Category: Morning Routines

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Why Your Morning Routine Isn’t Working, and How to Fix It

Why Your Morning Routine Isn’t Working, and How to Fix It

The idea of having a morning routine sounds pretty dreamy, doesn’t it? Waking up slowly, while sipping your coffee and reading a book. No rushing to get out the door asap, just peace and quiet before the day even starts. It sounds pretty amazing. But unfortunately, it can be difficult to stick to a morning routine.

After a while, you decide to sleep in one morning, which means you have to skip your morning coffee and reading time. Next, you start rushing around the house trying to find everything so you can get to work on time. Then you eventually start to skip breakfast altogether.

Before you know it, you’re back to your old habit of hitting snooze until the last possible moment before you have to rush out the door while still brushing your hair.

There are a few reasons why your morning routine isn’t working and it’s not because you’re lazy or undisciplined. Once you know why this is happening, it’s easy to fix and I’m here to tell you exactly how you can create a morning routine that will not only stick but that you’ll love waking up to.

For years, I had the habit of hitting snoozing 3-5 times every morning, skipping breakfast, and running out the door. It was always stressful to start my day like that, so when I discovered morning routines and start implementing one into my day, my life completely changed.

Of course, it took some time to create a solid morning routine that I could stick to, but I learned a lot and now I want to share it all with you.

why your morning routine isn't working

3 Reasons Why Your Morning Routine Isn’t Working

When I first discovered the idea of morning routines I was super excited. I watched tons of youtube videos on the topic and read so many blog posts. Then I got out a pencil and paper and wrote out my very first morning routine.

It included tons of things that other people had talked about doing in their morning routine like reading, journaling, meditating, yoga, a walk around the block, eating a healthy breakfast, and of course, some quiet time to slowly sip my coffee, all before heading out the door.

I woke up the next morning super excited to do all these things and to be honest, it went pretty well the first couple of days, but eventually, I realized doing every one of those habits in the morning was a lot.

I started sleeping in again, saying that I’ll just skip some of these habits and do the others after I get 30 more minutes of sleep. But then over time that turned into me completely giving up on a morning routine entirely.

So what went wrong?

1. You’re being too ambitious

I was being way too ambitious with my morning routine right away. If you want a new routine or habit to stick you have to start small.

This was a tip that took me a long time to learn, unfortunately, but once I learned it, my morning routine journey started to take off.

So if you’re trying to start a morning routine, start out by first picking one thing you want to focus on for the first week or two.

Maybe that’s waking up 15 minutes earlier to actually have time for a healthy breakfast or time to make a delicious cup of coffee or time to just play with your furbaby before heading off to work.

For the first week or two, pick just one new thing. Then once you’re feeling comfortable with that, set your alarm back another 15 minutes earlier and pick another new habit to add to it.

It is much easier to start with one 15-minute habit than to start with a whole hour-long routine. You can build up to that over time.




2. You’re trying to copy other people’s morning routines

Another mistake I made early on in my morning routine journey was that I was trying to copy exactly how another person did their morning routine. If this is also you, you’re not alone.

There are many people who post what their exact morning routine looks like on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, but you should not use those as exact plans for your life. Instead, you should be using their content for inspiration as you are planning your own routine.

Take note of the things you like and don’t like about other people’s morning routines and then take that into account as you decide what habits you want to include in yours.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t watch other videos on morning routines or anything like that. I watch so many of those videos, it’s actually insane. All I’m saying is that you watch it with a curious mind instead of taking it so literally.




3. You’re still hitting the snooze button

There is a reason why I am so adamant about the first step on your morning routine journey being to break your snoozing habit. I believe that the snooze button is the very reason why it took me over a year to finally stick to a morning routine.

Like I mentioned earlier I used to hit snooze 3-5 times every single morning without even thinking about it. It was so easy to roll over and hit the snooze button in my sleep that trying to have time for a morning habit other than just getting dressed and running out the door was near impossible.

So if you are also a snooze-aholic like I was, then this should be your first goal, to break your snoozing habit.

Check out this blog post to help you get started >> How to Stop Hitting Snooze | 5 Smart Tips for Breaking the Habit

And grab this free ebook

snooze no more

Final Thoughts on Why Your Morning Routine Isn’t Working

Most people when they start a morning routine fall into these 3, or even all 3, of these groups. So before you go, I want you to know that you are not alone. There are so many people starting morning routines every day and you can do it too. And because you found this blog post, it won’t take you as long to create one that sticks.

