Everyone needs a morning routine that works for them.
The trick is figuring out what actually keeps your mind sharp, puts you in a good mood, and prioritizes your goals instead of just trying to follow someone else’s morning routine checklist.
In this guide, I’ve shared the productive morning routine that works for me. It comes from a deeply personal place of being totally burned out in my job and knowing I needed to make changes that improved my overall well-being.
I went back to my core passions and interests and, little by little, created an early morning routine that sets me up for the kind of day that works best while at the same time moves my learning and personal goals forward. I wanted to feel like I wasn’t living to work and, by keeping a couple morning hours for me each day, I don’t feel that way anymore.
I hope you’ll steal some of the morning routine habits below for inspiration to help you create the daily habits that will serve you and your goals!
Wake Up Your Body
The first few minutes after waking are so important! They can really make or break your whole day.
I know it’s tempting to stay in bed when your alarm goes off or you feel yourself coming out of your sleep. But resist!
Establish a morning routine for yourself that lets you take it slow, respects where you’re at on any given day, and puts your goals at center stage.
I’ve shared what works for me and hope it will be a useful tool for you as you figure out your best morning routine.
1. Drink a Full Glass of Water First Thing.
I generally sleep through the night so I don’t sip any water from the time I go to bed until I wake up in the morning. I can also be bad when it comes to drinking enough water during the day. (15+ years of full-time classroom teaching with limited bathroom breaks during the school day has a way of shaping that habit!)
So as I worked on my morning routine, drinking a glass of water first thing checked a lot of boxes. It gives me a jumpstart on the day’s hydration, flushes out my system from the night, and wakes up my mind and metabolism.
2. Do 20-40 Minutes of Stretching, Yoga, or Light Exercise.
I love doing yoga in the morning so it’s my typical go-to. The combination of stretching and breathing loosens up my body and gets my blood flowing but in such a soothing way. It’s hard to put into words but when I am flowing through each yoga pose I can feel the energy of my body radiating from within.
I keep it simple with my yoga mat rolled out in the living room, usually with the lights off. Some days I do my own sequence of stretches and sometimes I use my phone and airpods to play a Yoga with Adriene video on YouTube. I’ve got my favorite yoga flows on her channel and I can follow along by just listening and oftentimes, keeping my eyes closed.
There are some mornings when I go for a walk instead. I play my favorite walking songs that I have set up on a playlist and go at medium pace to energize my body.
3. Deep Breathing or 5 Minutes of Meditation
At the end of a yoga practice or a walk, it’s easy to segue into a few minutes of deep breathing or meditating.
I’ve never been great at formal meditations. I find they make me sleepy and sometimes put me to sleep, which isn’t what I want during my morning routine. But if meditating works for you, add it to your morning routine here as part of your light exercise wind-down.
Instead, I take deep breaths in, hold for a few counts, and then release the air slowly. I repeat this 5-10 times depending on what I feel I need.
It was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me when I read that most of us don’t take any deep breaths during the day. But when we focus on taking even as few as three deep breaths, it can reset our mindsets in a positive way.
For me, it clears out lingering stress and is a great way to seal my yoga flow or walk.
Fuel Your Body & Mind
Before the day gets crazy, I make it a point to stimulate my brain and prioritize some of my own learning goals. It may not seem like a lot but it puts out there that my personal growth is important and, as a result, I never end the day feeling like I did nothing for my life goals.
4. Do a Quick Brain Puzzle.
With my body awake, I can’t help but feel physically and mentally hungry.
While I boil water for my tea, I usually do a quick mini-crossword puzzle and the daily Wordle. It takes just a couple of minutes but it’s a daily habit that keeps my mind sharp.
If you prefer, do a brain teaser or a sudoku, learn a word of the day, or even play a quick memory game with yourself like recalling something you learned yesterday or what you had for dinner the last 5 nights.
Whatever it is, keep it fun, just tough enough, and quick.
5. Eat a Healthy Breakfast.
I’ve always been a breakfast eater. My brain and body need fuel to make a good start to the day without feeling distracted or like I’m dragging all the way to lunch.
I try to prioritize some protein but I don’t overthink it either.
Some of my favorites and easy-to-prepare go-tos are plain Greek yogurt with some fruit, walnuts, and maybe some granola or honey. I like oatmeal with banana and nuts, multi-grain toast with sunbutter, or a smoothie with my favorite protein powder.
All of these breakfasts take no more than a few minutes to put together.
