Productive Morning Habits for Mental Re-Alignment

Stiers Collective Studios
ILLUMINATION
Published in
4 min readSep 7, 2023

Everyone is familiar with the adage “How you start your day sets the tone for the rest of it.” Yes, that is true! Your morning routine has a big impact on how you feel and how productive you are all day.

In this post, we’ll look at some easy but useful things you can do just after waking up to make sure your mornings are joyful and brimming with good vibes.

These are suggestions and there is not a one size fits all approach to what works for productivity, it will depend on what works for you. Here are some tips that I think are valuable and that I implement on a day-to-day basis:

Expressing Gratitude

Gratitude is a good first action after waking up. Consider for a moment how wonderful a fresh day is. It creates a good atmosphere and makes you conscious of all the gifts in your life.

Think about keeping a notebook of thankfulness. Every morning, list three things for which you are grateful for. Your level of wellbeing will improve as a result of this habit.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Your mental health will benefit greatly from a brief morning meditation. Meditation aids in mental cleansing, stress reduction, and creation of a serene environment for the day. You can incorporate the following:

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevi at Pexels

Deep breathing exercises — when you meditate, deep breathing exercises help oxygenate your brain, boosting your alertness and preparing you for the demands of the day.

Circling back to mindfulness, consider water before caffeine. At night, your body becomes dehydrated. When you first wake up, having a glass of water helps your metabolism get going and keeps you feeling rejuvenated.

Even if it’s tempting, resist the urge and wait an hour before drinking your morning coffee. It is better to hydrate first thing in the morning.

Breakfast of Champions

A nutritious breakfast is necessary for maintaining energy levels throughout the day and sustenance to stay full and focused, eat a variety of vitamins, fiber, and protein.

Try to stay away from sugary breakfasts. Avoid sugary breakfast cereals and pastries later in the morning as they might result in energy crashes.

Mobility and Movement

Stretching or doing yoga for even 10 minutes will wake up your muscles and improve circulation. If time allows in your schedule for it, think about doing a fast aerobic workout. Endorphins are released, and they can improve your mood.

Plan Ahead

Using a planner or digital calendar to keep track of your daily obligations and appointments can be quite helpful. Additionally, spend a few minutes listing your daily priorities. Clear goals help you stay motivated and organized.

Look Good, Feel Good

To look your best every morning, you don’t have to wear the trendiest of clothing, simply dress appropriately and comfortably, and you can add some flair with an accessory or eye-catching color scheme.

Make do with what you have and occasionally add a few tiny things. Your self-assurance will radiate from you throughout the day.

Personal Time

Spend a few minutes in private thought or reading before the day’s activity begins.

Refrain from checking your phone right away. Avoid the impulse to immediately check your email or social media, start your day off peacefully.

Set Daily Objectives

List your daily priorities for a few minutes. You can stay motivated and organized by setting clear goals. It can be very useful to use a planner or digital calendar to keep track of your daily commitments and appointments. You can opt for a whiteboard for a more free approach or sticky notes if small reminders are more helpful for you.

Photo by Bich Tran at Pexels

Remain Present

Practice mindfulness all morning long. Pay attention to your thoughts and emotions and try not to think about the past or the future too much.

Consume Food Mindfully

Eat your breakfast slowly and enjoy every bite. A more enjoyable dinner and healthier food choices can result from mindful eating.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch at Pexels

The quality of your day can be dramatically impacted by how you start your morning. You can make sure that your mornings are positive and joyful by adopting these routines into your everyday life.

Consider adding one or two of these productivity solutions to your routine and become consistent with it to the point where it is second nature.

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Stiers Collective Studios
ILLUMINATION

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