Author: Annabella Feeny

How do you start your day? Research has shown that what happens in the first few hours after you wake up impacts just how productive you are for the rest of the day. Although, the internet is full of morning routine ideas and examples, one size simply does not fit all. Your morning should be customized to reflect your habits. For example: do you need a warm cup of coffee to even get dressed in the morning? If that is a resounding yes, prepare your coffee machine the night before so that in the morning, you’ll have as little steps to complete as possible. That way, you’ll be able to start the day off earlier and on a positive note, having planned your morning ahead. Here are 7 morning rituals that we love and think that you would to. Feel free to incorporate these into your routines to enhance your productivity and prepare you for the day ahead.

Don’t Turn on Your Devices

Do you love to scroll through social media as soon as you wake up? When we open our phones first thing in the morning, we are bombarded by stimuli (texts, emails, likes, comments, etc.) which can interrupt our focus and lead us to spending hours mindlessly scrolling. Opt out of checking your phone first thing in the morning and instead give yourself to wake up, have a coffee, and reflect on your tasks ahead.

Step Outside

Stepping outside in the morning and taking a few deep breaths can be extremely grounding. It can remind you of how beautiful your environment is and how vast the world really is. Take some time in the morning to situate yourself within its context. Where do you fit in?

Practice Purposeful Silence

How often throughout your day do you get to experience true silence? No phones, no text messages, no distractions. Simply siting in silence or combining that with meditation can be a great way to clear your mind. If you are interested in combining this practice with meditation, we recommend downloading a guided meditation app such as Headspace or Calm to get started. 

Stretch

Stretching first thing in the morning can relieve any tension and soreness from sleeping the night before. It can also help to increase your blood flow and wake up your muscles. Beyond the morning stretch, you can also help your body and mind even more by stretching throughout the day even before bed.

Write in a Journal

Even if you don’t consider yourself an avid journaler, putting pen to paper for a few minutes each day can be helpful tool in managing your mental health. Journaling can help you to manage anxiety and reduce stress by providing an opportunity for positive self-expression. It can also help you to identify negative thoughts and behaviours that get in the way of your productivity and self-confidence. 

Have a Healthy Breakfast

I admit it, there are some mornings when I don’t have time to make a gourmet meal and end up grabbing a granola bar on the way. However, it’s important to note that gourmet breakfast isn’t a realistic everyday goal, but rather eating something that fuels you and energizes you should be. 

Visualize

Create a mental picture for your ideal day, year, or life, and think about it each morning for a few minutes. If you’re focusing on visualizing your ideal day, think about how you want it to go. What kinds of choices are you going to make today to ensure that you make the best out of your day? What kind of mindset are you projecting? Try to set a daily intention to guide your day. 

How you begin your morning sets the tone for your entire day. To help you start on a positive note, be sure to incorporate one or two of the practices above or ask yourself what else can you do to help you enhance your productivity and have a purposeful day.