We’ve all read plenty of articles that tell us exactly what our morning routines ought to be.  While those articles are typically very  informative – and I don’t mean to imply otherwise –  I do think you should be selective when choosing a morning routine.  What you do in the first minutes and hours of your day should be tailored by you to suit your lifestyle.  To make it easier, I’ve compiled a list of tips that I’ve learned and practiced over the years.  For the best results, I suggest reviewing the entire list, and then mix and match these tips to create a customized plan that suits your lifestyle.

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Waking Up - This could set the tone for the entire day!

Traditional, blaring alarm clock: Time-tested and reliable for someone who prefers to avoid waking up with just minutes to spare before running out the door to work or school.

A favorite song: This one has a little bit more leeway to it, but on the bright side, it spares you the earsplitting noise of the alarm.

Sunlight: The most natural manner by far, but sadly, completely unreliable.  This method will only work if you have a flexible start to your day, or if you remember to keep your blinds open!

 

Replenishing - Hydration is a must!

Water: The bare minimum!  After (hopefully) eight hours of sleep, you haven’t given your body any fluids whatsoever, so this should be the first thing you do.

Lemon water:  A tart way to start your day.  It has vitamin C (among many other health benefits) and the sourness will help you wake up.

Water with apple cider vinegar:  Another favorite among the nutritionists.  If you can stomach the taste (I can’t!), it’s quite good for you, especially on an empty stomach.

Tea: With so many varieties to choose from, you’re bound to find something you like.

Coffee: It’s not exactly popular with the ultra-health conscious group, but if you’re used to drinking many cups a day, it’s hard to avoid.  If you want to kick your habit, try tea!  Many varieties still have quite a bit of caffeine so you won’t be going cold turkey.

 

Exercise - Get moving right off the bat!

A 7-minute workout: A good way to start your day and get your metabolism going.  It’s great if you don’t have much time in the mornings.

A brisk walk: Going outside for just 15 or 20 minutes can make a big difference.  Breathing fresh air and enjoying the quiet of the early morning sets the tone for a focused yet relaxed day.

High Intensity Interval Training: A very popular fitness trend, and one for which that you don’t necessarily need a gym.  Create circuits of burpees, pushups, planks, squats, lunges and repeat the set two to three times.

Yoga: No exercise routine is more relaxing than this.  Find your favorite instructor on YouTube and do some yoga first thing in the morning.  Unfortunately, this can be a bit time-consuming: some practices run as long as 30 or 40 minutes, but you can also find some at 10 minutes.

 

Stimulation - We’ve dealt with your body, now it’s time for something mentally stimulating!

Mass Media: I’ll be honest, television probably isn’t the best.  But, if it’s what works for you and what makes your mornings more tolerable, then that’s alright.  Looking to break out of a TV habit?  Find a YouTube channel on a topic you like, or an interesting podcast on iTunes.  You’ll be learning something as you ease into your day.

Read the news: If you’re the type of person that can’t stand to not know what’s going on, then this is essential.  Newspapers are great if you have the time, but if not, a mobile app works well too.

Read a book: My personal favorite!  You don’t need hours of free time to read – just 10 or 15 minutes a day can allow you to finish a book or two a month!  Reading early in the morning is a great way to quiet your anxiety about what’s ahead of you because it immerses you in a totally different world.

Write: If you’re a student, I highly recommend writing 250-500 words every morning.  It can be anything: a structured assignment, a personal writing project, a journal, or just free-writing.  Getting a few hundred words out first thing in the morning prepares your mind for a long day of writing for school.  And if you’re working on a book or an extended project, writing 500 words a day can get you to your goal a lot faster by avoiding procrastination and last-minute cramming. 

Journaling: Just because you’re not a student, doesn’t mean you can’t write in the morning! Journaling is a great way to curb anxiety.  If you have a tough day ahead of you, write about it.  It might help you figure out why you’re nervous, which is the first step towards calming down.  And if you’re feeling lazy and not motivated at all, then writing about your day can help get you excited and energized!

Learn something: If you’re a student, review your notes from yesterday’s lectures, or study your flashcards (even if the test is weeks away!).  If you’re not in school anymore, use your mornings to learn something new! As an example, studying a foreign language for just 20 minutes a day can get you really far in just a few months! The same goes for practicing a musical instrument, taking an online course, learning a new craft, etc. The key here is consistency.

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Journaling might help you figure out why you’re nervous, which is the first step towards calming down.

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Productivity - It’s time to get to work!

Calendar & To-Do list: When you’re sitting down, these should be the first two things you check just to make sure you won’t miss any morning appointments or forget about major tasks.

Email: Don’t get bogged down in emails – instead, develop a system that maximizes your efficiency.  Deal with each email when you read it.  If it’s a quick reply, type it out right away.  If it requires more time, immediately put it into your to-do list as a task.

Plan your day: Have a game plan.  It doesn’t have to be super-specific, but a rough outline is helpful.

 

You’re all set to get to work!  Hopefully you can select one or more tips from each category to assemble the perfect morning routine. 

 

Rena Slavin studies economics and political science, loves learning for learning’s sake, and is always searching for ways to improve.  She's well versed in the fields of motivation, productivity, efficiency, and lifestyle in general.  And of course, her favorite thing to do is to share what she knows with others and to learn from them. Learn more from her on blog RenaSlavin.Blogspot.com

 

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