10 Morning Ideas for a Productive Day

It's a brand new, beautiful day. The birds are chirping, the aroma of coffee is wafting through the kitchen, and the sunshine is beckoning you to seize the day with enthusiasm. But if you’re hitting the snooze button for the fourth time in 30 minutes, you might start to question if that initial alarm held the secret to capturing that unwavering enthusiasm you can’t seem to find. 

The truth is, you don't need to consider yourself a natural morning person to create a healthy morning routine that jumpstarts your day. All it takes is a positive mindset, the determination to set purposeful intentions, and a few helpful ideas. Fortunately, we have ten.

Join us as we explore the advantages of establishing a morning routine and provide you with ten morning routine ideas to help you craft a successful start to your days.

The Power of a Well-Structured Morning Routine

Sure, a morning routine can give you a sense of purpose the second you roll out of bed. But more importantly, it can offer you a handful of other all-day benefits, such as:

• Establishing consistency – A good morning routine provides a basic structure to your day. As you master your early bird rituals, you may discover that this mindset extends to the rest of your day, helping you to improve your time management skills and leading to the development of other daily routines.

• Improving productivity – After completing your morning routine, you might feel inspired to channel those feelings of accomplishment into other areas of your life. A productive morning can set the tone for your entire day. 

• Creating mindfulness – Creating a wellness routine is important. Certain morning practices, such as journaling or meditation, can help you set your intentions for the day, providing you with a clearer sense of focus for the tasks ahead.

• Making healthy choices – Once your routine is securely in place, gone are the mornings of daily drive-through breakfasts, or worse—never finding time for it in the first place. By setting aside time for exercise and a healthy breakfast, you can improve your mental and physical well-being for the entire day.

10 Inspirational Morning Rituals to Uplift Your Day

When it comes to a great morning routine, there’s no ‘right way’ to start your day. Your partner may enjoy meditating and reading a chapter in their latest personal development book, while you might prefer a quick morning walk followed by writing down a to-do list to help center your thoughts. 

Whatever makes you feel energized, focused, and ready to conquer the day is what’s right for you.

And remember, the key to establishing a productive morning routine is consistency. While it's often said that it takes 21 days to form a habit, the reality is that it varies from person to person.[1] Start by incorporating one or two new activities into your typical routine. Once you've mastered those, you can add one or two more until you've crafted your ideal morning routine.

Below, we've highlighted 10 morning routine ideas to spark your creativity and assist you in building a routine that aligns with your interests and daily goals.

#1. Start the Night Before

Nothing says “I’m ready for the day ahead” like a little preparation before you go to sleep. In fact, you can save yourself a lot of time in the mornings by checking off a few items before bedtime. During your evening routine, ask yourself what you could do at night to start your morning off on the right foot. A few suggestions include:

• Preparing your coffee (some even machines have automatic settings you can take advantage of)
• Laying out your clothes for the day
• Leaving a glass of water on your bedside table for hydration first thing in the morning

#2 Go to Sleep Earlier

If you are wondering how to not be tired in the morning, keep reading. One of the keys to fostering a successful day is ensuring you get enough sleep the night before. Everyone’s sleep tanks require a different amount of zzz’s for optimum performance, but for most adults, the recommended amount is seven to nine hours.[2]

To align your sleep schedule with your morning routine, determine your desired wake-up time and work backward from there. For example, if you need to be up by 6:30 in the morning and you want to aim for eight hours of sleep, your goal should be to be fully asleep by 10:30 p.m.

#3 Wake Up Earlier

Instead of rushing to complete your morning routine, wouldn’t it be glorious if you had time to languidly soak in each wonderful moment and feel entirely at ease while you complete each activity

To eliminate the stress of a hurried morning, calculate the required duration for your morning routine and set your alarm accordingly to ensure you have ample time for each task on your list.

