Morning Mastery Made Easy: 5 Effortless Daily Habits

The morning is the start of a new day, a blank sheet. A great opportunity to build up some momentum for the rest of the day. However, it is so easy to slip into mindless scrolling on your phone and lose this opportunity. Doing morning exercises or meditation might already feel like too big of a hurdle.

That is why effective, low effort habits are key to starting your day well — and since they are low effort, you are more likely to repeat them on a daily basis.

Here are five effective, low effort habits I implemented in my daily schedule to feel great.

Habit #1: Create a consistent sleep schedule

Your body uses an internal clock — the circadian rhythm.

Going to bed and waking up around the same times on a daily basis helps your circadian rhythm to stay calibrated. If you have an inconsistent sleep schedule, you disrupt your internal clock, which affects your energy levels, mood, and productivity. Keeping your bedtime and wake-up time within a determined range helps you feel better during your days.

A great morning starts the evening before.

Habit #2: Use smart lights to wake you up

Smart lights have been a game changer for my sleep.

Instead of waking up from my alarm, causing a grumpy and annoyed mood first thing in the morning, I now use smart lights to wake me up at my desired time. The lamp can be programmed to start getting brighter and brighter from a certain time, gently starting the process of waking up. Back in old times, we did not have alarms on phones — we had natural light to which our circadian rhythm was wired.

Waking up from light lets you wake up in a calmer and more natural way.

Habit #3: Make your bed first thing

Accomplishing a task first thing in the morning feels great.

A low effort and seemingly minor task which has huge payoff is making your bed as soon as you get out of it. It sends signals to your brain that you have completed a task, giving you a feeling of accomplishment. Great way to trick your brain into feeling great directly from the start of your day.

Making your bed creates great momentum for the rest of your morning and day.

Habit #4: Start the day with some morning stretches

After your body has been in a state of rest during the night, it is essential to get some movement in.

Morning stretches help you activate your body. Furthermore, it makes you feel more in touch with your body, as you can become mindful of where you feel the stretches in your muscles. This does not have to consist of an hour of yoga every morning — I have been doing 3 sun salutations every morning and extend with other stretches whenever I feel like it.

Morning stretches also ensure flexibility in the body over the long term, win-win.

Habit #5: Drink water

Many people take a shower in the morning — but forget about their internal shower.

Just like your external body, your internal body is happy to get some refreshment each morning. Your cells have been dehydrating during a night of sleep, so it is essential to activate them by providing them with some fresh water. I put a bottle of water next to my bed the evening before, so there is a smaller chance I forget about drinking water the next morning.

Drinking water after waking up also makes you aware of staying hydrated during the day.

By consistently implementing these five habits, I feel great during the day

From the moment I started implementing these habits in my mornings, I have been feeling more energised, more productive, and calmer during the day.

If you set yourself up for a successful day in the morning, you increase your resilience during the day.