Top Tips for Creating a Productive Morning Routine

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by Lori Geurin

There is something enchanting about getting up in the early hours of the morning. Maybe it’s the peace and quiet that you get, or perhaps the warmth of the sunrise that slowly creeps up every morning. Whatever it is, it’s magical, but can still be challenging to get up for. But, if you’re like most people, your morning routine is everything but productive.

It probably goes something like this: hit the snooze alarm four times, wake up in a panic, do the bare minimum to get ready, and leave the house a couple of minutes later than you were supposed to. Sound about right?

Believe it or not, the way you kick off your mornings can make or break your productivity levels and your overall attitude for the rest of your day. Developing a healthy morning routine can help eliminate stress and promote healthy habits. Luckily, it’s never too late to revive your morning routine.

Keep reading on to grab the top tips for creating a productive morning routine!

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Tips For Creating A Productive Morning Routine

1. Plan Ahead the Night Before 

The first step to building a successful morning routine is to plan ahead the night before. Oftentimes, mornings can be chaotic, especially when you’re living with other people who may also need to take a shower, use the coffee machine, etc.

But you’d be surprised how far a little planning can go! Beyond just packing a lunch in advance and laying out your work outfit ahead of time, you can also prepare by answering the following questions:

• What time do you want/need to be up by?
• How much time do you want to give yourself in the morning to get ready?
• What time do you need to leave the house?

Answering each of these questions will help put your morning into perspective, allowing you to create a productive morning routine accordingly.

Related: 20 Insider Tips For Being Punctual: How To Be On Time

2. Put Space Between You and Your Alarm Clock

Another effective way to ensure an efficient morning routine is to put space between you and your alarm clock. It might be difficult to do in the beginning, but moving your alarm clock across the room can be helpful if you struggle with getting up in the morning.

By doing this, you’ll have no choice but to physically stand up the FIRST time your alarm clock goes off.

Just make sure that wherever your alarm clock is placed, it’s loud enough for you to hear from your bed. Unless you’re a very light sleeper, it’s unlikely that purchasing a vibrating alarm clock will be powerful enough to wake you up.

Instead, focus on finding a loud alarm clock that’s noisy enough to draw you out your deepest slumber.

Check out our 8 Communication Skills To Improve Your Relationships

3. Get Ready for the Day!

Now comes the hardest part, it’s time to get moving! After that first alarm, your body should be up and ready to go. 

Fifteen more minutes of sleep might seem like it’ll make all the difference. But in reality, it generally has a more negative impact than positive. Easier said than done, of course, but it’s important you invest what little energy you do have into getting ready.

Begin by doing the things that wake you up the fastest. Consider taking a warm, refreshing shower, or starting off your morning with a skincare routine. Washing your face with cold water and your favorite skincare products will improve how you feel from the inside out.

Not only will it help you feel more awake, but it’ll also help you appear more awake and ready to go!

Developing a healthy morning routine will allow you to set the rest of your day up for success. Going forward, take time to find what gives you that instant pick-me-up and do that before anything else.

4. Eat a Good Breakfast…Or Fast

If you asked anyone how they get energized early in the day, their answer may likely consist of two things — caffeine and breakfast.

Having a good breakfast can contribute to a productive day and a healthy lifestyle, However, the type of breakfast you consume matters greatly whether your goal is to lose weight or simply be as healthy as possible.

A healthy breakfast should consist of nutritious foods like high-quality protein, healthy fats, and high-fiber fruits and veggies. For example, scrambled eggs with peppers and onions, avocado, and berries would be a perfect meal to eat in the morning!

Alternatively, if you’re pressed for time, and you’d like to reap the health benefits of intermittent fasting you can skip breakfast altogether. Yes, it’s perfectly okay. In fact, it can be incredibly healthy.

Plus, fasting is a great way to simplify your life.

(You can read 9 Health Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting to learn more.)

5. Perform Small Acts of Self-Care

Lastly, complete small acts of self-care each and every morning. This will allow you to clear your mind and set your intentions for your day before it actually begins.

It doesn’t have to be anything that requires a lot of effort or is overly time-consuming.

Try dedicating just ten minutes of your morning routine to practicing self-care such as yoga, meditation, or journaling. This should give you more than enough time to start your day on the right foot.

Related: 10 Tips For Keeping A Gratitude Journal

What do you think of the productive morning routine tips above? Can you think of any to add?

Please share your thoughts below!