
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.
Did you know that our willpower is highest in the morning? Starting your morning in a meaningful way can have such a big impact on your day. It’s more than a few hours of the day, it’s a mindset. If you’re like me, you’re not really a morning person, but sleeping into the afternoon isn’t really an option either. Setting a morning routine will help your whole day.
I can sit here and preach about how your morning will affect the rest of your day, but here’s a real-life example straight from my life. One day, I decided to set my alarm a little bit earlier than usual because I had a laundry list of chores I wanted to get done. The alarm went off and I turned it off. Two hours later, I woke up. I was angry and frustrated with myself for having slept away a perfectly good Saturday. Plus, I ran out of time and didn’t get everything accomplished.
How Your Morning Routine Affects You
Take a moment to consider your own experiences with hitting the snooze button or going back to sleep. How did your day go when you hit the snooze instead of doing what you planned? Did you feel different? Did you accomplish less on those mornings? Compare that to the mornings when you got up when the alarm first rang. How did they differ and how was your productivity?
You set the tone for how the whole day first thing in the morning. That’s why “getting up on the wrong side” has such an effect on your day. I’d like to help you get up on the right side and start your day off in a positive and productive way.
Now that you know how important your morning routine is to your whole day, let’s talk about how you can create an energizing and effective routine to keep you going all day and help you accomplish more.
How to Create a Morning Routine
Since a morning routine is quite clearly important, you may be wondering how to create an effective one. First, start with what you’d like to accomplish. Consider what gets you going and motivates you. Don’t just think about your to-do list. Include self-care and health routines into what would make a good start to the morning.
Decide on an Objective
We all want to be productive during the day, but what is that one goal you want to achieve? Do you want to get more done or promote a positive mental attitude? Do you want to get fit or take better care of yourself? Maybe you just want to get up on time and stop rushing around to get to work on time. Use what you’d like to accomplish as your guide to developing a morning routine.
Make a Plan
You know what you want to accomplish but without a plan, you won’t get very far. Plan out what you will do and how you will do it. Decide on the time you’ll get up and how long your routine will take. Consider writing your plan down to cement it. Putting it in writing will help you stick to your plan and hold yourself accountable.

Create a Ritual for Your Morning Routine
Humans are creatures of habit. If you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, a ritual could make it easier to get going. It will also start you on the journey towards your objective. Some helpful rituals include yoga, meditation, and enjoying a hot beverage. Don’t let the word ritual fool you, it’s just a (hopefully positive) routine. Your ritual should further your goal in some way.
Put It Into Action
A plan isn’t much of a plan if you never implement it. Once you have a plan, go for it. The faster you start, the quicker you achieve more. You’ll become more productive and you’ll feel better about yourself. Even if you’re not a morning person, you’ll find yourself looking forward to that routine. You’ll feel more effective and productive in your daily life and experience less frustration.

Dos and Don’ts
Morning Routine Dos
- Aim to complete your routine every day.
- Take it one step at a time if you’re having difficulty maintaining your ritual.
- Be flexible and adjust your routine to improve it.
- Be willing to try out new things.
- Learn how your body clock works.
Morning Ritual Don’ts
- Don’t punish yourself for skip days.
- Don’t expect to do it every single day, 365 days a year.
- Life happens, don’t give yourself a hard time if something interrupts your routine.
- Force yourself to get up earlier than is natural for you.
Looking for Ideas?
Do you want to start a morning routine, but need ideas? Don’t worry, we’ve compiled some resources for you. Check them out and get planning!
50 Ideas to Help You Design Your Perfect Morning Routine by Jessica Stillman
The 5 Productive Morning Routines Of Highly Effective People by Britt Joiner
Create a Morning Routine that Works for You by Jeffrey Davis, M.A.
Why You Need a Morning Ritual, not Just Morning Routine by Alan Henry
Yes, Your Alarm Clock Could Be Ruining Your Day by Jodi Helmer
