5 Ways To Master Your Morning Routine

Mornings can be a struggle, but having a morning routine can make it easier to rise and shine, and get the most out of your day — even when you’re lacking motivation.

The benefits of creating a healthy morning routine are endless, and the good news is there are a few simple steps you can implement right now — or tomorrow morning! — to feel energised and ready to take on your day.

Keep reading to discover how a morning routine can help kickstart your day, plus five tips to form healthy morning habits. 

What are the benefits of a morning routine?

If your mornings feel chaotic and rushed, establishing a morning routine can provide structure to your day. 

Helps you start your day with purpose 

A morning routine can put you in a positive frame of mind for the day ahead and having a purposeful day means you’ll feel more motivated to achieve the tasks you set out to do.

You’ll feel more productive 

Setting aside half an hour or even 10 minutes in the morning to get some tasks done is a great way to start your day. That could mean fitting in time for a simple skincare routine, journaling, a light jog around the block, or even making your bed. 

Including easy-to-finish tasks also means you’re less likely to waste time throughout the day and are more likely to finish the tasks you’ve started. 

Reduces stress

Stress can often follow you when you feel there isn’t enough time to meet all your commitments, or when you worry about what needs to be done next. 

A morning routine can help you take control of your day and you’ll know exactly what needs to be done and when. It can also benefit you at night — when you get home from work or school, you’ll feel great knowing you had a productive day so you can dedicate more time to rest and relaxation in the evenings.

5 tips for building a morning routine

It’s no secret that a morning routine can have many benefits, but it can sometimes be a challenge to start and stick to one. 

Mornings don’t always go to plan, and sometimes a sleep-in is what your body might need. The beauty of having a morning routine is that even when you experience a setback, you’ll find it easier to get back on track with the healthy habits you’ve created. 

Here are five healthy habits to help you form a healthy morning routine:

Get into a regular sleep schedule

A morning routine begins the night before. As tempting as it can be to watch another episode of your favourite show on Netflix, having some discipline at night can make it easier to start your day right the next morning. 

According to Mayo Clinic in the US, while the amount of sleep you need depends on different factors, adults should aim for seven or more hours each night. To make your morning routine easier, try to maintain a similar schedule across your weekdays and weekends. 

Establishing healthy sleeping habits can help you get better quality sleep, while also improving your energy the next day. 

Wake up early

Getting up early will allow more time for other morning habits you might want to include in your routine. 

You don’t need to leap out of bed with energy and enthusiasm, but encouraging yourself to get up a little earlier means you’ll feel less rushed and more prepared for the day ahead.

Find morning clarity with mindfulness

If you tend to feel anxious about your ever-growing to-do list as soon as you wake up, meditation might be a great addition to your morning routine. 

The National Institutes of Health in the US recommends a meditation practice to improve your overall quality of life, and a 2017 study by the University of Waterloo in Canada, published in Consciousness and Cognition, found that starting your day with meditation can lower anxiety about the future, while also improving your focus on the present. The research showed that just 10 minutes of morning meditation can improve your ability to manage stress and anxiety later in the day, while also helping you stay on task for longer. 

Meditation can also help you set aside time for yourself to relax and approach the day with a sense of clarity. 

Break an early morning sweat

Between study, work, and maintaining a social life, making time for fitness can be tricky, so having a morning workout routine can help ensure your health and fitness isn’t pushed further down your priority list.

While the best time to work out comes down to what’s best for you, exercising in the morning can help you feel energised so that you can start your day strong. 

You can start with simple sessions like a neighbourhood walk or morning stretches as part of a yoga practice. 

Enjoy a healthy breakfast

It’s important to fuel your body with the right foods at the start of the day, especially if you exercise in the morning. What you eat before your workout can have a big impact on the workout itself – as well as your recovery – so it’s important to give yourself enough time to choose and prepare the right foods.

You don’t need a lot of time or fancy ingredients for a healthy breakfast — some great options you can try include healthy hash browns, a green protein smoothie, or overnight oats.

Mornings can be hard, but a routine can make them a little easier 

If you feel like you’re constantly waking up on the wrong side of the bed, never have enough time in the mornings or struggle to leave the house on time, a morning routine could be the answer. 

Giving some structure to your mornings not only means you’ll get more out of each day, but it can also help you dedicate more time to self-care — whether that’s getting poor sleeping habits back on track or reducing stress.  

What habits do you include in your morning routine? Let us know in the comments below!