Things to do to wake up in the morning

Have you struggled with creating (and sticking to) a morning routine you love? Me too. Over the last six months, I’ve been working on waking up earlier, be grateful for the morning stillness, and making my mornings time I truly enjoy.

As I’ve gone through this journey, I’ve put together a list of morning routine ideas to help you get the ball rolling.

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Morning Routine Ideas

I recently went through the Make Over Your Mornings Course and it has completely changed how I approach my mornings. I’ve been working on waking up every morning at 6am and am loving it! Get the first day of the course for free here!

First things first, try waking up at a consistent time.

The goal here is to train your body to wake up before your alarm every goes off. If you wake up consistently at the same time every morning, your internal alarm clock will take over and you’ll wake up feeling more refreshed.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be an early time, although waking up early would give you more time to accomplish other things.

I could share all of the amazing things water does for your body, but that’s already been written about a million times elsewhere, so I’m not going to belabor the point.

Water is good for you. Try making it the first thing you do in the morning.

Open up the curtains and let the rays in. The light will boost your mood and wake you up.

You can also try using a light therapy box for those dark winter months or if you struggle with depression.

Reach up to the sky and move your body a little to get things moving. Nothing too intense, just gentle stretches to help wake you up a little.

As I was going through Make Over Your Mornings recently, I decided I needed to write something that I can read first thing in the morning that will motivate me to get out of bed. So I wrote a short little mantra reminding myself of why I should get up and of all the good things that are waiting for me when I do.

Try writing your own mantra. It doesn’t have to be long (mine’s only 7 sentences). Just remind yourself of the reason you want to get out of bed. (Hint: It should be super inspiring.)

I do this right after reading my morning mantra. Normally, I read one of three quotes, just to switch it up a little each morning.

In case you need help finding an inspirational quote, there are plenty to choose from in this list of 107 quotes.

The beauty of making your bed lies in the power of small wins. Making your bed is something that you have complete control over and is one small task you can accomplish to set you off on the right foot each morning.

Some people will tout the health benefits of drinking a cup of coffee or tea each morning, but I really just like the taste. Either way, who doesn’t want to snuggle up in the morning with a warm beverage?

While you’re curling up with a mug of coffee, pull out a book and read in your coziest chair. Whether it’s required reading or just for fun, the quiet of the morning is the perfect time to read.

This is just to make your heart happy. Turn on some music and dance your heart out… or just dance your way to the kitchen.

If dancing isn’t your thing or you want a more intense workout, use your mornings to get in a run before work. You can also head to the gym at dawn with all of the other overachievers. Just kidding… but really, how?!

Another great alternative is going for a relaxed walk around your neighborhood. It’s a good way to get the blood flowing and to give yourself time to think.

After all that exercise, settle down in a warm bath. Also another good time to read or listen to soothing music. Don’t be afraid of taking time just for you in the mornings.

Spend some extra time getting ready in the morning. Put on some makeup or do your hair.

This is actually something I want to try to add to my morning routine at some point. I often roll up to the office with my hair still in the bun I put it in with my eyes closed as soon as I woke up. I’ve been thinking it might be good to step up my game a bit.

Preparing a healthy breakfast will give your body the energy it needs to tackle the day. You can even make your breakfast the night before, so it’s ready to go in the morning.

Try out different flavor combinations of overnight oats to see if there’s one you really like.

If possible, try prepping your lunches on the weekend and then pack each day’s lunch quickly in the morning. Definitely a good money-saving strategy.

Take all of your thoughts and write them down. Writing out what you’re worried about or what happened the day before can be an incredible stress-reliever. Don’t forget to write about all the good things, too, though!

P.S. It helps to have a journal you love. My husband bought me this beauty and I adore it!

Meditation doesn’t have to be religious. In fact, meditation is really just clearing your mind of all thoughts and focusing on one relaxing sound or feeling. You can use it to improve your ability to focus or simply provide yourself with a few minutes of stress-free life.

Walking through your day mentally can set you up for success by preparing you for the little things you might not have otherwise thought about.

Some of the best athletes in the world use visualization to perfect their performances, running through their routines over and over again in their heads prior to a competition.

Visualize your day going the way it should and then aim for your day to go just like that.

Whether you write it down or just say it out loud, express your gratitude for at least one specific thing in your life. It will work miracles in improving your mood and increasing your happiness.

Find some quiet time to read the Bible and reflect on what you’ve read. You can also use a devotional to guide your reading. I’m currently working through this book during my quiet times.

The morning is the perfect time to fit in projects or dreams that won’t fit elsewhere in your day. Use the early hours to learn a new language or practice your underwater basket weaving.

Write out your plan for the day or review the plan you wrote the previous evening. Schedule in your most important projects first and then add in some of the less important things that might fit.

I recommend only attempting to accomplish a small number of tasks each day.

Related: How to Make a Daily To Do List You’ll Actually Complete

I strongly believe in tracking your expenses daily. If you don’t know how much you’re spending, you don’t know whether or not you’re sticking to the budget. And if you don’t have a budget, you probably don’t know where all of your money disappears to each month.

My husband and I use an app called EveryDollar to track our expenses and easily see if we’re in line with our budget for the month.

If you write for a living or for school or for anything else, set aside time in the morning to get the bulk of your writing done. Many authors use the early morning hours to accomplish most of their writing.

Need a little extra income to pay off debts or go on an awesome vacation? Set aside time in your morning routine to work on a side hustle and make extra money before work.

Use your mornings to work on your short-term goals. Whatever your goal is, spending just a little time on it each morning will make a huge difference.

(P.S. I’ve been documenting my morning routine journey in my monthly personal growth goals.)

Fake it til’ you make it. Smiling, no matter how fake, will boost your happiness… and the happiness of those around you. It’s scientifically proven.

I had a friend who would purposefully smile at the people in the cars around him on his way to work and it honestly made his entire day better.

Make Over Your Mornings

I had struggled for so long to stick to a morning routine. I would try to wake up early and fail miserably and then I would get so frustrated. Finally, I decided to go through the Make Over Your Mornings course and I’m so glad I did!

My morning routine still has some work to be done (which is why I’m going through the course again), but, since taking the course, I have gone to bed earlier, woken up earlier, and used my newfound time in the morning to make progress on one of my goals.

You can learn more about the course and sign up for the first day for free here: Make Over Your Mornings

One Last Note

Please don’t feel like you need to add all of these ideas to your morning routine. In fact, you don’t even need to add most of them.

Of the 28 things listed above, I only do 5 of them consistently. Although, I’m working on 2 more (which is where Make Over Your Mornings comes in to play).

Including just 2 or 3 of these in your morning routine has the potential to revolutionize your mornings.

Comment below and let me know the first things you do in the morning. Which of these morning routine ideas do you currently do and which ones do you plan to add to your routine?

How do I wake up in the morning right away?

Why am I struggling to wake up?

How can I wake up in 10 minutes?