How to Create a Morning Routine That Builds Positive Habits
A well structured morning routine can set the tone for your entire day. We know this but following through with it is another story.
If you feel like you are constantly feeling rushed and stressed in the morning then it’s time to work on building a strong morning routine.
With a routine filled with good habits that lead to personal growth, you will be setting your day up for success – all from a solid morning routine!
Now, I’m not going to just share ideas to add to your morning routine, I’m going to share why these habits matter, the power of accountability, and how to overcome common challenges!
Your morning routine will be the key to unlocking a day of positivity and most importantly – peace!
This post is all about morning routines that build positive habits!
Best Morning Routine Tips
Why Morning Routines Matter
Morning routines matter because they help us start our day in a calm and consistent manner. Doesn’t that sound better than rushing your way through the morning?
Preparation and consistency are the keys to making your morning a peaceful part of your day.
Think of it like this… Have you ever woken up with just enough time to get dressed, make a cup of coffee and hit the road? But you wake up to your back up alarm, your coffee maker not working, and your car out of gas?
That is the type of morning that would throw even the calmest person into a tizzy! These types of mornings happen and it’s inevitable but the goal is to make them happen far less.
By stacking good habits at the start of your day, you are making it more likely to have a day filled with reduced stress and increased focus/mood.
If you are a mom, I know it sounds crazy to think your morning routine could have no distractions, but there is a way to limit them! (We will get to this later!)
Key Elements of an Effective Morning Routine
Meditation, Bible, Journaling: If you don’t set the tone for your day, you’re giving someone else the power to. For me, reading the Bible and sitting in prayer is the powerful start I need.
If you aren’t someone who reads the Bible, try sitting in meditation and journaling. Journaling can be a great way to release your thoughts and feelings so you can start fresh that day.
If you’re looking for some Christian content – we have an entire post on Daily Devotionals and their importance – take a look for some inspiration and recommendations!
Physical Movement: Some sort of physical activity in the morning can boost your metabolism and mental clarity. You don’t have to do anything strenuous, a simple stretching routine is perfect!
Remember, your body has been laying in the same position for hours! It needs to move!
Nutrition: Your body needs proper nutrition in the morning. If you get a good night rest (6+ hours), then your body is coming out of a fasting state and needs fuel!
If a healthy breakfast first thing in the morning isn’t an option, then try a glass of water or electrolytes.
Now, I’d be a liar if I said I drink a glass of water every single morning- I usually have a cup of coffee myself. But I always follow it up with my electrolytes after that!
Goal Setting: Spend a few minutes reviewing or planning your day. If you want to have a calm, stress-free day, it starts with preparation!
Your future self will thank you for prioritizing your schedule first thing in the morning. This will help ensure you don’t forget important tasks and create any necessary timelines for the day.
Pro tip: Use a planner or app to write down your top 3 tasks for the day and make sure you complete them!
Keys to Building Good Habits in the Morning
Start Small and Simple
Though the habits I mentioned above are great, you need to start small.
If you are looking to properly add habits for your morning routine, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with 4-5 new habits that you can’t keep up with after a week. This is usually what discourages people!
Try to pick just one habit to add to your morning routine and try it for 1-2 weeks. Once that sticks, move on to another habit and keep adding until you have reached your perfect morning routine. (We will also talk about habit stacking below, another great option!)
I know this sounds like it will take a long time but good, consistent routines take time to start! Trust the process.
Consistency
Ah, the hardest part of a new routine! This has to be the most important part of your entire morning routine.
The only way you can stay consistent is to stick to your routine even on weekends or busy days to solidify your habits. This gets easier once you start to see how your routine changes your life.
When your routine is consistently impacting your life in a positive way, you will want to keep your routine going – it’ll become something you crave!
Stack Your Habits
Habit stacking is a great way to add multiple habits in a small, impactful way.
An example of habit stacking could be praying while you stretch for a few minutes in the morning or meditate while drinking your coffee. This way you are adding a positive habit to the routine you already have.
As time progresses, you will start to associate mediating with your coffee and praying with brushing your teeth.
Find an Accountability Partner
A great way to make sure you follow through with your morning routine is to find an accountability partner! This could be a friend, family member, or even your spouse.
Share with this person what your goals are and bonus – see if they are interested in trying out these habits as well!
Together you can celebrate small wins and push each other through the uncomfortable times.
If you don’t have anyone that can serve as an accountability partner, try downloading an app that tracks habits!
Overcoming Common Morning Routine Challenges
Lack of Time
Not having enough time in the morning is a common reason for not completing a morning routine. Keep in mind, your routine doesn’t have to be an hour long routine, a simple 15-20 minute routine can be just as effective!
Staying Consistent
Not every morning will go perfectly and it’s unrealistic to think it will! Staying consistent means working through the days you don’t feel like following through.
Though there will be outside factors that inhibit us from completing our morning routine, you need to focus on controlling what you can control. You can control how you stay consistent on the days you simply don’t feel like it.
Following through on the hard days and relying on discipline are the days that will turn your morning routine into a true habit.
Getting Up Earlier
I recommend trying to wake up a little earlier especially if you normally feel rushed.
If waking up earlier seems very difficult, try going to sleep earlier. If that is still leaving your feeling extremely groggy in the morning, try to ensure you are drinking enough water the day before.
Sometimes dehydration can be a common factor in fatigue! (I’m speaking here from experience!)
Children
As a mother myself, I get it. Having children (especially toddlers) can make our mornings a bit chaotic.
The best way to work around this is trying to wake up a little earlier than your children, to ensure you have time to complete your morning routine.
If that’s not an option, try to incorporate your routine with your children. Give them a Bible to read, pray and stretch together, or make a healthy breakfast together and talk about what you plan to accomplish that day.
There is always a solid workaround to try!
I hope this post gives you tangible tips on how to start your day with intentional habits so you can create a solid morning routine!
If you are looking to develop a morning routine that works for you, the biggest takeaway is to start small and stay consistent. These are the two most important pieces of information I can share with you.
I hope this post gave you tangible tips on how to star your day with intentional habits.
If you are looking to develop a morning routine that works for you, start small and stay consistent. These are the two most important pieces of information I can share with you.
What are some morning habits you have found to be impactful for your morning?
