by moving your writing projects forward.
- Fix your hair. Good hair days always end up being better days. Invest in your happiness and confidence by doing your hair in the morning. Even if no one will see it.
- Eat an apple. Boom. You've already contributed to your daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
More Morning Routine Ideas