6. Read a Book or Article for 10-20 minutes.
With my tea and breakfast ready, I spend about 10-15 minutes reading while I eat.
Somedays I want to read the fiction book I keep on my nightstand. Other days, I read an article about something I want to learn or about a place I’d like to visit. I usually bookmark articles that I’d like to read as I go throughout my day so I never have to waste time looking for something to read.
I also never read news or social media at this point of the day. I’ve worked hard on my morning habits so that I start the day in a positive way. Scrolling through one negative story after another is the exact recipe for undoing all of this hard work!
7. Spend 15-20 minutes on a Creative Activity or Skill-Building.
I love to learn so I’m always looking for ways to incorporate hobbies or new skills into my day.
Think of this as a micro-session of learning. It doesn’t seem like a lot at first but it works because your brain is fresh so it loves new ideas and information. Plus, hobbies and learning are some of the best ways to combat life burnout whether it’s from your job or just managing the day-to-day.
I love languages so there are many mornings I use this time to practice Italian or French. I have flashcard sets on my phone, practice books, and even other apps like Duolingo, Clozemaster, and Teacher AI that help me learn new words and practice speaking.
I’ve also used this time to journal or experiment with a new hobby to see if I like it before I dedicate more time to it. You could draw, knit, make origami animals, do something musical, learn a dance, bead, practice photography skills, or try anything that seems fun and interesting.
The key is having what you need ready and approaching it with the goal of learning a new skill. I’ll probably never be perfect in French but that’s not the point. It’s something I do for me because I enjoy it.
Boost Focus & Energy to Prepare for Your Day
At this point, my morning routine begins to pivot towards starting the day. But small intentional actions can continue to build on the mindset and energy from the earlier morning routines.
8. Shower/Get Yourself Ready.
I’m a shower-in-the-morning kind-of-girl. It triggers a turning point in the morning for me. Fully awake, it’s a way for me to focus and think about the day.
Some people swear by cold showers. I’m not strong enough for that in the morning. But if I’m feeling any lingering tiredness, I’ll end the shower with a 10-second cold finish to feel completely alert.
9. Listen to Something Educational.
As I brush my teeth and put on my makeup, I listen to something with my Airpods.
For me, again, I try to use this time again for my language learning goals. So, I try to listen to a podcast or story in Italian or French.
But I’ve also listened to TED Talks or put on a YouTube video on a topic that I want to learn more about.
Try to choose things that don’t need to be watched so much. It’s better for your focus if you work on your listening skills. Plus, it’s much easier to get ready and listen to something than it is to watch it.
10. Get 5-10 Minutes of Fresh Air & Sunlight.
At this point, my husband and my dog usually wake up. So, I can combine getting some fresh air and sunlight (if I haven’t already taken a walk) with walking my dog.
Fresh air and sunlight are signals to the brain that it’s time to start the day and keep your body clock on the right rhythm.
But even if you don’t have a lot of time or can’t take a walk, open a window or walk outside into your yard or front porch for a minute. It’s an easy way to boost your energy.
Set Yourself Up for the Day
A few minutes of planning can honestly change your entire day. I like to think of these few minutes as making sure my brain and I are on the same page about the goals for the day.
11. Take 5 Minutes to Organize Your Space/Get Ready for the Day.
Don’t sit down to work until your workspace is organized and set up for the day. Get rid of any clutter. If you need water or another cup of coffee, put it within reach.
Silence your phone notifications. Write down 2-3 things to get done today if you don’t already have that.
You don’t need it to be complicated. My goal is to frame my day, remove as many distractions as possible, and make sure I have what I need to be comfortable.
If you’re headed out to work, take a few minutes just to make your bed or wash your breakfast dishes before you leave.
12. Jumpstart Your Productivity.
I buy into the “eat the frog” mentality. It makes a ton of sense to do your hardest, least fun task when your brain is awake and full of energy. But I like to start with a few quick wins before I eat that frog.
I have a list of 3-4 repeating things that I do every day as I start working. These are super quick to do (10-15 minutes), and when they’re done, I feel a surge of satisfaction that I’ve already checked-off a few things on my to-do list that I hardly realize the frog is already half-eaten.
Bottom Line
Building a morning routine takes some time. But once you get started, you can adjust and add to it to make it the best for you.
These are the habits that help me stay sharp, set clear priorities, and put my learning and personal goals front and center before the rest of the day starts pulling me in a dozen directions. I hope you can steal the parts that fit your life and create an amazing morning routine that works for you!
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