Morning routines make for a great way to start your day. No more jumping out of bed and frankly running around the house trying to get out the door asap. You can have a calm, relaxing morning that actually prepares you for the day.

If your morning routine isn’t working, these tips should help you figure out why and how you can tweak your morning routine to make it stick.

As always, remember, you can do anything you put your mind to.

Have a fabulous day!

Alyssa xx

 

Want to read more about morning routines? Check out these other blog posts.

The Incredible Magic of Having a Morning Routine

10 Amazing Benefits of Waking Up Early and Having a Morning Routine

How to Create a Morning Routine and Stick To It

 

Ready to get started creating a morning routine you’ll love waking up to every single day? Check out the Design Your Perfect Morning Routine workbook.

morning routine workbook

 

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The Incredible Magic of Having a Morning Routine

magic of having a morning routine

I wake up around 5:00 am most mornings to start my morning routine. I know this sounds crazy and you’re probably thinking “well good for you but I could never do that”. Well, let me tell you something. I was not always this way.

In fact, I used to be a night owl with a big snoozing problem. I would hit snooze for almost 60 minutes every single morning just dreading having to get up and start my day. Until eventually I realized that the way I start my day was having a negative effect on the rest of my day.

Did you know that your morning routine sets you up for how the rest of your day will go?

So if you sleep in a little too late and then find yourself rushing out the door, you’ll feel rushed all day and have a hard time concentrating or staying focused at work.

Versus if you start your day slow and calmly getting ready, and making sure to include some time to do something that lights you up, you’re more likely to have a day full of productivity.

There is something magical about waking up before the rest of the world and starting your day slower and more intentional. Creating a morning routine for yourself is essential if you want to move forward on your personal development journey.

incredible magic of morning routine

The Importance of Your Morning Routine

Mornings are difficult for many people, but how you handle them will affect the rest of your day. The easiest way to make sure your mornings start off on the right foot is if you have a morning routine to follow.

A good morning routine can create a foundation of stability in your life, which is so important no matter what you have going on in your life.

Some days I wake up tired and depressed, not feeling like I want to do anything at all. But because I have a morning routine already created, I don’t have to think too hard about what I need to do in the morning.

Plus it’s a morning routine I created for myself and I made sure to include activities that I look forward to every morning, and that makes getting out of bed even easier.

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5 Benefits of Having a Morning Routine

More Structure

For most people, mornings can be rather chaotic. You snoozed one too many times, got out of bed too late, and that’s when the rushing began: a quick shower, followed by trying to decide what to wear, making a quick cup of coffee, and grabbing an easy to-go breakfast on your way out the door. Just pure chaos to start your day, and we know that this feeling carries into the rest of your day.

By creating your own personalized morning routine, you can take control of your mornings which will bring more structure to your life.

Less Stress/Decision Fatigue

Once you have more control of your mornings there won’t be many surprises. You’ll get out of bed already knowing what to wear, what you’re eating for breakfast and even lunch, and you’ll know you have enough time for a more relaxing shower.

No more confusion, no more stress, and no more decision fatigue to start your day, which means you’ll no longer arrive to work stressed before you’ve even started your day.




Increased Productivity

More structure + less stress = increased productivity. It’s a very basic formula but can save you so much time.

Besides the fact that getting up earlier will give you more time in the mornings, you will also be amazed at how much more you can get done each day. No more starting your mornings stressed out and rushing around the house to get out the door asap.

Reach Your Goals

Want to achieve more goals in your life? Having a consistent morning routine is the exact key you need to succeed. All of those mornings you start on your own terms, slowly and more structured will compound and you’ll see that you’ll start crushing those goals so much faster than most people.

The extra time and productivity you because of your morning routine will help you achieve goals you never thought were possible.

Advantage Over Everyone Else

I like to say that establishing a morning routine is the first step to immense personal growth. Because not everyone has the courage or willpower to get up earlier and go through a whole routine before most people even get out of bed.

If you can create this new routine and make it a habit every morning, you’ll have a big advantage over others in all areas of your life.




 

The Effect of a Morning Routine on Your Well-Being

Better Sleep Quality

Studies show that consistently going to bed and getting up at the same time every day has a positive impact on your quality of sleep. And with a higher quality of sleep, you will be more focused and alert throughout the day which will lead to more peace of mind.

