The 9 Best Morning Habits That Will Transform Your Day For A Great Morning Routine
Start your day off right with these game-changing morning habits. From mindfulness to exercise, discover simple but powerful ways to boost your productivity and well-being. Say goodbye to morning grogginess and hello to a happier, healthier you!
Are you tired of waking up feeling groggy and unmotivated? Do you want to set yourself up for success and crush your goals each day? Need a morning reset and create new morning habits? Then you’ve come to the right place!
If you’re anything like me, sometimes the day feels like it controls me instead of me controlling my day.
I felt behind all day and would drop so many plates as I juggled trying to serve my family well and make time for myself while still feeling connected to the world outside of my home.
Everything felt overwhelming.
That was until I started implementing these 9 daily morning habits.
Don’t start them all at once. When I tried, I failed, making me not want to do any of them. Start one, then we that becomes a habit, add in another one. Hang in there. You’ve got this!
Most of these are pretty simple but when we try to start something new, sometimes it can feel overwhelming. That’s why I call these morning habits. They are daily tasks you can add to your morning rhythm that will lead to a more productive day with less stress.
Productive Morning Routine
Do you struggle with being productive and getting everything on your to-do list done during the day?
I did too!
As a mom of four, I felt like I was running from one thing to another putting out all the fires but not accomplishing much. I was frustrated and just plain tired!
That’s when I started doing these 8 things before 8 am and they changed my life. The great thing about many of them is that they can be done with children underfoot or when they are occupied doing something else.
Of course, these 9 daily morning tasks are flexible. The key is more about consistency and planning rather than a time schedule.
Why Do I Need a Morning Routine?
As an Enneagram 9, I don’t like boxes. Routine is not something I tend to gravitate to and yet, I will be the first to admit that morning routine makes your life easier. Creating those morning habits is key to a less stressful day.
Daily habits will help reduce decision fatigue as you start your day.
Having a routine means you don’t have to think about what to do before your feet hit the floor and you have had your first cup of coffee.
Routines put our brains on autopilot. One less thing to have to think about.
Need help creating a routine? Here are 7 Questions to Ask Yourself to Create a Routine that Works.
9 Daily Morning Habits For A Less Stressful Day | What To Do In The Morning
These are must do actionable items to add to your list for a productive morning routine.
1. Plan Your Day The Night Before
The first daily habit to add to your daily tasks starts the night before.
Before you go to bed, write everything down. Do a brain dump.
Write down everything you need to accomplish the next day and pick three things from that list. This will help your brain release some of the information it is holding onto.
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for starting your day off on the right foot. It’s time to prioritize your sleep and aim for at least 7-9 hours of uninterrupted snoozing each night. Invest in a comfortable mattress, cozy pillows, and maybe even some blackout curtains to create the perfect sleep environment.
When you wake up in the morning, you know the three most important things that need to get done.
Don’t just write them down. Actually, do them.
Also, run the dishwasher. You’ll thank yourself in the morning!
2. Drink Water
Water is essential for life, and that’s why it’s important to start your day with a tall glass of H2O. Not only does it help hydrate your body after a long night of sleep, but it also helps rev up your metabolism and flush out toxins.
While you might be tempted, like me every morning, to start with coffee, it’s best to have water before coffee.
You can heat up hot water, add some lemon juice, and drink that before coffee. Yum.
Why lemon juice?
Drinking lemon juice with warm water every morning helps in maintaining the pH balance of the body. Lemon juice is also very effective at cleansing the liver as it promotes the liver to flush out toxins.
Perfect for first thing in the morning.
Infused water is the perfect way to drink more water if you don’t like it plain. So go ahead, take a sip, and feel the refreshing power of water.
3. Empty The Dishwasher
While simple, I promise that it’s a very important step and great addition to your morning habits.
When the dishwasher is empty first thing in the morning, you can put in the dirty dishes throughout the day, keeping the sink empty of dirty dishes.
