The morning routine – Written by Chelsea O’Brien

I love an early start, but recently I’ve noticed that getting up early doesn’t mean I’m using my time effectively, essentially making more work for myself in the afternoons, which I am prone to ignoring until the weekends.  

In line with New Year’s resolutions, I made 6 morning routine goals which I have trialled over the past 4 months. My idea behind integrating 6 things into my morning routine was to improve my efficiency and mental preparation for the day without disrupting my work routine. I was interested in how changing a routine could impact my perspective.  Below is my new routine and notes on how it went:  

Only allowing one snooze on my alarm in the morning.  

This one was hard, and more than once I ignored the plan and had a little sleep in. But I have noticed that on days I get up right away, I find my decision making is more alert and easier than ever.  

Get up and dressed right away. 

No more walking around the house in my PJs until I need to go to work. I got up and dressed (even on the weekends) when I woke up. I found getting dressed first thing reminded me of my intentions for the day.  

Drink more water.

I started my day with one cup in the morning. Dehydration can make you feel fatigued, confused and moody. Starting my day with a glass of water helped manage a better water intake throughout the day.  

Make my bed.

I was already doing this, but I know this is something I loved to include in my morning routine. Making my bed means I have already accomplished something for the day – before it even starts.  

Washing.

Whether it was washing, drying, folding or putting away, making a small dent in my washing each day impacted my weekend washing significantly. I was able to manage better, and freed up my time on the weekends to do something my partner and I enjoyed.  

Exercise.

This one was the hardest. Without a doubt. So, I started small, I used YouTube and found short and easy stretching routines. With the aim of utilizing the 15mins I now had free from not snoozing my alarm.  

So, the verdict? I feel good. The last few months have been helpful. I’ll be honest in saying that some days I ignored the plan all together and some days I only got one or two done. It’s okay to not be perfect every time, but it helped me recognize that starting the day, on the right foot, with the right intentions sets you up for a more impactful day. I felt it improved my mental clarity; I had more consistency and reliability, it decreased stress, enhanced my energy and motivation, and boosted my productivity. 

My recommendation? Just try it. Just one thing at a time – it might surprise you.