How to Recharge Your Morning Routine
I haven't met or read about someone I respect who doesn't have some sort of daily routine. As I studied their habits and lives, I understood that they built their realities deliberately and I began emulating their practices until I found a combination that worked well for me.
Since I spent most of my adult life adhered to a corporate schedule, my time for such practices was early morning or late evening. Mornings were focused on reflective activities and evenings were for preparing for the next day. What I slowly realized once I brought my corporate career to a close and began my business is the routine that supported me so well for years was no longer relevant.
I’ve come to learn that there are a number of reasons why your current routine may be feeling old and tired. Sometimes you just need a break to refresh your mind and body. Other times, changing things up a bit will infuse some much needed energy. Or it could be that a full revamp is in order. Pay attention to how you feel. If you’re unmotivated, tired or stressed, it’s probably time to make some changes.
Which is why it’s important to find a morning routine that works for you – one you can stick to – because these practices set the tone for the rest of your day. So finding something you love that gives you a good dose of enthusiasm and energy is vital.
Life circumstances can be another reason why your routine may need to be modified. Perhaps you’re experiencing a life-altering event, such a birth or new job. Or perhaps your priorities shifted due to a new goal or interest. Maybe there’s been a change in your health profile or sleep schedule.
In my case, it was a combination: I had changed, my work environment changed, and the post-COVID world changed. It was time for a full revamp.
Before I share how to rework or create a morning routine, let’s spend a moment on the many benefits – why should we even establish such a routine? For me, it’s about waking up feeling more refreshed, connected and energized, ready to greet the new day.
And as a wellness coach, I love that morning routines can help improve your overall health and well-being. Specifically, they’ve been shown to improve mood; sustain concentration; reduce anxiety and stress; contribute to personal growth and development; provide an increased sense of purpose; and help you focus on what matters most. And if you choose to incorporate activities that include other people, such as taking a morning walk with a friend, it can also increase social connection.
Whether it’s moving your body, fueling with healthy food, or enjoying a little quiet time, you can give your body, mind and spirit a daily boost and start the day knowing that you already invested in yourself.
Before you settle on specific morning activities, give some thought as to why you’re establishing or updating your morning routine. Some things to consider include:
What benefits from your morning routine would you like to experience?
Do you have any commitments that might make it difficult to stick with your routine. And if so, what changes can you implement?
How can you make your routine efficient? If time is an issue, can you shorten timeframes or combine activities?
Would you like to use this time to try or learn new things?
Would you like to explore spiritual practices during this time?
Would you like to use this time for things you love such as listening to music, reading, spending quality time in nature or with your pet?
How might you experiment by mixing and matching different activities?
Will it help to team up with a friend for certain morning activities?
What can you do in the evening to make your morning routine easier?
How might you track your consistency and progress?
How will you revisit your routine and make adjustments as needed?
Now that you have a good idea of what you’re looking to get from a morning routine, you can align those intentions with activities. You can include any activity in your routine, but here are a few common ones to get you started:
Exercise – a great option for improving physical and mental health;
Meditation – contemplation techniques perfect for de-stressing and enhancing focus;
Mindfulness – can be combined with eating a healthy breakfast or preparing for the day;
Reading – for pleasure and for learning new things;
Journaling – reflecting for insight, emotional processing, or a way to track progress;
Connection – with nature, your breath, or a loved one;
Gratitude – expressing appreciation starts the day on a positive note.
So how do you put this all together?
Set your intention. Review your answers from the considerations questions and set your intention. What outcome would you like as a result of establishing or reworking your morning routine? Are you looking to improve your physical health, mental well-being, your productivity? Or would you like to establish a deeper connection with your loved ones or with your spirituality?
Determine your preferences and needs. What would best serve you and what do you enjoy? Do you love movement or want to feel energized? Or do you crave rest or would like to invite relaxation? Would you like to learn something new or spend time on a hobby?
Select your activities. Brainstorm all the possibilities and then choose the ones that align with your intention, preferences and needs. Then prioritize the activities you love. The more fun and enjoyable the morning routine, the more likely you’ll stay with it for the long run.
Coordinate with your schedule. How much time do you have each morning before you need to start your day? If you only have a short time, develop a routine that’s quick and easy. If you have more time, you can expand the number of activities or the length of time you spend each day.
Set yourself up for success. Put a support system in place to help you stay on track. And show yourself some compassion by being patient and open to experiment. Try different things until you find a routine you love that serves you.
It will take time to settle on a new supportive routine. After trying your initial sequence for a few weeks, revisit the process and make any changes you feel are needed. For the longer term, plan to revisit your morning routine periodically, especially when your life circumstances change.
There’s no one right way to begin your day, so find what works best for you. Over time, the benefits will far outweigh the earlier start to your morning. Above all, your routine should help you stay on track with your heart's desires.
I’ll leave you with the words from Marcus Aurelius, a practitioner of Stoicism, who is credited with saying, “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
Journal Reflections: What are the morning routines of those you admire? How is your current morning routine serving you? What changes or updates would you like to implement?