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Productivity is inevitably tied to discipline and routine. The internet is littered with morning routines from billionaires and influencers. Many of these morning routines can be tiring, cumbersome, and nearly impractical for the average person. Waking up at 5 am and taking cold showers is not everyone's cup of tea. If anything, overly rigorous morning routines can be demotivating. Throughout the years, I have perfected a morning routine that is balanced, achievable, and sets me up for a productive day. Read on, to see the exact breakdown of my morning routine!
Wake Up Time
I am a professional writer, so I work from home. Many people across a variety of careers, now work from home. Even if you have a traditional job, you can still adapt these tips to suit you. I wake up everyday at the same time. Why? Because, it builds habit and routine. It also helps maintain a healthy sleep cycle. I wake up at 9 am everyday. Why 9 am? Because, for me it is an achievable time where I would not feel groggy and sleepy all day. Now, 9 am maybe too early for some and too late for others.
The trick is to identify a time that you can get up at, feel well rested, and have proper time in the day ahead of you to get tasks done. For some people, that time may be 10 am. For some people, that time can be 7 am. Take the time to identify which wake up hour works for you. It is best not to wake up too late that miss you out on a chunk of the day and not to wake up too early that you shuffle through the day like a zombie.
Ditch The Screens
We are all guilty of grabbing our phones and doom scrolling as soon as we wake up. This wastes time and breeds procrastination. Avoid your phone. Just get out of bed and get on with your day. Go to the bathroom and start your morning care routine. Get dressed and fix up your appearance. If you look good, you will feel good. You will be more likely to then seize the day.
Nutritious Breakfast
Prep yourself a compact and nutritious breakfast. If you munch on something too heavy, too sweet, or laden with carbs, you will put yourself in a sluggish state before you have even tackled the day. Identify healthier options you actually enjoy eating and keep a few quick recipes on deck. After, your meal, make your drink of choice. This can be a cup of coffee, tea, green juice, or even a smoothie. It is best to take caffeine after you have food in your system. It is just healthier for your gut this way.
Relaxing Activity
Before you start out the day, partake in a more leisurely activity to get the creative juices out. This will help you look forward to your mornings. This can be any short activity you enjoy, such as watching the news, reading a few pages of your current book, doing a yoga flow, adding in a few strokes to your painting, clicking in a few more pieces to a puzzle, playing a strategic mind game, listening to music or a podcast, journaling, you get the point. Anything that lights you up, do it for a short moment. This will put you at ease and help you start the day on a positive note.
Take A Brisk Walk
I am a huge advocate for movement in the mornings. It wakes the body and mind up. It leaves you in an energized and elevated state. Some folks may not want to pack in a whole workout session early in the morning. A short walk is a good compromise. You get sunlight, you get your steps in, you get to greet the world, and you feel good before you sit down to work. If you commute to work, take the time to walk to the building, use the stairs instead of the elevator, and take the longer walking route to your job.
Plan For The Day
Draft up a quick to-do list and audit your previous to-do list for any unfinished tasks. Order your tasks and factor in mini-breaks in between the tasks. A checklist helps give your brain little hits of dopamine when you cross off tasks. It motivates you to keep working. Be practical with your to-do list and do not overwork yourself. Slow and steady is the key. Consistency is key. Overworking only leads to burnout.
Some people like to use fancy planners and bullet journals. You can if you want to. But if you are not into stationary in that sense, a little notepad and pen will do just fine. If you are more digital-oriented, Google calendars and Notion are both great resources for planning. Do what works for you. After, I have planned for the day. I am ready to start working.
Wrap Up
This is the exact morning routine I follow. It does not require you to have a fancy or unattainable lifestyle. It does not take up too much time. It is doable and practical. You want to set up a morning routine you can actually follow and stick to for a long time. Adapt these tips to your routine and circumstances. It is simple, yet effective.
A proper and thorough morning allows you to seize the day. Make the A.M. hours count!
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