How to Create a Morning Routine You Will Stick To

Every influencer on the planet will tell you about the importance of having a solid morning routine to start your day right. Whilst a lot of people have a strict ten step regime, others just have one or two things that they like to do every morning that sets them up for the day ahead. Both are okay, and morning routines are entirely personal preference, but if you are looking to establish one, here are a few ideas of things you can begin incorporating, and also tips on how to make it stick. 

What are the benefits of a morning routine? 

All those night owls and late risers might be rolling their eyes at the prospect of being productive first thing in the morning and think why. Well, there are lots of benefits to having a solid morning routine, and they are easier to implement than you might think. Just some of these benefits include: 

Increased mental clarity: Having set tasks to focus on when you wake up increases your brain's clarity and reduces anything that might negatively impact it, like stress or brain fog. 

Higher energy levels: Who wakes up feeling like they need 100 years more sleep? Establishing a morning routine that includes a set wake-up time helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, helping energy levels stay increased throughout the day. 

Increased productivity: Getting things done in the morning before work/family commitments automatically makes you feel more productive and gives you a better start to your day. This increases the chance that you will remain productive throughout the day too. 

Deciding What You Want and Need To Do 

The first step in creating a morning routine is to decide on what you want to do each morning, or what you know will help you to set your day up in the best possible way. These are obviously all dependent on how much time you have in the morning, but the list can be as long or as short as you like. A top tip here is to start small- choose one or two things that you want to begin establishing each morning and try to stick to them each day. Some things you can do include: 

Journaling 

Exercise 

Yoga/Pilates 

Eating a Good Breakfast 

Water 

Daily Vitamins 

Reading 

Planning the Day Ahead 

Waking Up Earlier 

Putting It Into Action 

When you have decided what you want to start incorporating into your morning routine, you need to put them into action and actually stick to them. Easier said than done perhaps, so how exactly do you make them stick? 

It All Starts With the Night Before 

My first tip is to start the night before. You give yourself a better chance of sticking to what you want to do in the morning if you are prepared for it before you even get into bed the evening before. Preparation is key- if one of the habits you want to start implementing is doing some yoga, for instance, make sure you choose the yoga video you want to follow the night before, get the clothes out you will wear when you do it, get your mat ready etc. Doing this means that when you wake up and the first thing you want to do is hit snooze and give up on your morning routine, you stand more of a chance of getting up and doing it, because it is there waiting for you. 

The same applies to anything that you decide to do in the morning- journaling? Get your notebook and pen out ready. Making a good breakfast? Decide the night before what you are going to eat, and prepare anything you can. 

Stay Disciplined 

The harsh fact is that establishing and sticking to a morning routine means having a serious amount of self-discipline, especially when that morning alarm goes off. By starting small, you can slowly incorporate things into your morning and try to do them every day to increase your chances of sticking to them into the future. Remind yourself why you are wanting to make better use of your mornings, and use that as motivation to get up and do it. The longer you stick to them, the easier they will be to do each day. 

Get Enough Sleep 

It probably goes without saying that if you don't get enough sleep, you are not going to be in a good position to wake up and start your morning off the way you want to. This goes back to the idea of your morning routine starting the night before- getting a good night’s sleep will make sure you wake up refreshed and ready to implement your new morning routine. 

Conclusion 

Morning routines are wholly unique to each individual, and are designed to be things that make you happy, make you feel productive and start your day in the best possible way. The key to creating a morning routine that you can stick to is to pick one or two things that you would like to do, and implement them slowly, keeping disciplined and doing them every day until they become a set in stone part of your morning. There are a wealth of benefits to having solid morning routines, and having one truly is the key to feeling and living your best.