The way you start your morning will have a massive impact on the rest of the day ahead of you. All of us know how crummy it feels to wake up on the wrong side of the proverbial bed and have the rest of your day grind away at a slow and tedious pace because of that persistent sluggishness. There’s one neat trick that can help you overcome the morning slog once and for all - fixing a routine and sticking to it.
Now, that’s not to say life won’t throw its curve balls at you. Don’t fret if you can’t keep up with your morning routine perfectly, every single day of the week. What counts is putting in the effort.
Far too many people shy away from setting themselves a good morning routine, despite its many benefits. Especially those with kids or busy schedules that are subject to change. But a morning routine doesn’t need to take hours or tonnes of planning - it can be as simple as you like. Here are eight simple things you can aim to do by 8am, to kick start your morning routine.
1. Don’t be tempted by the snooze button
I know it might seem like your best friend in the moment, but the snooze button on your phone is in fact an enemy in disguise. Overall, stretching out the time it takes you to emerge from sleep will disrupt your body’s natural clock and result in you feeling tired and lethargic instead of well-rested. When your alarm rings, fight the urge to hit snooze, and instead get yourself out of bed immediately. If you feel that you simply can’t bring yourself to rouse when your alarm first sounds, you should tackle this by adjusting your bedtime and sleep conditions, to better allow you to complete a full sleep cycle, rather than resort to the snooze button.
2. Drink water
It might sound too simple to be worth saying, but you might be surprised how many people forego this essential part of a morning routine. Your body undergoes a lot of restoration throughout the night, and uses up water doing so. If you feel groggy in the morning, chances are you’re dehydrated. Make a habit of taking a tall glass of water to bed with you, or better yet, a refillable water bottle, to make rehydrating an effortless part of your morning routine. Drinking water is an essential part of waking up - your brain simply can’t function without good hydration.
3. Throw on the washing
Don’t let that pile of clothes building up in your bedroom become too big to handle. Keep on top of your dirty clothes by sticking on a load of washing in the morning. Invest in a divided hamper that allows you to presort your washing - that way you don’t have to waste time searching for rogue socks in your white washing. Simply grab one of the hampers and chuck them in the machine. This way your clothes will be ready to dry by lunch time, and never again will you have to worry about being stuck without something clean to wear.
4. Plan your meals for the day
Meal planning can be a divisive topic - some people love to plan every meal for the next week in advance, and others prefer to go with the flow and see what mood takes them. Between the two lies a nice compromise that can be added to your morning routine. By the end of the morning, make an effort to know what you are going to eat for dinner. This helps to add structure to your day and gives you something to look forward to in the evening as you go about your business!
5. Write a to do list
The day passes much smoother when you know what you need to get done. Making a habit of writing a to-do list each day will help you to stay on top of your priorities. Not only does it add structure and prioritisation to how you go about your day, but it’s one of the best ways to avoid work overload. Writing down everything you hope to achieve helps in avoiding work overload. By seeing everything you have taken upon yourself to complete during the day, you can quickly identify when you may have bitten off more than you can chew. Save time and stress with a quick to-do list in the morning.
6. Practice mindfulness
Start the day right with some time truly for yourself. Mindfulness is the practice of pushing all the noise from your mind and simply existing in the present moment. It takes practice, but doing so is the perfect way to connect with yourself. Avoid your phone and other electronics until you’ve taken the time to clear your mind and take a moment that is for yourself and yourself only.
Starting your morning with a reliable routine creates productivity and a sense of control that lasts throughout the whole day. Put these tips into practice and see how your day can change for the better!
