5 Morning Routine Ideas to Kickstart Your Day

Ah, the fabled morning routine. I've been a sucker watching YouTube videos about the likes of Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson getting up super early before 4am. Successful CEOs and entrepreneurs also preach very early rises and packing in as much as they can devoting themselves to their output. I believe this isn't the case if you want to have a good day.

A successful morning routine is one that makes you feel good. What do you really want to do before heading to work (whether commuting on the train or going to the kitchen table)? Are there any habits you would like to develop and make an integral part of your daily life? What you choose to do should give you enjoyment rather than focusing solely on productivity.

You don't have to do everything. Restructuring your morning to add in 2 or 3 habits/tasks is a good starting point. By focusing your attention on what really matters you can give your utmost commitment to it. I learned this from Essentialism: The Discipline Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. Scrolling through Instagram and Twitter might not be the most essential task first thing in the morning. That time and energy can be dedicated to something more rewarding. You can focus on getting the right things done.

You might not land it on the first attempt. This gives you the chance to tweak it to suit you. When I started my graduate job, I tried to pack in too much. Yoga, meditation and gratitude journaling all immediately after waking up. I stopped, reassessed my situation and filtered out what wasn't required. I identified mindfulness practice as the most important thing for me to do in the mornings. I tried journaling however I when I journal I prefer not to be bound to a time constraint. I then don't need to rush through my thoughts and can think more naturally.

I say these activities can kickstart your day. This is because they leave you with a sense of satisfaction and a clear purpose of where to go next. I have tried all of the examples at some point and were helpful in certain situations. Here there are:

1. Meditation - Mindfulness practice. Focus on the breath. Even 1-3 minutes of this daily is beneficial. Don't panic if you start having random thoughts. That's normal. Just bring your attention back to the breath. If you're looking for guided practices I would recommend Headspace. If you are a student you can get it added on for free with your Spotify student membership.
2. Walking - if you work from home this one is great. This could be a time where can disconnect before sitting down to a barrage of meetings and emails. Or a chance to listen to a podcast, phone a friend or listen to music. In my very short stint of working from home, a short walk got some of my daily steps before the working day. I viewed this walk as my 'commute' and often paired it up with a form of the next one.
3. Reading - whether that be audiobooks or a physical book, reading relaxes you and can slow you down before the hectic day begins. It can also be your time to learn something new and prepare your brain for work.
4. Journaling - The simplest form of journaling in my experience is writing down how you feel at that moment. If you sit down and can't think of anything to write practice gratitude. What are you most grateful for today? I sometimes pair this up with a cup of coffee and note my thoughts.
5. Exercise - instead of a walk you might fancy a run? Or even some yoga? Do some pushups while you wait for the kettle to boil. Do a few squats while the shower heats up. I followed a workout program thats included 3 sets of pushups to failure 5 days a week. This definitely woke me up before heading to work.

I keep my morning routine fairly simple. Wake Up. Shower. 20 minutes of meditation. Breakfast. Then off to work. I have a 35 minute commute which I use to listen to an audiobook or podcast. I prefer not to rush in the morning. I find taking my time allows me to awake properly and ready myself for the day ahead.

Could I make this routine better? I may find myself changing things up to keep myself feeling good in the mornings. Have I missed out on what you consider to be the most important aspect of a morning routine? Does a good morning routine actually start the night before?

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