Better Health

You can be healthier with just a little extra planning. Set your alarm back just 15 minutes and you have time to go for a walk around the block and a good breakfast. A habit that will quickly compound and help you feel better all day.

Better Stress Levels

Like we mentioned earlier, because of your structured morning routine you’ll experience less stress as you start your day. Remember that increased stress levels can have a major impact on your physical and mental health. So start your day more relaxed and less stressed.




How To Start a Morning Routine

Now that I’ve shown you all the amazing benefits of having a morning routine, it’s time to create your own.

Remember that everyone is different so you can’t just simply copy another person’s morning routine and expect it to be perfect for you. You have to test out different routines for yourself until you find what works best for you and your lifestyle.

That’s why I created the Design Your Perfect Morning Routine workbook. It’s designed to walk you step-by-step through the process of creating a morning routine that is perfect for you and your lifestyle.

morning routine workbook

Final Thoughts on Morning Routines

Now that you understand the incredible magic of getting up before everyone else, it’s time to create your own morning routine. Remember not to make it too complicated. It’s all about creating structure in your life to make your mornings easier and less stressful.

Have any more questions about morning routines? Comment them down below.

More Blog Posts on Morning Routines:

10 Amazing Benefits of Waking Up Early and Having a Morning Routine

How to Stop Hitting Snooze | 5 Smart Tips for Breaking the Habit

20 Morning Routine Ideas that will Make You Want to Get Up

How to Create a Morning Routine and Stick To It

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How to Create a Morning Routine and Stick To It

create a morning routine

Are you ready to stop having crappy days where you’re tired all the time and unmotivated?

Then you need to make sure you’re starting your day on the right foot.

And in order to do that, you need to create a morning routine.

But hold on, before you go searching on youtube for the “perfect morning routine”, you need to know that everyone’s morning routine is different.

And it has to be, otherwise, it wouldn’t be created with your unique circumstances and likes and dislikes in mind.

Obviously, you wouldn’t have the same morning routine as an Olympic swimmer or a mother with 2 toddlers. That just doesn’t make sense.

You have to create a morning route that’s curated to your unique lifestyle.

And that’s exactly what we’re gonna do today.

This blog post contains my five-step process to create a morning routine that you love and that works for you and your lifestyle.

Let’s get started.

how to create a productive morning routine

Step 1: Review Your Current Morning Routine

Before you can start creating your “perfect” morning routine you need to review your current one.

Believe it or not, you already have a morning routine. If you pay attention, you’ll notice you do almost the same exact thing every morning.

Hitting snooze every morning may be part of your routine. Not eating breakfast or running out the door could also be a part of your routine.

Let’s take some time to examine your current routine.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • How early do you get up?
  • Do you have enough time to get ready before work/school?
  • Are you getting enough sleep?
  • Do you feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day?
  • Do you eat breakfast every morning?

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Step 2: Discover Your Why

If you want to stick to a new routine, you need to define your why. Why do you want to create a morning routine?

When you’re struggling to get out of bed, remembering why it’s important to you will be super helpful.

Maybe it’s because you don’t want to feel rushed out the door every morning. Or you want more time with your kids before they run to catch the bus. Or you want to start your day with some personal development time.

Whatever it is, write it down.

Why do you want to create a morning routine and what do you want to get out of it?

Step 3: Brainstorm the Possibilities

Alright, here’s where we have fun.

Now that you know your current routine and why you want to make it better, let’s decide what you want your new routine to look like.

Brainstorm what you want to include in your morning routine.

What do you want to achieve in your first hour of the day?

Write down all your ideas and how much time you would spend on them.

If you’re having troubles coming up with some ideas, check out this blog post for 20 Morning Routine Ideas that will Make You Want to Get Up

Step 4: Plan Out Your Morning Routine

Now that you have a list of things you want to include in your morning routine, write down what you want it to look like.

Try to build off your current routine if you can. That will make it easier to implement.

If you normally go straight to the shower when you get up, keep that the same but then add one of your new activities right after, like reading or journaling.

If you’re having a hard time deciding on your routine, make a couple of different possible routines.

You could try the first one for one week and then another one the week after.

And at the end of each week reflect on how you felt they went and if you need to change something.

Pro Tip: Most people don’t want to get up in the morning because they don’t have something to look forward to in their day. Include an activity in your morning routine that you love but don’t normally have time for during the day. This will motivate you to get up earlier so you have time for something you love.

