7 Simple Habits You Can Use To Optimize Your Morning Routine
My thoughts on keeping things small and sweet
You might not relate, but I think it’s really stressful to open your habit tracker and see 20 different 10-minute long habits staring back at you. Oftentimes, it’s literally impossible to get them all done — so why would you even try? I’ve found myself oftentimes completely avoiding my morning routine altogether because I know it’s going to stress me out so much that none of the habits will be worth it.
Instead, I’ve decided to try really tiny habits. These are habits that are worthwhile if I only complete them and their small time frame, but also beneficial if I have time and the motivation to add on to them, reaping a greater and different benefit from spending more time on certain pursuits.
Here is your list of 7 simple habits you can start incorporating into your mornings:
1 || Turn on the lights
Ok, I know. This is a little crazy to include because it’s so simple. But trust me, it helps. Recently I set my Alexa Plugs on a routine that turns them on at 6am every day. That way, if I wake up after 6, which I almost always do, the lights are already on and I feel like I’m supposed to be up. In contrast, if the lights are still off and the sun isn’t fully up or not blazing through my window yet, it feels like I’m still supposed to be asleep — making it easier to lie back down after my alarm goes off and snuggle back in to sleep later.
“A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.” — Mark Twain
Getting up and turning on the lights every morning, or at least setting a program that will do it for you, can do wonders for jump starting your morning every day and making it a little easier to get up, and stay out of, you bed in the early AM.
2 || Review goals or look at a vision board
One thing that I have found always boosts my mood and helps me have a better day is looking at my vision board. I have my goals tied in with these specific Pinterest boards, so not only am I reviewing objectives and things I want to create, pursue, and manifest in my life, I’m able to see images of my ideal day, ideal marriage, the car I want, the family I want, the type of environment I want to live and work in.
“Good habits are worth being fanatical about.” — John Irving
When I do this, even for just 30 seconds — 1 minute in the morning, my day is transformed. I’m going to have those images stuck in my head all day, in a good way. I’m going to be both consciously and subconsciously working on bringing those things about for real in my life. And honestly, nothing can be more exciting than that in my opinion. And the whole idea here is that it doesn’t have to be for a long time, or an intense review process. You’re just checking in with what you want, and then launching into your day so you can go and get it.
3 || Send something positive into the world
This small item on the list is one that you won’t find on the list of most CEOs or creators for that matter, even though many of them make time for this. This is a time where you can text someone a kind message, send a positive email to your staff, post something encouraging on Twitter, or otherwise leave the morning a better place than you found it.
“Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do).” — Stephen R. Covey
However this would come about for you, make sure you’re taking some time to give. Take what good vibes you’re experiencing and share them with someone else. If you’re in a great place, then this is a great service. If you’re not in a great place, this could boost your mood and help you go through some motions before you’re back on your feet.
4 || Drink a small glass of water
There’s a lot of debate and confusing science about when to drink your water, and whether it should be cold or hot, etc. But I’ll stay clear of that controversy here. All I’ll suggest is to drink a small glass of water in the morning. You haven’t had some in a while, and from what I’ve read it helps balance out your lymphatic system, and can improve your digestion.
“Let today be the day you give up who you’ve been for who you can become.” — Hal Elrod
Not to mention, after you’ve drunk it, you’re no longer worried about being thirsty — which I usually am in the mornings. Drink a small glass of water, flush out the system, hydrate yourself, and be mindful for a moment as you give your body what it needs for the day.
5 || Write a sentence in a journal or a phrase on paper
As someone who used to be a compulsive journaler, I think it’s safe to say this — journaling is overrated. I’m not saying that it isn’t helpful. There’s scientific study after study talking about how journaling improves outcomes in therapy and treatment of trauma and all other kinds of mental disorders. Heck, it’s helped me with quite a few things.
“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” — Malcolm Gladwell
But I think that “journaling”, in the sense of sitting down and writing down plainly everything that’s happened to you that day, can be time-consuming, overly reflective, and can distract from what’s actually going on in your life around you. After finding the freedom in not needing to “record” everything, I’ve leaned more into another kind of journaling — which is that of simple capturing of things.
Sometimes I jot something down in my planner, other times in a small notebook. I’m just capturing sweet little moments, not trying to write an autobiography. Not only does this save me time, but it allows me not to over-ruminate on anything, and gives me more time to go and live my life. And finally, it’s really simple too — so it’s easy to squeeze in in the mornings and reap the benefits of it.
6 || Write down your most important tasks
Peter McKinnon, famous photographer and videographer, and one of my favorite people to watch on YouTube, has started something that was inspired by one of his friends. This habit involves down writing down the 8 tasks you have to do each day, and then getting to work.
“The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” — Samuel Johnson
I would chalk up most of my failures with regular planners, quite honestly, to trying to put too many tasks in each little square meant to include all of your tasks for one day. Since creating a bullet journal / planner / notebook hybrid of my own I’ve been able to concentrate on what’s most important, and more easily cancel out and move tasks, as well as dedicate pages to deciding on what needs to happen next.
The process of simply writing out your most important tasks is an essential, quick habit you can incorporate into your days to improve your work, as well as your outcomes and efficiency.
7 || Read a positive quote
Maybe this is kind of cheesy, and maybe Pinterest-y looking squares with inspirational text in them just aren’t for you. Either way, try and fill your morning with something positive and motivational. For me, sometimes this is looking at my affirmations or quotes board on Pinterest. Other times, it’s watching a motivational video or a YouTube video from one of my favorite creators.
“We are our own potters; for our habits make us, and we make our habits.” — Frederick Langbridge
Whatever I’m doing, I’m trying to find something motivating, inspirational, and maybe even slightly informative from someone who I admire — whether they be an author, creative, or otherwise. Doing this gives me little nuggets of inspiration, joy, connectivity, and a way to start my day thinking about something important.
