Doable Morning Routine To Increase Productivity
The importance of how you start your day is impeccable(thought I’d kickstart this with a big word). A healthy morning routine sets you up for a productive day, to say the least, in case the rest of your day goes South. Here I’ll be providing a routine that works great for myself, and I’m sure it will get you feeling strong early in the day as well. I believe everyone can achieve it as it’s only a few short steps. It should be done within the first hour of waking up, which will set the tone for the rest of the day. Without further ado, here is my morning routine. I hope it brings something of value to you.
Get out of bed soon after waking up. Wake up without checking your phone, or keep it at a minimum. Maybe just important stuff like checking your TikTok account, jk obviously not. As hippie as this sounds, but see if you can wake up with a smile on your face. I know I never thought I would say something like this, but it feels good, so maybe try it. I care about getting seven hours of sleep every night, which is what most bodies need(some might need six, and some might need eight) So make sure you go to bed at 12 am if you have to wake up at 7 am.
After peeing and maybe pooping, washing your face, and hopefully brushing your teeth, maybe look in the mirror and notice a couple of things you like about yourself. You don’t have to do this every day, but it’s nice to remind yourself that at least you love you. It could be simple things like the way the lines around your eyes have formed to make them look so kind; aww.
Ok, this is a crucial step. If you don’t do it already, start ASAP. Drink warm water with lemon and honey. It has been a game-changer for me and my morning routine. The honey and lemon combination detoxifies the body, increases immunity, clears skin and nourishes hair, reduces infections, and helps with the digestive system by easing the passage of food. It has also been said that it helps with weight loss. The warm water is just lovely to drink first thing in the morning as it soothes the throat. Never drink cold water when you wake up, it shocks the body as the internal temperature is very different from ice-cold water.
Stretch your whole body. I do this up to 3-4 times a day. I’ve become so addicted to stretching that it feels weird to go about my day without at least stretching once or twice. I start from my legs, ankles, calves, quads, hamstrings, and I work my way up to my back (which feels incredible after hours of laying down) and then arms, neck, etc. I can make a video and show you how I do it.
Breathwork. Not sure if you’ve heard of this, but there are breathing exercises online and for free that if you do in the morning, better on an empty stomach, would be you doing an excellent service to your body. We go about our days almost holding our breaths, and our breath is such a valuable tool to get oxygen to your brain so you can think clearly and make better decisions. Doing breathwork every day for the past few months has severely affected me and my focus and brings me to the present moment and away from my head. I do the breathwork by Wim Hoff, I hope I spelled his name right, it’s on YouTube for free; without a doubt check it out!
Meditate. I know I know, you’re too busy. I was also before I lost my excuses and realized how important silencing the mind for a few minutes out of our crazy busy lives is. Mental health has become such a massive part of my being. I could never imagine not taking care of my most crucial body part, my brain. Meditating doesn’t have to be this boring thing where you sit down and do nothing for a few minutes. There are different ways you can meditate: You can meditate on your own after learning a few basic rules, or if you don’t want to, you can do a guided meditation, which is actually what I’m doing right now. There are many excellent apps like simple habits(what I use) or calm(what my boyfriend uses). Give it a try for a couple of months; it’ll help you with self-control, focus, and being present, among so many other things.
Take a cold shower. Something that I’ve always wanted to do, and now I can do it only sometimes, but hopefully soon, every day. I feel like it builds me mentally and helps strengthen my discipline. I don’t know, something about it makes you feel so energized, maybe the fact that the hardest part of the day is already over.
Get ready for work. Put effort into looking presentable. Not saying do a full face of makeup every day or wear your cutest outfit to your minimum wage job, but you should feel good about yourself and how you look when you leave the house. So maybe just brush your hair goddammit. If you don’t think you’re cute, how is anyone else going to?
There are so many other things I wish to add to my mornings in the future, like going for a run, or even trying to get a small workout in, but as of now, I’m pleased with this routine and plan to stick with it for a long time. I highly advise you to try it or at least a few of your favorite steps. Let me know what you think of it and what you would add to it, or if you already have one, I would love to hear about it.