Step 5: Create an Evening Routine

Congrats – you have a morning routine, but you’re not done yet.

Getting up feeling motivated and refreshed starts the night before so you need to create an evening routine too.

It doesn’t have to be as detailed as your morning routine, but pick a few activities that will wind you down before bed so you can fall asleep faster. And do a few things that will make your morning easier like setting out your outfit, or packing your lunch.

My evening routine includes a quick 15-minute clean-up, setting out my workout clothes, filling up my water bottle for the morning, and reading for 30-60 minutes.

Decide on the activities you will include in your evening routine that will help you carry out your morning routine.

Two Tips To Help You Get Up

Place your alarm clock across the room!

Yep, it’s as simple as that.

Many people have built a habit of grabbing their phone, pressing snooze, and rolling back over.

So put your alarm on the other side of the room so you have to get up to shut it off.

Stop using your phone as your alarm!

Another habit people have is shutting their alarm off on their phone and then scrolling through social media for the first half-hour they’re awake.

This not only wastes time but can also affect your mood and mindset for the rest of the day.

Instead, try this alarm clock.

This sunrise alarm clock is my favorite. I got it a couple of years ago and now refuse to use another alarm clock.

The alarm simulates the sunrise in your room. Using it has been life-changing because I get up way before the sunrises (yes even in the summer).

When you set the time for the alarm to go off you also decide what time to start the “sunrise effect”. You can choose to have it start 10-30 minutes before the alarm is set to go off. It will slowly get brighter and brighter throughout that time.

You also have the choice of alarm sounds that aren’t blaring and annoying first thing in the morning. I set mine to have birds chirping as my alarm.

With this sunrise alarm clock across the room, it lights up my whole room gradually to gently wake me up.

Try it for yourself. I will never go back to a regular alarm clock.

morning routine workbook

Final Thoughts

Now that you have a morning routine and an evening routine, set your alarm to do your first new morning routine tomorrow.

Start with your evening routine tonight and you should be all set to have an awesome and productive day tomorrow.

Don’t procrastinate until next Monday or next week. There will never be a “better” day than right now.

Set your alarm and start each morning on the right foot with your own personal morning routine.

For more inspiration on morning routines, check out these books:

The Miracle Morning – Hal Elrod

The 5 am Club – Robin Sharma

College Students: I made a morning routine blog post specifically for you. Go check it out!

More Blog Posts on Morning Routines:

The Incredible Magic of Having a Morning Routine

10 Amazing Benefits of Waking Up Early and Having a Morning Routine

How to Stop Hitting Snooze | 5 Smart Tips for Breaking the Habit

20 Morning Routine Ideas that will Make You Want to Get Up

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The Best Way to Start Your Day | 4 Things You Should Do Every Morning

best way to start your day

There are many articles and books that have claimed to have found the best way to start your day. But what they fail to mention is that no one’s morning routine should be the exact same.

In fact, if you copy someone else’s morning routine, you’ll never experiment to find exactly what you actually want and need in the morning. You will also always struggle to get up in the morning because you aren’t actually looking forward to doing someone else’s morning routine.

After many years of studying and testing out the best things you should do in the morning, I’ve come up with 4 categories of things that you should include in your morning routine. Not exact habits to do, but rather categories of habits so you can pick which things you want to do, while still experiencing the benefits of getting up earlier than everyone else.

So without further ado, here is the best way to start your day.

the best way to start your day

The Best Way To Start Your Day

The point of having a morning routine is so that you can start the day on your terms. So you can slowly wake up and not feel rushed before the sun even rises.

But when it comes to what exactly should be included in your morning routine, it can be hard to figure out. I’ve come up with 4 categories of things you should do every morning.

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4 Things You Should Do Every Morning

Spend Time In Silence

While many people say that you should meditate in the morning, I find that I can gain the benefits of sitting in silence in other ways too.

You could spend time journaling anything that comes to mind, many of my best ideas have come from a silent room with just me and my journal early in the morning.

Spend time in prayer and/or gratitude. Silently list in your head all the things you’re grateful for and thank God for each and every one of them. Over time this practice can shift your brain to a more positive mindset.

You can also spend time in reflection. Asking yourself a variety of reflection questions without the distraction of our noisy world will stimulate a lot of personal growth.

Try making a point to not play any music or turn on any technology in the first hour of your day. That could even be all the silence you need.

Benefits

Now I’m not just gonna tell you to do these things without listing why you should include this step in your mornings.

