The Best Morning Routine for a Productive Day

For many of us, the morning is our most productive time of the day. That’s why it’s so crucial to have a morning routine that works for you. The best morning routine is one that ensures you’ll get the most out of your day.

That said, not all of us are morning people by nature. Nevertheless, to be the most productive you can be in our modern society, mornings are a critical time. And with that in mind, we’ve put together some tips so that you can have the best morning routine that’s ideal for you.

1. Wake Up at the Best Time for You

While a lot of advice says you have to get up at 5am to be the most productive, if you’re struggling with this idea, you’re not alone. A lot of us are not naturally morning people. If you’re a night owl and stay up until midnight, getting up early is only going to make sure you’re not getting enough sleep.

Some people do great on six or seven hours of sleep, but the recommended eight hours is best for most of us. Given this fact, if you stay up until midnight, that may mean 8 am is your perfect time to wake up and start the day. It’s far more important to get in tune with your body’s natural rhythm than to force yourself to be a morning person. 

However, if you’re forced to wake up early because of your job, you can train yourself to be a morning person. Establish the best morning routine and stick with it. Your body will get used to it and you’ll be in the best place to have a productive day.

2. Prepare the Night Before

Mornings can be chaotic and it’s easy to forget something if you’re not prepared. For this reason, it’s best to plan your morning ahead of time. You may want to set the timer on your coffee maker and prepare your breakfast and lunch the night before. It also helps to have your laptop and other things you need for the day prepared and ready to go.

It’s also crucial to eliminate decision-making tasks from your morning routine. Each day you have a limited amount of energy and willpower. Using too much of these things in the morning can drain your energy for the rest of the day. 

Write out your schedule the night before, or at least the things you intend to accomplish. That way you won’t have to spend your morning deciding what you should do for the day and can instead get right to it. 

3. Exercise and Hydrate

It’s much easier to be productive if your body feels healthy and energized. Nonetheless, you might not be that excited about working out first thing in the morning. Don’t worry. You don’t have to go to the gym or run around the neighborhood. What’s most important is that you move around and get your blood flowing.

While there are certainly those who get up and run ten miles every morning, you may be more comfortable with a brisk walk. You could also use a treadmill or go biking. However you like to move around, do it. If you like jumping jacks or prefer to bang out a few pushups, that’s okay too.

Additionally, it’s crucial to hydrate first thing in the morning. While a protein-rich breakfast will provide you with a boost of energy, drinking lots of water will help that energy to last until the end of the day. Some people like to drink as much as a liter of water within the first 45 minutes of waking up. Try it and you’ll be surprised how much energy it gives you.

4. Focus Your Mind for the Day Ahead

How you start your day sets the tone for everything that comes after. If you can gather your focus at the beginning of the day, you’ll be much more likely to maintain it. It’s crucial to find a way to get your mind, and not just your body, ready for the day.

You don’t have to schedule an hour-long meditation session, but something that slows things down for a bit and allows you to think for a minute is good. Some ideas include, journaling, yoga, reading something inspirational, or going on a quiet walk. This should be your special time to center yourself and gain a positive and proactive attitude about the day ahead.

Some people like to list things that they are grateful for or remind themselves of their life’s goals. While it doesn’t have to be as grand as these things, this quiet time is a great way to ensure you’re able to approach your day in a positive way.

5. Start With the Biggest and Most Important Task of the Day

Part of the best morning routine is preparing yourself to manage the most challenging parts of your day. If done correctly, you should have the most energy at the beginning of the day and be ready to tackle the biggest and most important task first.

We know it’s tempting to procrastinate. Many of us allow ourselves to be distracted by emails or decide to hammer out a few easy tasks before starting on the big one. However, you’re the most focused at the beginning of the day and have the most mental power you’re going to have, so why not get started on that challenging task?

Still not convinced? Well, building a habit of always tackling the biggest job of the day can give you a huge boost of accomplishment. That boost will then carry you through the rest of the day feeling like you can do anything. Still, some prefer to clear away a few small tasks to build up the momentum for the big one, and we can’t fault you for that if that’s what works best for you.

Mornings don’t have to be chaotic. Developing the best morning routine will set you up for the perfect day. Starting the day out right can mean the difference between a productive and happy day and dragging your feet through everything you have to do.