My Morning Routine For Productivity and Wellbeing
My morning routine isn’t always perfect.
It sometimes includes coffee on an empty stomach and YouTube Shorts in bed. And sometimes it includes yoga stretches and journaling on my balcony.
But here’s the thing: my morning routine is always realistic. It works every day and it empowers me even on my worst days.
I have some non-negotiables that are always part of my morning routine no matter how busy, anxious or depressed I am that day.
And I’ve found these non-negotiables (whether they’re done in 5 minutes or 30) always prepare me for the day ahead. They put me into a positive mindset and create momentum for the rest of the day.
Because I’m not going to lie: I’m not a morning person.
And some of the morning routines I read about online sound like a science fiction novel: waking up at sunrise for yoga, drinking celery juice while listening to positive affirmations, etc.
Do you also struggle in the mornings and beat yourself up for not waking up early or avoiding caffeine?
Here is my realistic morning routine and the non-negotiables that go into it every day.
Use it as a rough guide to create your own realistic morning routine that you can actually maintain.
Wash and eat breakfast
I wash my face and brush my teeth, make my first (of two) cups of coffee, drink a glass of water and make breakfast (always hardboiled eggs, flatbread and veggies).
I like to have my coffee with cardamon because it cuts down on some of the negative effects of caffeine.
I also have the same breakfast every morning (eggs, bread, veggies) because it’s an easy and healthy option that never gets old. It also saves me from having to think about what to make.
Once I’m done with the basics, I get into my 3 non-negotiable habits that go into every morning.
1. Meditate
I meditate every morning at least for 5 minutes. I do mostly guided meditations and positive affirmations on my balcony with my morning coffee and my headphones.
I use an app called Insight Timer that has thousands of free guided meditations that often include calming music, affirmations and guided breathing.
I find guided meditations a lot more beginner-friendly than trying to sit silently in a lotus pose for 15 minutes. And the affirmations give me a dose of positivity to start the day.
Whenever I have more time, I do longer guided meditations and sometimes follow up with a silent meditation for 10 minutes.
I spent years trying to meditate and it never really worked until I started doing guided meditations. The guided sessions often inspire me to meditate silently afterwards.
Minimum: 5-minute guided meditation.
Standard: 30-minute guided meditation and 10 minutes silent meditation.
2. Journal
Journaling is another non-negotiable habit in my morning routine. It sets the tone for the rest of the day, gives me clarity and lets me vent any anxieties.
On most days I do Morning Pages, a journaling technique recommended in The Artist’s Way that basically consists of writing 3 full pages of free writing (so whatever comes into your head).
Morning Pages isn’t always easy but it’s my favorite journaling technique to start the day. It lowers stress, offers clarity and gives me a great dopamine hit when I accomplish something challenging early in the day.
If I can’t do my Morning Pages, I usually do a 5-minute gratitude journaling session and make a bullet list of everything I’m thankful for.
Minimum: 5 minutes of gratitude journaling.
Standard: 20 minutes of Morning Pages (with positive affirmations added in).
3. Exercise
Exercise is my final non-negotiable habit in my morning routine.
Though the word “exercise” doesn’t really inspire me, so I like to think of it as “moving my body.”
This could mean a morning walk around the neighborhood, a cardio video on YouTube along with a New Wave playlist or a slow yoga session.
I try to mix things up so it doesn’t get boring. And I do whatever my body needs that day – alternating between walking, cardio and slow yoga on rest days.
Minimum: 10 minutes of yoga.
Standard: an hour walk or cardio video.
Sustainability
My morning routine is the result of years of experimentation and lots of hits and misses.
I’ve distilled everything I need in the morning down to 3 non-negotiables that prepare me for the day in the most efficient way – and fastest – way possible.
I never skip meditation, journaling and exercise, even on the busiest days when I just do a few minutes of each.
I’ve found this morning routine works best for me. And it’s easy to maintain because it’s both enjoyable and flexible.
Read next:
10 Best Slow Living Magazines (To Inspire You)
54 Life-Changing Simple Living Quotes (To Inspire You)
Nature Journaling: An Essential Guide (+8 Tips To Start)
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