I am lucky enough to have always been a morning person. Much to my mother’s despair, I was the child up at 5:30am on a Saturday morning wanting to start the day. Since then, I have always found that I am most productive in the morning and I thoroughly enjoy getting up early and carrying out certain routines to get myself set up and prepared for the day ahead.
I personally like to give myself an hour in the morning before I leave the house to carry out my routine. I get up and wash my face. Next, I make myself a coffee and whilst I drink this, I get dressed (my clothes are already neatly laid out) and do my make-up. I then always have the same breakfast (porridge with honey) before brushing my teeth and leaving the house with no hassle or effort. Sometimes, if I’m feeling extra energetic and organized, I’ll get up even earlier to go for a run or head to the gym for an hour so that I don’t have to do it in the evening.
So, that’s my morning routine. You’re probably wondering if it’s worth you trying to get into one too. The answer is yes, and here’s 10 simple reasons why…
1. It makes you more productive
Having a morning routine has been shown to make people more cooperative, driven and productive throughout their day. These are all qualities that lead to successful and fulfilling working lives!
2. You are more likely to make healthy choices throughout the day
For example, I find that if I exercise in the morning, I will be less inclined to snack on chocolate throughout the day. Similarly, when I eat my healthy breakfast, I am less hungry and snack far less throughout the day.
3. It saves money
If you’re in a rush in the morning, you probably won’t have the time to make yourself a coffee or eat breakfast. This bad habit only encourages you to grab a coffee and a muffin on the way to work, which the cost of adds up over the course of the week!
4. It puts us in a better mood
When things run smoothly, we are all less frustrated and annoyed. Having an easy and simple morning routine sets us up for the day and encourages a positive mindset. Furthermore, if you decide to exercise in the morning, this releases all kinds of endorphins which will lift your mood throughout the day.
5. A morning routine reduces stress
Simple things like knowing it takes exactly an hour to conduct your morning routine means that you won’t feel stressed about getting ready on time. It also reduces stress by ensuring you that you know where everything is and how everything will fall into place.
6. You don’t waste time decision making
There are only so many decisions we have the capacity to make each day. A morning routine means we don’t have to waste our energy deciding what to eat or what socks to wear!
7. You will be less likely to forget something
When you do the same thing every morning, you’re less likely to miss something out or forget something. Credit card? Check. Laptop? Check. Diary? Check. You know it’s in there because you put it in as part of your routine, every morning!
8. A morning routine encourages you to take care of yourself
Ensuring you wash your hair properly, brush your teeth and have a proper breakfast are all self-care methods that get wasted if you are rushed in the morning. Having a simple morning routine allows you to have a little bit of ‘you time’ each morning.
9. You can do the tasks that you keep putting off
We have more energy in the morning and are more productive. Having a morning routine encourages and motivates us to do the tasks we’ve been putting off (such as finally unloading the dishwasher, taking the bins out or ringing the bank).
10. A morning routine frees up your evenings
And, because of doing our tricky tasks first thing or heading to the gym in the morning, when we get home from work, we can spend our evenings with our loved ones doing things we actually enjoy doing!
What you can incorporate into your morning routine
What you can incorporate into your morning routineThe key to a successful morning routine is to get a good night of sleep the night before. This means you won’t feel groggy or grouchy when you wake up first thing. It also means that you will be motivated to carry out you well practised and planned morning routine!
Firstly, there is evidence to suggest that a cold shower in the morning ignites focus, alertness and improves mood throughout the day. So, why not add a two-minute cold shower to your routine in the morning. Secondly, many people also like to include five minutes of meditation into their morning routine. Meditation has many mental health benefits, such as reducing anxiety, which will leave you feeling strong and ready to face the day ahead.
A final suggestion to get you set up for the day ahead is one used by many psychologists and medical professionals. Keep a journal of what you are looking forward to in the day ahead, what you are grateful for, what you want to achieve at work and your goals. This will motivate you throughout the day to work towards your goals.
Wrapping up
So, there you have it. 10 reasons why you should have a morning routine and a few simple ideas as to what to include.
As always, let me know what you think. Do you have a morning routine that works for you? Feel free to share it with myself and the other readers!