#4 Drink a Glass of Water As Soon As You Wake Up

If you do decide to leave a glass of water on your nightstand before bed, you’ll thank yourself in the morning. Drinking that glass of water when your alarm goes off may offer several potential benefits, including:

• Enhancing your mental performance[3]
• Boosting your mood[4]
• Improving the health and appearance of your skin[5]

Not to mention, you’re more likely to continue hydrating throughout the day after starting strong when you wake up. Cheers to that!

#5 Practice Gratitude

This one is as easy as it sounds. Once you’re awake, take a few minutes to think about some of the things you’re grateful for in your life. It can be as simple as, “I’m grateful to watch the sunrise this morning,” or as specific as detailing a milestone your little one achieved recently. 

Consider adding three to five items to your gratitude list each day. Beginning your morning with gratitude can foster a positive mindset, enhance your mental well-being, and increase your mindfulness regarding the people and things you hold most dear in life.

#6 Incorporate Movement

Whether you enjoy morning yoga stretches on your porch or a quick set of dumbbell exercises to boost your blood flow, taking time to move in the mornings is certain to give your mind and body a natural energy boost. 

In fact, exercise reduces stress and produces endorphins, the chemicals responsible for shelling out those coveted feelings of happiness and euphoria after a workout.[6]

#7 Limit Cell Phone Use

We know it’s tempting, but refraining from scrolling through social media as soon as you wake up can do wonders for your mood. Those likes and comments might bring you a small surge of instant gratification, but the incoming emails and notifications can quickly elevate your stress levels and make it more challenging for you to prioritize your tasks for the day ahead.

Instead, try putting your phone aside after turning off your alarm, and give yourself at least half an hour to work on completing your morning routine. You may be surprised at how relaxed and refreshed you feel when you finally pick up your phone and carry on with the rest of your day.

#8 Choose One Thing You’re Excited About

There are usually tasks on our daily to-do lists that we don’t necessarily look forward to, like cleaning the house or doing the laundry. For this reason, it’s important to look for daily silver linings.  

Whether it’s picking up an Etsy package you recently ordered or treating yourself to your favorite caffeinated beverage after lunch, starting your day by thinking of one thing you’re looking forward to can seriously boost your mood. 

#9 Go Outside and Ground Yourself

Another way to seize the day is by harnessing the power of nature. From the sun above you to the grass below your feet, there are many aspects of nature that can boost your mood and promote a more productive day. 

• The sun's rays provide your body with much-needed vitamin D.[7] They can also help reset your body's circadian rhythm, helping you feel energized in the morning and tired at night.

• Have you heard of “grounding” yourself? It's relevant here! Walking barefoot on the earth can balance your body's electrical charge, and the sensation of the earth under your bare feet might even lift your mood.[8]

#10 Enjoy Your Favorite Morning Beverage

For many individuals, the simple act of making their beloved breakfast beverage can be a meditative experience. And, depending on what you’re drinking, your choice of beverage can play a significant role in your mood and energy levels for the day ahead.

Elevate Your Special Moments with feel free

Crafting the perfect experience for those unique occasions allows you to reconnect with your goals, passions, and lifestyle. Whether it’s taking time to meditate, enjoying a peaceful yoga session, or preparing a nourishing meal, you can create moments that truly reflect you.

When planning these experiences, consider what will help you feel focused and at ease. For a clean and effective boost that enhances clarity and calm, try our tonics, made with natural ingredients like kava from the Piper methysticum plant, can help you stay present and centered.

Explore our range of products to make your special moments even more meaningful with feel free here.

 

Sources:

1. Harvard Business Review. What Does It Really Take to Build a New Habit? https://hbr.org/2021/02/what-does-it-really-take-to-build-a-new-habit
2. NIH. How Much Sleep Is Enough. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/how-much-sleep
3. NIH. The impact of water consumption on hydration and cognition among schoolchildren: Methods and results from a crossover trial in rural Mali. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30653554/
4. NIH. Effects of changes in water intake on mood of high and low drinkers. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24728141/
5. NIH. Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529263/
6. Harvard Health. Exercising to Relax. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax
7. NIH. Benefits of Sunlight: A Bright Spot for Human Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/
8. NIH. Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth's Surface Electrons. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/