How to Create a Productive Morning Routine

What makes a morning routine productive? Well, in my opinion it sets you up to be in the right mindset to work toward and achieve your goals. Depending on your goals and personality, what does that is going to be different for everyone, but I'm going to share the morning routine I've created for myself and why each step is included. Maybe you'll get some inspiration from it!

My morning routine varies some depending on if its a workday or weekend, how much sleep I got the night before, etc. but it serves as a guide for how I start my day no matter what.

Step One: Wake up when my alarm goes off without hitting snooze.

This one has been a struggle for me and some mornings it still is. I've considered buying an alarm clock to set besides the one on my phone to keep across the room or buying a daylight alarm clock that wakes you up with artificial sunlight but ultimately decided against both because I really just need to get my lazy butt out of bed. Waking up at the same time every day (or at least most days) helps me to keep a consistent sleep schedule so that I'm getting enough sleep, wide awake when I need to be and tired at bed time.

Step Two: Put on an uplifting podcast or some music.

This helps me to wake my mind up and get the juices flowing. I also find that it boosts my mood. What I choose to put on depends on how I'm feeling when I wake up. If I'm feeling groggy, I may put on a some naturescape sounds from the Calm app. If I'm feeling cheerful, I may put on some upbeat music. (I keep it at a low volume considering I live in an apartment and it's usually 5 am.) Other times, I choose a podcast. I don't take five minutes trying to decide what I wanna hear that morning, I just got with my first instinct and get moving.

Step Three: Take my my vitamins and supplements.

This one is pretty self explanatory I think. I just take the vitamins and supplements that I personally need. I prefer to do it before brushing my teeth because one of them is in the form of a gummy. This also triggers me to start drinking my daily gallon of water.

Step Four: Brush my teeth, floss, put on deodorant, brush my hair..you know, the basics.

I basically make myself presentable for the world (really just my workout partners) at this point. Don't wanna be stinky in the gym.

Step Five: Change into my workout clothes.

Again, this one is self explanatory.

Step Six: Journal.

At this point I sit down with my bullet journal. I look at my weekly spread to remind myself any to dos and then get started on my gratitude list. I like to make this the first part of my journaling for the day to get in the mindset of gratitude. I'm a firm believer that when you are grateful for what you have, God or the universe or whatever you believe in will give you more to be grateful for. It also just puts me in a positive headspace. After that, I'll jot down and read out my daily affirmations. Next I move on to my prayer. If you read my post about "How I'm Becoming the Best Version of Myself: Spiritually" you'll know that I pray in the form of writing in my journal. This helps me shift my focus to my relationship with God and helps me try to keep it there throughout the day. Finally, if I have anything I want to get off of my chest or process, I'll journal about that.

Step Seven: Meditate for at least five minutes.

I use my Calm app to meditate every morning. Usually I choose a 10 minute meditation but if for some reason I don't have ten minutes, like my dog is already up and ready for her morning walk, I'll choose a five minute one. My therapist has been encouraging me to get into meditation as a way to learn to manage my anxiety with mindfulness for over a year, but I've only recently gotten into it. I still find it difficult because I get easily distracted and can't seem to always just "observe" my thoughts and move them along but I know I'll get better at it with time.

Step Eight: Open my curtains and blinds and make my bed.

This part of the process ensures that I don't get back in my bed if I'm feeling lazy and just gets me in the mindset of being productive and completing tasks. There's science on the impact making your bed every morning has on you. Plus, who doesn't love crawling into a made bed at night? That is, if my dog doesn't destroy it during the day trying to get under the covers.

Step Nine: Take a daily progress picture.

This is something I've included in my morning routine because I know I'm starting 75 Hard January 1st. I'll share more about that in a future post.

Step Ten: Walk my dog.

I take my dog for her first walk of the day so she can potty and get some exercise in. Typically I'll throw my headphones on and put on an audiobook or podcast and walk her for about 20 minutes around the apartment complex.

Step Eleven: Workout.

This one is pretty self explanatory too. I walk down to my garage gym with my workout partners and get a workout in.

Step Twelve: Feed my dog and myself breakfast.

No explanation needed. A girls gotta eat! This is also when I make myself a nice hot cup of tea or an iced coffee while I cook or prepare breakfast. Speaking of tea, let me put you tea lovers on something real quick...chai tea with maple syrup and a little bit of caramel creamer. (I used the almond milk caramel creamer from ALDI. Its bomb.) When I tell you this will change your life....please do yourself a favor and try it and then leave a comment letting me know how much you love it!

Step Thirteen: Shower, morning skincare, get dressed for the day.

Obviously since I worked out and I'm a sweaty mess at this point, I need to shower. I've gotten in the habit of doing my morning skincare immediately after my shower and then of course I get ready for the day. I don't really wear makeup these days (I haven't in a year - this is a story in itself, maybe a future post.) and I don't usually blow-dry my hair so getting ready is pretty quick for me.

Step Fourteen: Start work at 9 am.

I know fourteen steps sounds like A LOT, but a lot of these steps take as little as 30 seconds so it really doesn't take long to get through most of them. I usually get up between 5 and 5:30 am and I'm walking my dog by 6:30, starting my workout at 7 and so on. I allow myself plenty of time because it's nice to take my time and let my morning routine be a form of relaxation and self-care.

One thing I didn't mention in any of the steps is that I have two rules for myself in the mornings.

1. No social media until noon UNLESS it's work related after 9 am.

2. No work (including emails) before 9 am.

I have these rules for myself so that, as I mentioned, my morning routine can be a form of relaxation and self-care. I used to get on social media first thing in the morning before I even got out of bed. I'd start my day off looking at other people's lives rather than focusing on my own life and goals or get sucked into the rabbit hole and be scrolling for hours..talk about unproductive. The no work before 9 am rule exists because once I check my email or start even one work task, that's it. There's no going back, my work day has begun. Mornings are my me time to focus on myself and my goals, work can wait.

There you have it. That's my morning routine. It's my me time and allows me to relax while achieving and focusing on my goals to become the best version of myself.

What's your morning routine like? If you don't have one yet, what are you waiting for girl? Get on it!