So here are 3 benefits of having a silence practice first thing in the morning:

  • It allows your mind to slowly wake up, rather than being jolted into having to making decisions.
  • Silence stimulates creativity. You’d be surprised how many ideas will come to you in the morning before you’re forced into the noisy world.
  • Silence lowers your blood pressure and calms racing thoughts. Therefore starting your day with little to no stress in your body. You’ll feel relaxed and calm.

Related:

5 Benefits of Gratitude Practice

What is Mindset and Why is it Important

The Importance of Self Reflection

Move Your Body

While going to the gym first thing in the morning is very beneficial, it can take up a lot of time.

You can gain the benefits of moving your body in the comfort of your own home in as little as 5 minutes in the morning.

Here are some simple ways to move your body:

  • Stretch your body as you get out of bed
  • Do a 15 minute yoga practice
  • Go for a walk around the neighborhood

Or if you’re feeling really ambitious, you could do a quick 15 minute HIIT workout right in your living room. Just do a quick search on youtube to find short but beneficial ways to move your body in the morning.

Benefits

Moving your body right away in the morning has so many benefits. Here are 3:

  • Leads to better concentration levels throughout the rest of the day
  • Helps fill your lungs with oxygen and increase blood flow throughout the body
  • Helps you wake up faster so you don’t feel groggy throughout the day

Do Something You Love

Before you have to start tackling the tasks that need to get done each day you should make time to do something you love. Be it a hobby or your favorite activity, doing something you enjoy first thing in the morning gives you time to be by yourself before having to do stuff for others.

Think of activities you enjoy doing that you often don’t have time for throughout the day and include some time to do them in the morning.

Maybe you love sewing or knitting; reading or writing stories, or maybe you really enjoy learning and researching different topics that interest you.

Take just 15-30 minutes in the morning, before other people who need you get up, and do something for yourself.

This not only lifts your mood right away in the morning, but you will be able to serve others better because you’re not pouring from an empty cup.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

This is the only thing in the morning that isn’t really a category of options because, honestly, you should really eat a healthy breakfast every morning.

We’ve always heard growing up that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And well, they weren’t lying to you.

You haven’t put anything in your body for 6-8 hours and if you keep your body from food any longer it’s going to be hard for you to stay awake and focus on your work.

You don’t have to make some huge elaborate breakfast, but you should eat something that’s not just a pop-tart for breakfast. Instead, give yourself something with nutritional value.

If you’re worried about not having enough time to make breakfast in the morning, you could make something the night before. There are many pre-made breakfast options, you just have to take the time to research and figure out what you like.

I personally make a huge protein smoothie the night before so all I have to do in the morning is grab it out of the fridge and go.

I’ve also made overnight oats or freezer breakfast sandwiches.

The options are endless. Just make sure it’s something you look forward to eating, otherwise, you’ll skip this step entirely.

morning routine workbook

Final Thoughts

If you choose an activity in each of these 4 categories you’ll be on your way to creating a morning routine that not only sets you up for success but that you also love and look forward to every night before you go to bed. Which will, in turn, make it easier for you to get up the next morning.

Plan your morning routine the night before and lay out everything you might need so that you’re brain doesn’t have to do much of the decision-making so early in the morning.

Have fun creating your very own morning routine specific to you because that’s the best way to start your day.

What are you going to include in your morning routine? Share with us the comments below.

More Blog Posts on Morning Routines:

10 Amazing Benefits of Waking Up Early and Having a Morning Routine

How to Stop Hitting Snooze | 5 Smart Tips for Breaking the Habit

The Incredible Magic of Having a Morning Routine

How to Create a Morning Routine and Stick To It

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10 Amazing Benefits of Waking Up Early and Having a Morning Routine

a girl waking up early

Ever since I established a morning routine and started waking up earlier, my life has changed. It’s amazing the benefits of waking up early can do for your morning routine, daily productivity, and your mindset.

I wasn’t always an early morning person. In fact, I was that kid in high school that would wake up just in time to get dressed and grab breakfast on my way out the door. I would rather hit my snooze button around 5-10 times before actually getting up.

But then at some point in college, I realized I needed to actually be awake in my 8 am classes or I wouldn’t pass. I needed to also be motivated to actually pay attention in class too.

Most mornings I would hit snooze until the last possible moment and feel groggy and unmotivated throughout the day.

Over time I discovered the amazing benefits of waking up early and having a morning routine. I also learned that many successful people are early risers.

