Morning Habits for A Productive Day

Productive days are something we all strive to have. One thing I have learned is that having a productive day depends on how you start your morning. Your morning habits can set the pace for the rest of your day easily. While some people use the trick of letting the sun come through the blinds to make them get out of bed in the mornings, I can’t do that. I have to have total darkness when I sleep. So in the morning, I have my alarm clock across the room, so I have to get up to turn it off. 

I actually go to the bathroom and do my morning routine here, and then come back to the bed, where I spend a little bit of time just waking up and meditating on the day ahead. I get into the proper headspace for the day that is ahead of me. The mornings when it is rainy and gloomy are the hardest for me to get myself motivated. That is why having a set of habits and routines gets me going. even on the days I have to get up earlier than normal. I always stick to my routine. 

The trick is to create a morning routine that fits you, your lifestyle, your time limits, and that you are happy doing every morning. 

Always make your bed

Growing up, we weren’t allowed to leave the house until our beds were made. There were no exceptions to this rule. I always thought it was a military thing with my parents. My grandparents didn’t make their beds, and many people I know now don’t make their beds. My bed is made every morning before I walk out of the bedroom to have my first cup of tea. There is no deviation from this. I never leave the house or start my day fully without my bed being made.

In fact, US Navy Admiral William H. McRaven once said in his commencement address at the University of Texas:

If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.

He was outlining the lessons he had learned from Basic SEAL training. The thought behind this is that if you take the time to do the little things, like making your bed, it makes the bigger things possible. I don’t know if that is true or not, but I make my bed. Primarily because of the parents I grew up with. Another good reason is that your bed is ready for you at the end of the day. It is not a mess that you have to straighten out. You sleep better when things around you feel better.

Also, you don’t have to worry about having uninvited company and them seeing the mess that is your bed. It’s like the “don’t sleep naked” rule. You never know what may happen in the night that will send you from your bed and out of the house. You have to be ready. I always sleep with my clothes on, shoes ready by the door, and my ohne within reach if needed. 

Do not reach for your phone

I had a hard time with this. I used to grab my phone and check e-mail while I was in the bathroom every morning. I needed to stay on top of things. I found myself stressed out before I even walked out of the bedroom every morning. The disadvantage is that, by reading on my phone, I was bringing to light everything I had missed while sleeping. The news, emails, texts, and all those other notifications that I turn off at night.

I know what you are thinking! “What if I missed a text about the kids or something?” Certain numbers are allowed to text and it comes through. The same with calls from those numbers. I also have a landline, so I can be reached in an emergency.

Whether it’s news, emails, or text messages, all those new notifications can easily cause stress. Suddenly, you find yourself thinking about solving problems or catching up on things before you get a chance to brush your teeth or even get out of bed. The truth is, most of that stuff, if not all of it, can easily wait until your day officially starts.

Stretch and Meditate

While in a perfect world, you would have a workout every day, this is not possible for many people. The next best thing is to start your day off with a good stretch and a little meditation. I’m not talking about the stretch that you do when you get out of bed either. Come on, we all do that one and it feels so good. At least it does for me in the mornings when everything doesn’t crack and creak.

I’m talking about some stretching exercises or maybe even some yoga, depending on your time and what you enjoy. If you are working out, then you already know the importance of stretching. However, do it even when you aren’t working out. Stretching every morning will get your energy kick-started. It will allow your body to fully wake up and be ready for the day ahead of you. You won’t feel so tense as you head into that Monday morning meeting or Zoom call. 

The meditation will help wake you up and focus your mind. I do this every morning, but I probably suck at it to be honest. I use an app on my Roku that walks me through it. My mind still wonders. I started out doing this before I even got out of bed, but I fell back to sleep so many times that I now do it sitting on the floor. But not crossed-legged, because those babies no longer bend that way. My knees hurt.

Slow Down

One of the biggest things I have learned is to not rush through things. There are plenty of days when I have to adjust my morning routine because I have a meeting or an appointment. But, regardless of what else is going on in my day, everything listed here is something I do.If it means I have to get up earlier, then that is what I do. On the rare occasion I sleep late and have to rush, my day is so stressful. So, take the time to just sow your day and ensure your day is off to the right start.

Next week, take the time to wake up just 30 minutes earlier and see what a difference it makes in your day. Make your bed, do the stretches, then let me know if your day was better or worse. Take those thirty minutes just for yourself. Don’t make school lunches or answer emails. Don’t do anything other than send it on to you. 

While my day certainly doesn’t look like yours, the trick is to find what works for you. My days tend to start between 5 and 6 am, while yours may not start until 9 am. Maybe you work the night shift and sleep through the morning. Whatever time your day begins, start it fresh with a good routine.