One less thing to add to the stress of the day.
This is of course contingent on you remembering to start the dishwasher the night before. Sometimes I forget. It’s okay. It just means dishes from breakfast and usually lunch pile up until I can unload the dishes after the cycle. It’s not the end of the world.
4. Start a Load of Laundry
I know this one feels like a losing battle but I promise that it is possible to stay on top of laundry and not leave load after load in the washer forgotten until it’s super smelly.
Laundry never ends. That is a fact that no one will deny. Whether you have one child or ten, no children, it doesn’t matter. Laundry is always a struggle.
We all know that laundry is a given. There is no changing that fact. But there are ways to stay on top of laundry, which is why it’s part of the 8 things to do before 8 am.
There is one tip to laundry while it is easily forgotten, it will make laundry less stressful.
As a family of six, I’ve realized that one of the things I needed to add to my morning habits was to do at least one load of laundry a day.
I know. Most people don’t like to do laundry. I don’t either.
We’ve tried waiting and doing it all on the same day, and that doesn’t always work. We’ve even taken the laundry to a laundromat so more loads can be done at the same time.
Instead, start a load of laundry in the morning. Before you add the next load, dry, and put away the first load.
Read that last sentence again.
Before adding the next load, the first load has to be dried and put away.
Adding this to your list of morning habits assures you don’t leave a load in the washer, AND it eliminates the laundry chair or laundry expensive exercise equipment that we can’t get to because it’s covered in the laundry that hasn’t been put away.
While I have run an empty washer, since I started this routine, I haven’t accidentally left clothes in the washer for days without realizing the mistake.
That’s a win on so many different levels!
Remember that we are human and can’t do it all, even though we try. Sometimes we have to ask for help and that’s okay!
I recently learned about SudShare, and while I looked into it as a way to make money, I would have totally used this service when my kids were little, and thinking about one more thing like laundry felt overwhelming. It would not have worked for our cloth diapers but at least our clothes wouldn’t have been forgotten about!
5. Know What You Are Having For Dinner
Another great addition to your morning habits addition is meal planning.
Planning your meals for the month is a great way to save time, money, and stress when it comes to mealtime. And, one of the most effective methods of doing this is by writing down meal ideas.
When you write down meal ideas, you can easily keep track of what you want to eat throughout the month. This helps you create a plan that ensures you have a variety of healthy and satisfying meals for you and your family. You can also use this list to make a grocery list and ensure you have all the ingredients needed to prepare your meals.
Another benefit of writing down meal ideas is that meal planning can help you stick to a budget. By planning out your meals ahead of time, you can identify which ingredients you need to buy and which ones you already have in your pantry. This can help you avoid buying unnecessary items and save money on your grocery bills.
Writing meal ideas on the calendar can help you stay organized and reduce stress. Knowing what you will be eating for the day or week can help you plan your schedule and reduce the last-minute rush to figure out what to cook for dinner.
It doesn’t have to be 31 different meals. Even meals you are going to eat out and pizza night can be included. Then you can move them around depending on how the month plays out.
My favorite meal-planning resource is Amiyrah Martin from 4 Hats and Frugal. Here are her tips for meal planning for the month in three easy steps.
Don’t miss these hacks for saving money on your grocery bill and these meal-planning tips for beginners.
If you can’t bring yourself to plan for the month, try for the week and see how that goes!
6. Stretch and Move
Adding stretching and moving to your morning habits will look different for everyone. You might even have children underfoot at this point. Let them join in!
Morning workouts are a game-changer. Not only do they help you burn calories and tone your muscles, but they also help boost your mood and energy levels. Whether you prefer a quick yoga flow, a brisk walk, or a high-intensity workout, find something that makes you feel good and stick with it.
Stretching your body is an important part of the 8 things to do before 8 am as it can help wake up your body. Consider trying yoga if you are looking for a structured way of stretching.
Try a workout routine either on Youtube, or a Beachbody subscription, or go outside for a walk or run. Your body will thank you.
