7 Habits for a Productive Morning Routine

A healthy morning routine leads to a productive day. A few lifestyle changes and other morning rituals can help you become a better version of yourself.

A few years ago, I used to be the person who woke up all groggy in the morning after snoozing my alarm at least a dozen times and then rushing to get ready for work. And you can predict how the rest of my day went. I hardly had the energy to focus on anything and barely finished my daily tasks.

Not to mention, I was spending a pretty slow-paced and monotonous life where my only objective of the day was to hit the bed at night finally. Sounds awful, right?

What was even more discouraging was that more than half of my friends and colleagues had the same lazy routine, and to be honest, all of us were pretty sick of it. We all wanted to achieve something in our lives, only if we could get out of bed on time!

And I’m sure our situation resonates with many of you, too. And that is why I spent hours upon hours reading about the most successful people out there and what their morning routine looks like.

I found that the most brilliant scientists, sports prodigies, rising entrepreneurs, or fine arts whizz all had a healthy morning routine. They know the importance of setting the day’s tone right from the start.

So if you are also struggling with staying active throughout the day, this post includes seven habits for a productive morning routine that will help you start the day with a bang!

1. Set straight your nights

Getting out of bed in the morning is so difficult because we do not get adequate sleep. According to a survey, a whopping 35.2% of American adults get less than seven hours of sleep at night. That makes for a vast majority of sleep-deprived individuals in a community.

Our brain needs to rest after a long and tiring day. Sufficient and peaceful sleep is crucial for waking up active the following day. Ensure that your body and brain are getting enough rest to start over the next day.

Here are a few tips to help you get better sleep at night:

• Set a time for rest. Being consistent with a routine has positive effects on our brains. Fix a time for hitting the bed and stick to it even on weekends.
• Indulge in relaxing activities at night. Read a book, take a warm bath, drink hot milk, or take a small stroll in your backyard. Avoid doing anything that requires strenuous activity.
• Avoid using screens at least an hour before going to bed. Television, mobile, and laptops emit radiations from their screens that trigger our brains and keep us awake at night. Switch off these gadgets an hour before your bedtime.
• Limit your caffeine consumption. Caffeine affects everyone differently. Observe if a certain amount disturbs your sleeping pattern. Consume decaf coffee or tea, especially at night.
• Declutter your bedroom. An untidy room provokes anxiety and unease. Keep your bedroom free of anything unnecessary and avoid hoarding.

2. Wake up with some time at hand

Hitting the snooze button for five extra minutes of sleep may seem like the best way to wake up fresh, but it is a very unhealthy habit. It takes away any spare time you could have to go through your morning rituals peacefully. Instead, you will find yourself running to get to work in time and end up with a headache.

Here are a few tips that can help you get up the first time your alarm goes off:

• Get a good night’s sleep. As we already discussed, a productive morning starts with a peaceful night’s slumber.
• Keep your alarm at a distance from you. Most of us set the alarm on our phones and put them under or beside our pillow. When the alarm goes off, we conveniently hit snooze in our sleep. When I kept my phone at a distance, say on the side table on the opposite side of the bed, I had to get up to turn the alarm off. Eventually, the break in my sleep led me to get rid of my laziness and out of bed.
• Keep your slippers and sweaters nearby. People dread getting out of bed in winter because they know they will be met with a cold floor and freezing temperatures. Putting your slippers under the bed and a sweater nearby will help you overcome these predicaments.

3. Start your day with a glass of water

Water does wonders to your body. Our bodies are dehydrated when we wake up after a whole night’s sleep. 

Drinking a glass of water in the morning replenishes our bodies. It makes up for any dehydration we may have suffered from at night. It even helps in losing weight and improving our mental performance.

Try to keep a pitcher full of water and a glass in your room and drink a glass before breakfast, tea, or coffee.

4. Kick-start with a healthy meal

Breakfast is often dubbed the most important meal of the day for all the right reasons. It is your first intake of energy after more than eight hours usually. Skipping breakfast means your body could go into a glucose deficit, eventually leading to binge eating.

Hence, a healthy breakfast is crucial in maintaining or even losing weight. A yummy and delicious breakfast can also motivate you to get out of bed and start your day.

5. Meditate to calm your mind

Meditation is an excellent way to start your day on a peaceful note. It boosts your energy and takes your stress away.

A few reps of deep breathing in a relaxing yoga pose can help you calmly navigate your day. Here are a few benefits of meditating in the morning:

• Lowers blood pressure
• Stabilizes heart rate
• Reduces anxiety
• Builds stamina for the day
• Takes away negative thoughts
• Increases focus
• Boosts productivity
• Keeps your mind and body healthy

6. Work out your muscles

An active start to the day is proven to keep you high-spirited throughout the day. People with the most healthy bodies often hit the gym first thing in the morning. 

Even if you are not for high-intensity muscle training, some light exercises or a morning jog should be enough to wake up your muscles.

Develop a morning routine with a quick workout session before you start work. You can include any of the following activities as per your preference:

• Running or jogging across your block
• Stationary cycling in front of the television
• Practicing yoga for muscle and brain resilience
• Cardio for strengthening your core
• Weight lifting for muscle building

A morning workout is even more beneficial for boosting productivity when working from home.

7. Make a to-do list for the day

You are bound to lead a productive day if your day’s tasks are all jotted down. It may be an email you need to send or groceries you need to buy.

Listing your goals for the day helps you plan and get things done. It is beneficial if you struggle with forgetfulness, in which case, here’s a course that helps in maximizing memory.

Conclusion

Mornings set the tone for our entire day. A sluggish and lifeless start won’t do any good to your day.

A healthy morning routine includes ample sleep, rehydration, a hearty breakfast, meditation, exercise, and a set of goals for the day. Include these activities in your morning rituals and watch your productivity skyrocket.

A course on increasing your productivity can be a cherry on top. So are you ready to kick-start the most fantastic day in your life?