Is Your Morning Routine Working?

As the mornings have got lighter (and warmer) my morning routine has evolved. I reviewed what I’m trying to achieve by purposefully using the first hour of my day to ensure that it’s not just habit shaping those early moments.

I decided that my intentions are to:

• Look forward to getting out of bed
• Feel ready for the day
• Get some exposure to sunlight (however grey!)

I long ago kicked the habit of looking at my phone when I get up as that never helps me feel ready for the day, it just saps my energy. I try to get up before my alarm and if I don’t manage that then within the first song that plays.

My first task helps me to feel ready for the day: I put away the dishes that I’ve washed up and left to dry over night. Having a clear space helps me to clear my mind somehow. At the same time I make a cup of tea.

My second task is about Getting some exposure to sunlight (and also helps with looking forward to getting out of bed as long as the weather isn’t too miserable): I go out into the garden to check if the bird feeders need refilling and to water my newly planted trees.

Looking forward to getting out of bed is mainly achieved by reading being the main part of my morning routine. This is something that has been consistent since I first started. Oh, and that cup of tea!

If it’s warm enough (and not raining) I will sit and read with my cup of tea in the garden. If not, then in the conservatory where I can still here the bird song and enjoy whatever natural light is available.

Image by author

I also look forward to the next part of my routine which is around ten minutes of yoga. This may be however I want to flow (with or without music) or I will follow a video from SaraBethYoga or Yoga with Kassandra. Yoga definitely helps me to feel more ready for the day.

Finally, also to help me feel ready for the day I review my daily to do list. I work out what can be achieved quickly before I get going with the rest of the day and decide what the priority task is.

If you’ve been following the same routine for a while ,or if you’ve not really thought about how you start your day, then set aside some time to consider how to start your day intentionally. Or do it now! I suggest the following steps:

1. Work out what time you need to get up to give you at least 30 minutes before you need to start your day.
2. Work out when to aim to be asleep by so that you can wake up at the time you have chosen.
3. Decide what you want to achieve by having a morning routine. This is less about what you want to do and more about how you want to feel.
4. Think of as many things that you can do first thing in the morning that will help you achieve those intentions.
5. Work out which of those will fit into the time you allowed yourself in step one. (You may find yourself revisiting steps one and two at this point if there is something you think will really help you start your day but you feel you won’t have time.)
6. Put your routine into action and see whether it works.

You may find that straightaway something isn’t right and want to readjust; that’s fine. Equally you might want to give it a week or so and then review and make changes at that point. It’s your morning, there are no rules here!

The key is remembering what the current purpose of your routine is and whether it’s achieving that purpose.

Good luck! I’d love to hear about your intentions if you’d like to share in a comment.