In this blog post, I am going to share the amazing benefits I have discovered with waking up earlier and having a morning routine.

benefits of waking up early

What is a Morning Routine

From the very moment you get up your mind is going crazy thinking of all the things you have to do that day. 

Having a morning routine allows you to slowly wake up while doing the same tasks first thing every morning. These things don’t require as much brainpower.

Plus you can use that time for some morning self care.

Morning Routine Tips

Before I dive into the benefits of being an earlier riser, here are some other morning routine-related posts that you might find helpful when planning your morning routine.

How to Create a Morning Routine for a Super Productive Day

20 Morning Routine Ideas that will Make You Want to Get Up

How to Stop Hitting Snooze | 5 Smart Tips for Breaking the Habit

10 Smart Things to Include in Your Bedtime Routine for an Easier Morning

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10 Benefits of Waking Up Earlier

1. Better Prepares Yourself for the Rest of the Day

How you spend your morning affects how the rest of the day will go. If you jump out of bed feeling rushed or late, you’re more likely to feel anxious the rest of the day.

By getting up just a little bit earlier, you can take the time to slowly wake up and set your intention for the day.

2. Increases Your Productivity

If you wake up before everyone else, you are less likely to be distracted by texts and emails. Instead, you can get straight to work on your most important task for the day and you’ll have more time to work on it too.

3. Lowers Your Stress Level

When you take the time to start your days slowly and with intention, you’re less likely to feel stressed, anxious, or rushed later on in the day.

4. Boosts Your Morning Energy Levels

The reason many people dislike mornings is because their energy levels are lower in the morning. 

By getting up earlier, you’ll have time to do an activity that could increase those energy levels, like going for a walk, a run, doing a workout, meditating, or taking a cold shower.

5. You are Taking Care of Yourself First

My morning routine has become a dedicated time for self care. With a few extra minutes in the morning, you could make sure you’re starting your morning by first filling your cup.

Related: 20 Self Care Activities that Won’t Break the Bank

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6. Leads to a Healthier Lifestyle

If you get up early, even by just 30 minutes, you’d have time to do a quick workout or make a healthy breakfast.

This way you can refuel your body first thing so you’re ready to tackle the day.

7. You Become More Mindful

By waking up before everyone else in your house, there are fewer distractions. This means you can have a few minutes to do something mindful like quietly journaling or meditating.

8. You are a More Happier and Positive Person

Have you ever met a morning person? Have you noticed they always seem to be so happy before noon?

That’s because they had time to do something they enjoy doing in the morning.

When you wake up earlier, you are more likely to accomplish more, work on your personal development, and you can spend some time doing things you love.

9. You Crush Your Goals

People who wake up early in the morning are often the ones who set and accomplish more goals. Why? Because they have more time to do so.

They wake up early feeling motivated to tackle their goals first thing every morning.

I mean what else are you gonna do with that extra hour every morning.

You need a reason to get up earlier after all.

10. You Build Better Self-Discipline

Building habits is a lot of work, especially one that requires getting out of your warm bed when it’s still dark outside.

It takes a lot of self discipline to not hit that snooze button and get up before everyone else.

It will take some time for your body to adjust to getting up earlier. But if you fight through and build that habit, you’ll also be building that self-discipline skill that you can use in other areas of your life.

Related: How to Build Self-Discipline for Success

morning routine workbook

Final Thoughts

Waking up before everyone else, including the sun, isn’t easy at first. But over time you’ll come to reap the benefits above just like every other morning person.

You’ll also have so much more time to work on your own goals and aspirations.

Really, building the discipline to get up earlier is one of the first things I recommend when starting your personal development journey, because of all the extra time you gain during a day.

Start waking up earlier and begin creating the life of your dreams.

Which benefit of waking up early is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.

10 benefits of waking up early
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20 Morning Routine Ideas that will Make You Want to Get Up

morning routine ideas

Ready to create a morning routine but don’t know what to do during it? Try any of these 20 morning routine ideas and you’ll actually want to get up every morning.

20 morning routine ideas

20 Morning Routine Ideas

1. Make your bed

Making your bed can give you a sense of accomplishment right away in the morning. This little habit only takes about 2 minutes but will make you feel instantly better.

2. Drink water

Try to drink at least 8 oz of water right away in the morning. After sleeping for 6-8 hours you’re likely to be slightly dehydrated. The best way to wake yourself up is to drink a whole glass of water because being dehydrated causes fatigue meaning you’ll feel so tired, you’ll want to climb back into bed.

