How to Build a Healthy Morning Routine in 5 Easy Steps
If you are anything like me, the mornings are not naturally your favorite. If there was an option to sleep in all day, I probably would have taken that a few years ago. However, since graduating college something in my brain shifted and I am slowly starting to like mornings. There’s just something about waking up before the world and being able to spend some time alone before the chaos of each day begins.
Getting to this point was not easy whatsoever. I’ve honestly spent years trying to figure out how to wake up early and enjoy it. Yet I would still find myself struggling to get out of bed after the alarm clock goes off. Even now, some days are still hard to get out of bed. The one thing that has helped me stay consistent over time is building a solid morning routine.
Morning routines are one of those topics that take over social media every now and then. Someone has a new morning routine craze or a life changing product that will make getting up at 5 am easy. And I hate to break it to you, but none of those things actually work. After years of caving into those trends and must-haves, what I’ve found is that building a morning routine is fairly simple.
Today I will be breaking down the 7 steps that helped me create the perfect morning routine. Everyone is different, so every morning routine should look different. Use these strategies to curate your own morning routine. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works and what doesn’t, but trust me it will be worth it.
The Foundations of A Morning Routine
Before getting into building a morning routine, you have to understand the foundations. This can look different for everybody, just like a morning routine, but these are some of the basics that I’ve narrowed it down to.
First off, you have to wake up at the same time. I know it sounds simple and a little silly, but it really does go a long way. One of the key winning factors here is that it regulates your body clock. Overall you’ll find you will be more alert, energized, and clear minded for your days. There is a whole study on the importance of a sleep routine that you can read more on.
Secondly, mindfulness. One thing that I have found helps me start my days off right is with gratitude. I have a Five Minute Journal and I take those five minutes each morning to write what I am grateful for and set my intentions for the day. It seems like a gimmicky thing, but it honestly does help. The world can be so chaotic that it’s important to remind yourself of the things you have to be grateful for. When you intentionally write those things down everyday, you realize just how much there is to be grateful for. I think it’s made me look on the positive side more and I carry that mood with me throughout my days.
And finally, you have to get some form of movement. This could look like some light stretching, even in bed. I like to take my dog out for a short walk. You could do some yoga or even a full blown workout if you’re up for it. As long as you get your body moving, that’s what really counts.
Waking up at the same time, mindfulness, and movement have all been the core of my morning routines over the years. Regardless of how I’ve tweaked my mornings to fit my current lifestyle, these 3 fundamentals always stay in rotation.
How to Create A Morning Routine
There is no perfect morning routine out there. I’ll tell you that right now. Because one person’s morning routine may be perfect for them, but horrible for their best friend. So following a morning routine from a stranger on the internet won’t magically give you the perfect morning routine. Trust me, I’ve tried that method (spoiler: doesn’t work).
My goal here is to give you strategies to help you create a morning routine that is right for you. I’ve broken down some of the best tips I’ve learned over the years, and turned them into a guide that you can use to curate your own morning routine.
Step 1: Time
How much time do you have to dedicate to your morning routine? Keep in mind that each day can look a little different, but you want a general time frame to go by. I have two dedicated hours to my morning routine and I got this number by trial and error.
How much time do you need to actually wake up and get out of bed? How much time will it take to make your bed and get dressed? Are you going to workout in your morning routine? Do you have to factor in a commute? What habits do you want to include in your morning routine? These are some of the questions you can ask yourself to determine how much time you’ll need.
Step 2: Schedule
Once you figure out how much time you can dedicate to a morning routine, it’s time to decide on a wake up time. This can be made super easy since you know how much time you want to spend on your morning routine. Take the time you need to leave for work (or start work if you wfh), and subtract your morning routine time. And that should be your ideal wakeup time.
If you’re not a morning person, I recommend easing into this. Start by waking up 30 minutes earlier each day until your body is adjusted to your new sleep patterns. Keep in mind that when you’re adjusting your morning habits, you’re most likely going to have to adjust your evening habits as well. Such as going to bed earlier.
Changing your sleep schedule can be difficult. Speaking from experience, it was NOT easy to become a morning person. But overtime it does start to feel more natural and it won’t seem like such a chore to wake up early.
Step 3: Habits
What habits do you want to include in your morning routine? Everyone has different goals, and the habits that you choose should reflect whatever goal you have. Make sure to keep it realistic and work towards 3-5 manageable habits at a time. If you’re not sure where to start, consider some of these:
- Making your bed
- No phone for 1 hour after waking up
- Drink 16 oz. of waterÂ
- Stretch/movement
- Journal/gratitudeÂ
As previously mentioned, I recommend you try incorporating both movement and gratitude into your morning routine. Both of these things can take less than 5 minutes but make such a big difference.
Step 4: Plan
Okay this one may not be for everyone, but try it out. Brain dump a list of all the tasks that you have to get done for the day. Then, organize that list into what’s most important to what’s least important. I find that planning out your day with a simple to-do list gives you clarity and motivation for the day.
Try not to over do your to-do lists with a million tasks. Keep it realistic so that you have a chance to actually get everything done in a day. I recommended keeping it between 5-10 main tasks so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Step 5: Consistency
Now that all is said and done, the last thing you need to do is stay consistent with it. This doesn’t mean that it has to be perfect every day. And you don’t have to keep doing the same morning routine if it doesn’t work for you. Do your best to commit to your morning routine each day, and make adjustments wherever they’re needed.
One way to keep track of your morning routine and morning habits is to create a habit tracker. You can do this easily with a sheet of paper, a ruler, and a pencil. Write down the morning habits that you want to track, then make columns for each habit. Each day mark an x for each habit you complete. I find that this method works really well for me and holds me accountable to sticking with my morning routine.
Morning Routines Over Time
Your morning routine should evolve as you evolve over time. Find what works for you and take out whatever isn’t working. The key to a productive morning routine is to stay consistent and focus on the habits that make you feel good.
Morning routines can look different from day to day, week by week, or even month to month. It took me two years to figure out what worked for me, and I can bet that my current routine will change at some point. Work with whatever season of life you’re in, and you will find a routine that best suits you.
Creating a morning routine that is curated to you and your needs is one of the most rewarding feelings. You get to start your day off the right way. It can also be something to look forward to each night before you go to sleep. Morning routines shouldn’t be complicated, they should be tailored to your needs and set you up for a day of success.
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xoxo,
Kayla Mae 🩷
