Humans love routine. For some, it allows them to seek comfort in the norm. For others, it allows them to operate on a designed system of sorts, without giving it much thought. The choices we make during the first hour of our mornings can determine the course for the rest of the day. Will your morning routine be full of productivity and peace of mind? Or will you be spending the next eight hours in a state of annoyance?
From business leaders to university presidents, the NY Times interviewed hundreds of high achievers who swear by their morning routines as a precursor to a day of success. Here are some of the most common morning routines that you may find easily adaptable to your lifestyle:
Experiment with the time you wake up.
Typically, people try to wake up at the same time every day, whether snoozing each alarm or not. Have you ever tried to wake up at a different time? Whether that’s 5, 10, or even 20 minutes earlier or later? Did it affect your state of mind? Successful people like to experiment with their wake-up time, to find the sweet spot that works for them and allows them to enjoy their mornings – in whatever way they see fit.
Make time for whatever gets you going.
If you’re not carving out time in the morning to do the things that bring you joy, that’s a problem. If you love catching up on the news while in your pajamas – do that. If you enjoy having a cup of morning coffee on the patio – do that. If a brisk morning run makes you feel alive – do that. Your morning routine helps to set your mood for the rest of the day.
“Marie Kondo, the organizing consultant and author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” says that when she wakes up in the morning she immediately opens the windows to let in fresh air, a practice she has done since she was a child. She also purifies the house by burning incense and, needless to say, she tidies her house before leaving for the day.”
Get enough sleep.
Arguably one of the most important factors in how we wake up, is whether we get enough rest. The quality of your sleep directly correlates to your functionality the next day. We all know the health risks of not getting enough sleep, but the benefits of a good night’s sleep can also include waking up refreshed and focused. You may be amazed to see the difference in your energy level following a couple of nights of quality sleep.
Become adaptable.
This means that you should be aware that you will not fall asleep at exactly 10:30 PM every single night. Keeping this in mind, you should be able to adapt your alarm clock to allow yourself the ability to still get a good night’s rest while being able to enjoy the “little things” in the morning before jumping into the day. Being adaptable to change can help you navigate special occasions that may temporarily throw you off your routine.
Don’t beat yourself up.
It’s understandable, even expected, that you’ll fall off your routine for a day or two. The awareness to set yourself straight and reset your routine is the goal.
“[Comedian] Jerry Seinfeld has a theory of habit creation that requires a person not to ‘break the chain.’ The idea is that if there’s a certain task you want to do every day, you can keep yourself accountable by putting a red “X” over every day you complete this task on a large wall calendar. Soon you’ll have created a chain. Your only job then is not to break it.”
If you’ve read through this article and noticed that you tend to adjust your schedule to meet all of these goals, good for you! You’re aware of the steps that need to be taken to carve out the best routine for you. On the other hand, if you’ve noticed that you’ve been neglecting some integral parts of setting a morning routine – also, good for you! You’ve become enlightened and ready to create a routine that will bring benefits to your well-being. What’s more important than that?
“The concept of total wellness recognizes that our every thought, word, and behavior affects our greater health and well-being. And we, in turn, are affected not only emotionally but also physically and spiritually.” – Greg Anderson, Wellness & Health Author