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3. Brush your teeth and wash your face

These two simple tasks you probably already do in the morning anyway but they are worth mentioning. After you’ve hydrated yourself, the next step to help keep you awake is brushing your teeth and washing your face. This way you are not only more awake and alert but you feel refreshed and clean.

4. Meditate

Try meditating within the first half-hour after waking up while your brain can be easily influenced to just concentrate on your breathing. Set your brain up for a calm day before it can even start worrying about the day’s events.

5. Affirmations

Right after meditating, I like to recite my affirmations. This is the perfect time to set intentions for the day and I love how my affirmations do that for me.

Currently my favorite affirmation is “There is nothing to fear because I cannot fail. I can only learn, grow, and become better than I ever have before.”

Related: What are Affirmations and How to Use Them

6. Read a book

My morning routine is when I work on my personal growth so I read personal development books during my reading time. They inspire me to shift my mindset and focus on my personal growth right away in the morning.

7. Journal

Right after reading, I like to journal. This helps me reflect on what I recently read and dive deeper into the subject. I can also journal about how I am going to incorporate the latest thing I learned into my day.

You can also do gratitude journaling and write about what you are thankful for in that given moment. Focus on this completely and with a smile on your face.

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8. Yoga

I love doing yoga in the morning. Stretching my whole body first thing helps me wake up all my sore and achy muscles from a long night’s rest.

9. A long warm shower

By getting up earlier you can enjoy a longer shower. This can be a simple but therapeutic thing to help refresh you every morning.

10. Coffee

I love my morning coffee ritual. While the water is warming in my kettle, I start filling out my daily log and making sure my to-do list for the day is ready for me the second I’ve finished my morning routine. And then I drink my coffee while reading my book.

11. Make a full breakfast

How many times do you just grab a granola bar on your way out the door in the morning? Now that you are getting up earlier, make sure to plan a delicious breakfast that you look forward to every day.

12. Read something informative while you eat

Instead of scrolling through social media or watching Netflix while you eat breakfast, why not learn something. You could find a news article to read or maybe catch up on your favorite blog *wink wink* (like this one?)

13. Exercise

Get your body moving right away in the morning. Whether it’s just some jumping jacks while the coffee is brewing or going for a run. Just get that blood pumping and wake up your body.

14. Dance in the kitchen

Turn on some fun music and wake yourself up by dancing while your making breakfast or waiting for your coffee.

15. Color

If making art is something you enjoy but don’t always have time for it during the day, spend a little bit of time in the morning on it instead. This will not only get those creative juices flowing right away but can also give you that motivation you need to get up earlier so you have time to do something you love.

16. Work on a side hustle

Maybe you are recently started thinking about starting a side hustle but can’t seem to find the time for it with your 9-5 job. Cut out an hour before your job to work on it instead of trying to stay awake after a long day at work. You may find it more enjoyable that way too.

17. Work on a goal

What are your current goals? Maybe you want to start a blog, or spend more time with your kids, or read more books this year. By waking up just a little earlier you’ll find those extra couple hours a week that you need to work towards your goals.

18. Get some sun

I know many people don’t see the sunrise until on their way to work for half the year but take advantage of any sun you can get right away in the morning. Soak in all the vitamin D possible.

19. Read inspirational quotes

Get some inspiration right away in the morning by reading some inspiring quotes. I like scrolling through a new app I found called Motivation. It has so many quotes that inspire me to keep working towards my goals.

20. Take your dog on a walk

Not only are you getting some exercise and fresh air but your puppy is loving you so much for spending some time with them.

morning routine workbook

Final thoughts on morning routine ideas

I hope you found something to try including in your morning routine. Remember no one’s morning will look the same. Make your routine unique to you with all the activities you enjoy and that will set you up for a productive day.

One more tip: don’t try to add so many things to your morning routine right away. That will be overwhelming and that is the exact opposite purpose of having a morning routine. Try to do just 1-3 new things at a time to see what you like best.

Which of these morning routine ideas was your favorite? Or was there something that I missed? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to know.

More Blog Posts on Morning Routines:

10 Amazing Benefits of Waking Up Early and Having a Morning Routine

How to Stop Hitting Snooze | 5 Smart Tips for Breaking the Habit

How to Create a Morning Routine for a Super Productive Day

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