Is Having a Morning Routine Important?

Mornings, for many, are hard. A common routine among most is to hit snooze as much as possible until our motivation to not be late kicks in. Some may lay in bed the night before and think "Tomorrow will be the day I get up earlier and start really getting my life together", and the next morning is where that idea goes to die. Why does this happen?

Health specialists have long been studying the benefits of having a morning routine and how it comes with science-backed benefits, but practicing it correctly might be the most important part.

Start Your Day the Right Way

How you start your morning can not only make or break your routine but your entire day.

What Not To Do:

• Check emails, calendars, or to-do Lists.
• Look at your phone immediately after waking up
• Think about everything you need to do during the day

Your morning should be a time that preps you for the decisions you are going to make during the day. Starting your morning with with any actions that have the potential for stress such as checking social media, listening to voicemails, or answering emails can create decision fatigue before your day even begins.

Set a Guiding Feeling for the Day

Setting a "North Star", or guiding intention for the day can be a simple, stress-free way to get you thinking and motivated for the day ahead of you. Ask yourself, "How do I want to feel today?" and pick one feeling to guide you. Do you want to feel happy, calm, grateful, etc? It could be the same feeling every morning, or something different. This will help get you excited for the day, practice positive mental health, and align your choices to your values.

Allow Yourself to Ease Into the Day

Some people may think, "Well if I can't check my phone in the morning, I don't know what else to do". We have become so accustomed to picking up our phones for immediate stimulation, but this puts your morning in jeopardy as you are not only starting your day with a distraction, but you may see something negative as well. There are other, more positive ways to stimulate the mind and body.

Listening to Music

If the idea of hearing anyone talk first in the morning, let alone sing, stresses you out, try listening to lyricless music to get your day going.

Physical Activity

Before you panic and click away, remember your morning routine should be stress-free, so if the idea of waking up and working out sounds like too much, try doing light stretching to start your morning. This can even be done while you're still in bed.

Remember that success does not come immediately, and practicing and tailoring a morning routine that fits your needs will take time. Don't give up!

Sources Referenced:

Greenstein, L. (2017, August 9). The power of a morning routine. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/August-2017/The-Power-of-a-Morning-Routine

Smith, M. (2022, December 19). 3 morning habits to help you be happier and more productive at work, according to psychologists. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/18/psychologists-morning-habits-to-help-you-be-happier-more-productive.html#:~:text=Set%20an%20intention%20for%20the%20day