The routine that you develop for the morning will have a significant effect on how the rest of your day goes. Many of the most successful people purposefully begin their days in ways that set them up to be more productive.
I know in the morning I am always rushing to get ready for work and for some reason, it feels like I just can’t get anything done. I am always running late and feeling stressed out. When you have a busy life and you have so many things to do, it’s not easy to find the time to do them all.
This is why I try my best to make sure that my mornings are productive and help me get ready for the day. If you want to be more productive, maybe you want to try these productive things to do in the morning.
14 Productive Things to Do in the Morning
Wake up early
Make sure to set your alarm a bit earlier than usual. It is scientifically proven that morning people tend to be more proactive and positive than night owls.
If you want to get a lot of things done during the day, then it is good to wake up early. You will have time for yourself. You can meditate or drink a cup of coffee on your own, before everyone else wakes up and starts asking for things from you.
Not that there’s anything wrong with helping others, but sometimes it’s nice to have some time for yourself alone.
Drink a glass of water
When you wake up in the morning, your body needs water after not drinking anything during the night. It helps your body wake up faster and boosts your metabolism as well as help you digest any food better during the day.
Make yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee or just drink water with lemon before you start your day – it will make a huge difference.
Stretch
You’ve been sleeping for about 7-8 hours and now it’s time for your body to wake up too. You can stretch in bed for a few minutes, or get out from under the covers and walk around a little bit.
Stretch your arms, legs, and back and let your body allow you to start the day with a great attitude.
Have a good breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Having a healthy and nutritious breakfast will help you feel energized throughout the day and keep you full until lunchtime so that you are not snacking on unhealthy foods in between meals.
Exercise
A workout first thing can be an important way to fit fitness into your schedule, but also works from a psychological perspective. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which can make you feel better about yourself and boost your mental capacity for the rest of the day.
Think about your goals
Set aside 5–10 minutes every morning to reflect on what you want your life to look like. Think about how you can move closer to achieving those goals.
This is a great way to start your day with both focus and intentionality. You can also set aside time at night to plan out your next day. This will help you sleep better knowing that tomorrow has a plan and purpose.
Write a list of things you want to accomplish for the day ahead
Before leaving the house in the morning, write down three things you’d like to get done that day and keep it visible throughout the day in case other tasks pop up that need doing as well.
This helps ensure that even if you have an unpredictable or unproductive day, you’ll have accomplished something important by the end of it.
Listen to podcasts as you get ready
Listening to podcasts is a great way to catch up on the news or learn something new while you’re working around the house. You can listen to them as you get ready for work, or drive into the office.
If you choose podcasts that are entertaining and interesting, they will help wake you up and get your brain moving in the morning.
Connect with important family members and friends
If your mornings tend to be hectic as you try to get out of the house on time, take a few minutes each day to reach out and connect with someone who means a lot to you. It could be your significant other, your kids, or your parents.
Texting or chatting with them for five minutes before leaving the house can help make your day start off right and keep those crucial relationships strong.
Make a schedule
If you don’t plan out your day the night before, it will be way more stressful in the morning when you’re trying to get things done in a rush. Spend 15 minutes writing down everything you need to accomplish and then prioritize your tasks so that you can start your day off right.
Read the news
This might seem like an unproductive thing to do, but taking some time in the morning to read the news can actually help you get ahead in your work and give you a better sense and understanding of what’s going on.
It also gives you something to talk about at meetings or with clients. And as long as you don’t go down any rabbit holes, it shouldn’t take too much time out of your day.
Clean one small area
You might not have time for a full cleaning session every morning, but taking five minutes or so to clean up one small area — whether it’s your desk, the kitchen counter, or your dining room table — can save you from having to deal with a bigger mess later on.
Shut out distractions
If you’re anything like me, your first inclination in the morning is to reach for your phone. But resist the urge! Starting your day off by checking email, news, Facebook and Twitter have been shown to lead to stress and overwhelm before your day even starts.
Instead, turn off all alerts on your phone and use it as a tool rather than a distraction.
Read one chapter of a book
If you’d like to have more time for reading, why not include it in your morning routine? You don’t have to read a whole book in each sitting, but reading even one chapter every morning will add up over time — and help you learn something new.
Final words
With these tips and tricks, your mornings will be more exciting, interesting, productive—and fun. After all, the most important parts of life do not work, but the small things that bring you joy. Now get out there and enjoy yourself.