This part of your morning routine will change as your season of life changes.
Check Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for people selling their exercise equipment!
7. Meditate
Try adding meditation, journaling, or just a few moments of silence into your morning habits. They can make a huge difference in your mental state and productivity. Take some time each morning to reflect on your goals, set intentions for the day, or just simply breathe.
Spend time reading and writing out Scripture.
Enjoy your coffee or tea.
Sit quietly and breathe before the crazy part of the day begins.
Breathe.
Create a morning rhythm that works for you.
Are the kids already awake? That’s okay. You can give them a quiet activity to do while you prepare yourself for the day ahead.
While they might resist at first, eventually, it will become routine to them as well.
You might need to change the order of these 8 things to do before 8 am, and that’s okay.
Make it work for you. A little mindfulness goes a long way.
8. Don’t Look at Your Phone or Check Emails
This might be the hardest of the morning habits to break.
That might mean you need to put your phone across the room if you use it as an alarm. Maybe you need to buy a Hatch alarm clock and set your phone outside of your bedroom.
Break the habit of checking your phone first thing while you’re still in bed.
You already have your list of what you need to accomplish for the day. Checking social media and email will only be a distraction.
Set an alarm on your phone to check your email later in the morning.
9. Get Dressed For the Day
Have you noticed a correlation between your productivity and what you are wearing?
I have!
On days I stay in pajamas, I’m not quite as productive as on days that I get dressed and am ready to tackle the day.
One of the best things I started was buying a few dresses. They don’t have to be fancy. Just something that makes you feel put together makes a difference.
Try it and tell me how it works for you!
Struggle With Getting Up Early? My Morning Routine and Morning Habits
If you struggle with getting up early, there is hope!
Try waking up 15 minutes earlier every week until you reach your ideal time. I promise it works!
Add something that you can look forward to doing in your morning habits. Maybe that’s a favorite coffee or tea. A song list that will motivate and get you moving. Fresh flowers. Whatever it may be, choose that.
Don’t forget to fuel up with a nutritious breakfast. Whether you prefer eggs, oatmeal, or a smoothie, make sure you’re getting a balanced meal that will sustain you until lunchtime.
Good Morning Routine
Do you already have a morning routine and morning habits that you follow? What are your favorite morning habits or morning rhythms?
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but I do hope you find it helpful in having a more productive day!
A perfect morning routine is a combination of good morning habits like sleep, hydration, nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness.
By incorporating these morning habits into your routine, you’ll be setting yourself up for success both mentally and physically. So go ahead, give them a try, and see how they can transform your mornings (and your entire day)!
Need More Help With Your Morning Habits?
Looking for some bonus morning habits to really take things up a notch, here are a few more ideas:
- Take a few minutes to plan out your day. Jot down your to-do list or schedule in a planner to ensure you’re staying on top of your priorities.
- Spend some quality time with loved ones. Whether it’s sharing breakfast with your partner or playing with your kids before heading off to work, connecting with the people you care about can give you a boost of positivity.
- Listen to some uplifting music or a motivational podcast. Starting your day with some positive vibes can help you stay focused and energized throughout the day.
- Take a cold shower or splash some cold water on your face. This may sound uncomfortable, but it can actually help you feel more awake and alert.
- Practice gratitude. Take a moment to reflect on what you’re thankful for in your life, whether it’s the people around you, the opportunities you have, or simply the sunshine outside.
Remember, the key to successful morning habits is finding a routine that works for you and that you enjoy. So don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things until you find the perfect combination that sets you up for a fantastic day. Good luck, and have a great morning!
Best Morning Routine Checklist
You will love this morning routine checklist printable to help you create a morning ritual you love, even if you aren’t a morning person.
Try these 8 things to do before 8 am to make your day run smoothly and less stress-filled as you simplify your life.
This list will help you improve your productivity and time management systems to help you pare down your decisions and save your sanity for a better evening routine.
